Asa

Asa was the third king of Judah (reigned 908-867 BC). He was the son and successor of Abijah. His mother was Maachah. Asa became King of Judah in the 20th year of the reign of Israel's King Jeroboam, and reigned 41 years.1 Kings 15:9-11, 2 Chronicles 14:1-2
Asa loyally adhered to God and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.1 Kings 15:11, 1 Kings 15:14, 2 Chronicles 14:2 He instituted reforms to rid the land of heathen deities and practices. He banished the perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols that his father had made. He also demoted his mother Maachah from her position as Queen Mother because of her paganism.1 Kings 15:12-13, 2 Chronicles 15:1-16
There was a 10-year period of peace at the beginning of Asa's reign, during which he fortified cities on his frontiers and raised an army of 580,000 men.2 Chronicles 14:7-8 He was attacked by an army of 1,000,000 troops from Ethiopia under the leadership of General Zerah.2 Chronicles 14:9 Asa cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord defeated the Ethiopians, and Asa and the army of Judah triumphed as the Ethiopians fled.2 Chronicles 14:10-12 Asa then cleared the land of Judah and Benjamin of all idols.2 Chronicles 15:1-8 Then the people entered into a contract to worship only the Lord God of their fathers.
King Baasha of Israel then declared war on Asa, and he paid King Ben-Hadad of Syria to help him defeat King Baasha.2 Chronicles 16:1-6 The Israelites were defeated, but God, through the prophet Hanani, let Asa know that he had made a mistake by going to Syria for help, instead of God.2 Chronicles 16:7-10 Asa died in the 41st year of his reign and was buried in Jerusalem with "bad feet." In this affliction, he turned away from the Lord, and was unable to be healed by the physicians he consulted with.2 Chronicles 16:12 His son, Jehoshaphat, became king.
== Verses ==
Category:Old Testament People
Category:Kings
Category:People
Category:Monarchs
Category:Persons
Category:Kings of Judah