Asa

9In the twentieth year that Jeroboam was king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah.

And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.

10Asa was king in Jerusalem for forty-one years. His grandmother was named Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.

And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.

NoteThe King James says "his mother's name." The old word could also mean grandmother. Maachah was Asa's grandmother.

11Asa did what was right to the LORD. He was like his ancestor David.

And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.

12Asa sent away the men who sold their bodies at the idol temples. He also got rid of all the idols his family had made.

And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

NoteAn idol is a statue people pray to like a god. At the houses of false gods, some men sold their bodies for money. Asa made those men leave.

13Asa even took away his grandmother Maachah's place of honor as queen. She had made an ugly idol pole for a false god. Asa chopped her idol down and burned it by the Kidron brook.

And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.

NoteThe king's mother had a real job called queen mother. She helped the king and was honored. The idol pole was a tall wooden post. People set it up for a made-up goddess. The Kidron was a small stream just outside Jerusalem.

14The high places were not taken away. Still, Asa's heart belonged fully to the LORD all his life.

But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.

NoteHigh places were spots on hills. People burned gifts there to false gods.

15Asa brought silver, gold, and dishes into the LORD's house. He and his father had set these things apart for God.

And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels.

NoteThe LORD's house was the temple in Jerusalem. It was a big building for worshiping God. The dishes were bowls and cups used only there. To set something apart means to give it to God alone.

16There was war between Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, all their days.

And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

17Baasha, king of Israel, came to fight against Judah. He built up the town of Ramah with strong walls. He wanted to stop anyone from going in or out of Asa's land.

And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

NoteRamah was a town on the road to Jerusalem. Building it up meant adding thick walls. Then soldiers could stand there and block the road.

18So Asa took all the silver and gold left in the LORD's house. He also took the treasure from his own palace. He gave it to his servants to carry. King Asa sent them to Benhadad, the king of Syria, who lived in Damascus. Benhadad was the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion. Asa sent this message:

Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

NoteSyria was a country north of Israel. Damascus was its biggest city. A palace is the house where a king lives.

19"Let us be friends, you and me, like our fathers were. Look, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Please break your promise with Baasha, the king of Israel. Then he will go away and leave me alone."

There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

NoteKings made promises to help each other in wars. Asa wanted Benhadad to break that kind of promise.

20Benhadad listened to King Asa. He sent his army leaders to attack the cities of Israel. They beat Ijon, Dan, and Abelbethmaachah. They took all of Cinneroth and all the land of Naphtali.

So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

NoteThese were towns and lands in the north part of Israel.

21When Baasha heard this news, he stopped building up Ramah. He went back and stayed in the city of Tirzah.

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.

NoteTirzah was the city where the kings of Israel lived then.

22Then King Asa called every man in Judah, with no one left out. They carried away the stones and wood Baasha had used at Ramah. With them, King Asa built up Geba in Benjamin, and Mizpah.

Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

NoteGeba and Mizpah were towns near the border. Benjamin was one of Israel's family groups. Each group came from one of Jacob's sons.

23The other things Asa did are written in another book. It tells of his strength, his deeds, and the cities he built. It is the book of the history of the kings of Judah. When Asa was old, his feet became sick.

The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.

NoteThe Bible does not say what was wrong with his feet. They may have been sore and swollen.

24Then Asa died, like his ancestors before him. He was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place.

And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.

1Abijah died like his fathers before him. They buried him in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place. While Asa was king, the land had peace for ten years.

So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.

NoteThe city of David is another name for Jerusalem. King David lived there long ago. Kings of Judah were often buried there.

2Asa did what was good and right. He pleased the LORD his God.

And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

NoteLORD in big letters stands for God's own special name. His people knew him by that name.

3He took away the altars built for other gods. He took away the worship places on the hills. He smashed the stone pillars people prayed to. He chopped down the wooden poles used to worship the goddess Asherah.

For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

NoteAn altar is a stone table. People burned gifts on it to worship a god. The tall stone pillars were set up to stand for other gods. The wooden poles stood for a goddess named Asherah. People in that land prayed to her.

4He told the people of Judah to look for the LORD, the God of their fathers. He told them to obey God's law and rules.

And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

NoteTo look for the LORD means to pray to him and obey him. God's law was the set of rules he gave his people long ago. "The God of their fathers" means the God their families had worshiped for years.

5He also took the hilltop worship places and incense altars out of every city in Judah. So the kingdom was peaceful while he ruled.

Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

NoteIncense is a sweet smelling stuff people burned. The smoke rose up as a gift to a god.

6Asa built cities with strong walls in Judah. The land was resting. No one made war with him in those years. This was because the LORD had given him rest.

And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.

NoteCities were built with thick walls all around them. The walls kept enemies from getting in.

7So Asa said to the people of Judah, "Let us build these cities. Let us put walls and towers around them. Let us add gates and bars. The land is still ours. We have looked for the LORD our God. We looked for him, and he has given us rest on every side." So they built the cities, and things went well.

Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

NoteBars were heavy beams laid across the gates. They held the gates shut tight, like a lock.

8Asa had an army of brave, strong men. From Judah there were 300,000 men with big shields and spears. From Benjamin there were 280,000 men with small shields and bows.

And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.

NoteJudah and Benjamin were two big family groups in Israel. A big shield covered most of a man's body. A small shield was light, so a man could still shoot a bow.

9Then Zerah, a man from Cush, came to fight them. He had an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. They came as far as the town of Mareshah.

And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

NoteCush was a land far south of Egypt, in Africa. A chariot was a small cart pulled by horses. Soldiers rode in chariots when they went to fight.

10So Asa marched out to meet him. Both armies lined up to fight in the Valley of Zephathah, near Mareshah.

Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

NoteA valley is low, flat ground between hills. Armies lined up in long rows before a fight.

11Asa called out to the LORD his God. He said, "LORD, only you can help weak people against strong ones. Help us, LORD our God. We are leaning on you. We come against this huge army in your name. LORD, you are our God. Do not let any man win against you."

And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

Note"We are leaning on you" means they were trusting God. Coming "in your name" means they came as his people.

12So the LORD struck down the army from Cush in front of Asa and Judah. The men from Cush ran away.

So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

13Asa and his men chased them all the way to the town of Gerar. So many of the men from Cush fell that their army could not fight again. They were crushed before the LORD and his army. The men of Judah carried off a great many things the enemy left behind.

And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.

NoteGerar was a town to the southwest, out near the sea. "His army" means the LORD's own army.

14They also attacked all the towns around Gerar. The people there were very afraid of the LORD. Judah's men took the goods from all those towns, because there was so much to take.

And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

15They also attacked the camps where herders kept their animals. They took away many sheep and camels. Then they went back to Jerusalem.

They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.

NoteHerders are people who take care of sheep and other animals. They slept in tents so they could move to fresh grass.

1The Spirit of God came upon a man named Azariah. His father was Oded.

And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:

Note"The Spirit of God came upon" him means God filled him with his power. It let him speak God's message to people.

2Azariah went out to meet King Asa. He said, "Listen to me, Asa, and all the people of Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you stay with him. If you look for him, you will find him. But if you walk away from him, he will walk away from you."

And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

NoteJudah and Benjamin were two family groups of Israel. They lived in the southern part of the land. Asa was their king. In the King James, "the LORD" in big letters stands for God's own special name.

3"For a long time Israel had no true God. They had no priest to teach them. A priest was a helper who served God and taught people his rules. And they had no law from God."

Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.

NoteA priest was a man with a special job at God's house. He brought people's gifts to God. He also taught people God's rules. The "law" was the set of rules God gave to Moses long ago.

4"But when trouble came, they turned back to the LORD, the God of Israel. They looked for him, and they found him."

But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

5"In those days it was not safe to travel anywhere. Everyone in those lands had fighting and trouble."

And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.

NoteBack then people walked or rode donkeys from town to town. Robbers and fighting made those roads unsafe.

6"One nation crushed another nation. One city crushed another city. God let all kinds of hard things happen to them."

And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.

7"So be strong. Do not give up. Your work will be paid back."

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

8Asa heard these words from Azariah, a prophet. A prophet was someone who told people what God said. Asa took courage. He got rid of the awful idols in all the land of Judah and Benjamin. He also cleared them out of the towns he had taken in the hills of Ephraim. Then he fixed up the LORD's altar, which stood in front of the porch of God's house. An altar was a stone table where gifts were burned for God.

And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.

NoteAn idol is a statue that people treat like a god. A prophet was a person who told others what God said. An altar was a stone table where gifts were burned for God. The "porch" was the covered doorway in front of God's house. God's house was the temple, the big building in Jerusalem where people came to worship.

9Asa called together all the people of Judah and Benjamin. People from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon came too, for they had moved in among them. Many people had left Israel and joined Asa. They came because they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

NoteLong ago the land split into two countries. Asa ruled the smaller one in the south. Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon were family groups from the other country. Some of their people moved south to live near Asa.

10So they all met together in Jerusalem. It was the third month of Asa's fifteenth year as king.

So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

NoteTheir year started in the spring, not in January. So the third month was near our May or June.

11That day they gave gifts to the LORD. They gave 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep. These animals came from what they had taken in battle.

And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

NoteThese animals were killed and burned on the altar as gifts to God. That was how people said thank you to him. The animals came from the goods they took from an enemy after winning a battle.

12Then they made a covenant, a serious promise. They promised to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with their whole heart and soul.

And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;

NoteA covenant was a strong promise between two sides. Both sides agreed, and both had to keep it. "God of their fathers" means the same God their grandparents had followed.

13They agreed that anyone who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, would be put to death. This was true for young and old, for men and women.

That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

14They made this promise to the LORD out loud. They shouted, and they blew trumpets and rams' horns.

And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.

NoteA ram's horn came from a male sheep. People blew into it to make a loud, deep sound, like a trumpet.

15All Judah was glad about the promise. They had made it with their whole heart. They wanted God and looked for him, and they found him. So the LORD gave them peace all around.

And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.

16King Asa also took Maacah, his grandmother, out of her place as queen mother. She had made an awful pole to honor the goddess Asherah. Asa cut the pole down. He smashed it and burned it by the Kidron brook.

And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

Note"Queen mother" was a title of honor for a king's mother or grandmother. She helped the king and had real power. An Asherah pole was a tall wooden post. People set it up to honor a goddess named Asherah. The Kidron was a small stream just outside Jerusalem.

17The high places, where people brought gifts on hilltops, were not all taken away in Israel. Even so, Asa's heart belonged fully to God his whole life.

But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

NoteHigh places were altars built on hilltops outside towns. People brought gifts there instead of at God's house in Jerusalem.

18He brought gifts into God's house. They were silver, gold, and bowls and dishes. He and his father had set them apart for God.

And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.

NoteTo "dedicate" something means to set it apart just for God. The bowls and dishes were used by the priests in God's house.

19There was no more war until Asa's thirty-fifth year as king.

And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.

1It was Asa's thirty-sixth year as king. Baasha, the king of Israel, came to attack Judah. He built up the town of Ramah with strong walls. He wanted to stop people from going in or out of Asa's land.

In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

NoteLong before this, Israel and Judah were one country. Then it split into two lands, each with its own king. So Israel and Judah were now enemies. Ramah was a town near the line between them. Building it up meant putting strong walls around it.

2So Asa took silver and gold out of the LORD's house and out of his own palace. He sent it to Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, who lived in the city of Damascus. He sent this message with it:

Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

NoteThe LORD's house means the temple in Jerusalem. It was the special building where people came to worship God. Kings kept silver and gold safe there. Syria was a country to the north, past Israel. Damascus was its biggest city.

3"Let there be an agreement between you and me. Our fathers had one too. Look, I have sent you silver and gold. Now go and break your agreement with Baasha, king of Israel. Then he will leave me alone."

There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

NoteKings made agreements, or promises, to help each other and not fight. If Ben-hadad broke his promise to Baasha, he could attack him instead.

4Ben-hadad listened to King Asa. He sent the leaders of his armies to attack the towns of Israel. They took Ijon, Dan, and Abel-maim. They also took all the towns of Naphtali where supplies were kept.

And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

NoteIjon, Dan, and Abel-maim were towns in the far north of Israel. They were the closest ones to Syria, so they were attacked first.

5When Baasha heard this news, he stopped building at Ramah. He left the work unfinished.

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.

6Then King Asa gathered all the men of Judah. They carried away the stones and the wood that Baasha had been building with. Asa used them to build up the towns of Geba and Mizpah.

Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

NoteStones and big pieces of wood were hard to get and cost a lot. So Asa's men carried them off and used them again. Geba and Mizpah were towns on Judah's border.