5. David had always done what the Lord said was right. All his life he had always obeyed the Lord’s commands. There was only one time David did not obey the Lord. This was when he sinned against Uriah the Hittite.
6. Now there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam during Abijam’s lifetime.
7. Everything else Abijam did is written down. It is in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. During the time Abijam ruled, there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
8. And Abijam died and was buried in Jerusalem. Abijam’s son Asa became king in his place.
9. During the twentieth year Jeroboam was king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah.
10. Asa ruled in Jerusalem for 41 years. His grandmother’s name was Maacah. She was the daughter of Abishalom.
11. Asa did what the Lord said was right. This was as his ancestor David had done.
12. There were male prostitutes at the places where false gods were worshiped. Asa forced them to leave the country. He also took away the idols that his ancestors had made.
13. His grandmother Maacah had made a terrible Asherah idol. So Asa removed her from being queen. He cut down this idol and burned it in the Kidron Valley.
14. Asa was faithful to the Lord all his life. But he did not destroy the places where false gods were worshiped.