King
Asa
Third King of Judah
910-869 BC
Biography
Asa removed idols, deposed his grandmother Maacah for her Asherah pole, and commanded Judah to seek God. When Ethiopia's million-man army invaded, Asa prayed and God gave victory. For 35 years there was peace. However, when Israel's Baasha threatened, Asa paid Syria rather than trusting God. The prophet Hanani rebuked him and Asa imprisoned him. In his final years, diseased, he sought only doctors, not God.
LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless
Key events
- 1Religious reforms2 Chronicles 14:2-5→
Removed idols
Read the verse here
2 Chronicles 14:2-5And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
- 2Victory over Ethiopians2 Chronicles 14:9-15→
Defeated million-man army
Read the verse here
2 Chronicles 14:9-15Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.
- 3Treaty with Syria2 Chronicles 16:1-6→
Paid Ben-Hadad
Read the verse here
2 Chronicles 16:1-6In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
- 4Imprisoned Hanani2 Chronicles 16:7-10→
Rejected prophetic rebuke
Read the verse here
2 Chronicles 16:7-10At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and told him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand.
More key verses
“The eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed”
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Zeal for reform, prayer warrior, removed idolatry
Weaknesses
Later relied on alliances, persecuted prophet
Lessons
Past faith doesn't guarantee future trust. Seek God in illness as in crisis.
Spiritual significance
Asa shows starting well doesn't guarantee finishing well.
Asa in Scripture
56 verses use this name, in 5 books. Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, some of these verses may speak of another person called Asa.
Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions
Old Testament4 books · 54 mentions
1 Kings24 mentions
- 1 Kings 15:8And Abijam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David, and his son Asa reigned in his place.
- 1 Kings 15:9In the twentieth year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Asa became king of Judah,
- 1 Kings 15:11And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done.
- 1 Kings 15:13He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.
- 1 Kings 15:14The high places were not removed, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days.
19 further mentions in 1 Kings — read them in the book.
1 Chronicles2 mentions
2 Chronicles27 mentions
- 2 Chronicles 14:1Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years.
- 2 Chronicles 14:2And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
- 2 Chronicles 14:6Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest.
- 2 Chronicles 14:8Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor.
- 2 Chronicles 14:10So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.
22 further mentions in 2 Chronicles — read them in the book.
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