Asa (1 Kings 15:8–24; 1 Kings 15:11–14; 1 Kings 15:16–22; 1 Kings 22:41–43; 1 Chronicles 3:10; 2 Chronicles 14:1–15; 2 Chronicles 15:1–19; 2 Chronicles 16:1–14; 2 Chronicles 16:7–10; 2 Chronicles 20:32; 2 Chronicles 21:12; Jeremiah 41:9; Matthew 1:7–8)

King of Judah, son of Abijah

A king of Judah who reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem, put away idols and removed his mother Maacah from being queen, cried to the LORD against Zerah the Ethiopian, and later sent the treasures to Ben-hadad of Syria against Baasha, imprisoned the seer Hanani, and in his disease sought the physicians.

Asa succeeded his father Abijam (called Abijah in Chronicles) on the throne of Judah: “And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem” (1 Kings 15:10). “In his days the land was quiet ten years” (2 Chronicles 14:1), and “Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, as did David his father” (1 Kings 15:11). He put away the idols, removed his mother Maacah from being queen, and brought dedicated things into the house of the LORD (1 Kings 15:12-15). Chronicles says that “he took away the foreign altars, and the high places” (2 Chronicles 14:3), yet Kings says “the high places were not taken away” (1 Kings 15:14), and Chronicles itself later says “the high places were not taken away out of Israel” (2 Chronicles 15:17). Kings says that “the heart of Asa was perfect with Jehovah all his days” (1 Kings 15:14), and Chronicles that “the heart of Asa was perfect all his days” (2 Chronicles 15:17).

When Zerah the Ethiopian came against Judah, “Asa cried unto Jehovah his God” (2 Chronicles 14:11), and “Jehovah smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah” (2 Chronicles 14:12). Azariah the son of Oded then met him with a word from God, and Asa “took courage, and put away the abominations” (2 Chronicles 15:8); Judah entered into a covenant to seek the LORD. “There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days” (1 Kings 15:16). When Baasha built Ramah, Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house and sent it to Ben-hadad king of Syria (2 Chronicles 16:1-6).

Hanani the seer told him, “Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and hast not relied on Jehovah thy God” (2 Chronicles 16:7). “Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in the prison-house” (2 Chronicles 16:10). Later, “in his disease he sought not to Jehovah, but to the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12). He slept with his fathers, and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead (1 Kings 15:24). Jehoshaphat “walked in all the way of Asa his father” (1 Kings 22:43), and Matthew's genealogy says, “Abijah begat Asa; and Asa begat Jehoshaphat” (Matthew 1:7-8).

Strengths

• Did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD
• Heart perfect with the LORD all his days
• Relied on the LORD against the Ethiopians
• Took courage and put away the abominations

Weaknesses

• Relied on the king of Syria
• Wroth with the seer and put him in the prison-house
• Oppressed some of the people
• In his disease sought not to the LORD

Themes

• Reform in Judah
• Seeking the LORD
• Prayer in battle
• Reliance on Syria
• The seer imprisoned
• Old age and disease

Succeeds Abijam; the land is quiet (1 Kings 15:8–11; 2 Chronicles 14:1–2)

Asa reigns in the stead of his father, the land is quiet ten years, and he does what is right in the eyes of the LORD as David his father did.

Puts away the idols and removes Maacah (1 Kings 15:12–15; 2 Chronicles 14:2–5; 2 Chronicles 15:16–18)

Asa puts away the sodomites and the idols, takes away foreign altars, commands Judah to seek the LORD, removes Maacah from being queen, and brings in the dedicated things.

Cries to the LORD against Zerah (2 Chronicles 14:6–15)

Asa builds fortified cities and has an army of Judah and Benjamin; when Zerah the Ethiopian comes to Mareshah, Asa cries to the LORD and the Ethiopians are smitten and flee.

Cries to the LORD against Zerah

Asa built fortified cities, for “the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Jehovah had given him rest” (2 Chronicles 14:6). He had an army “out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin … two hundred and fourscore thousand” (2 Chronicles 14:8). Then “there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto Mareshah” (2 Chronicles 14:9).

“And Asa cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, there is none besides thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee” (2 Chronicles 14:11).

“So Jehovah smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled” (2 Chronicles 14:12). Asa and the people pursued them to Gerar, “for they were destroyed before Jehovah, and before his host; and they carried away very much booty” (2 Chronicles 14:13).

Azariah's word and the covenant (2 Chronicles 15:1–15)

The Spirit of God comes upon Azariah the son of Oded, who meets Asa; Asa takes courage, puts away the abominations, and Judah enters into a covenant to seek the LORD.

Azariah's word and the covenant

“And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded: and he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: Jehovah is with you, while ye are with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you” (2 Chronicles 15:1-2). He ended: “But be ye strong, and let not your hands be slack; for your work shall be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7).

“And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin … and he renewed the altar of Jehovah” (2 Chronicles 15:8).

They gathered at Jerusalem in the fifteenth year of Asa's reign (2 Chronicles 15:10), “and they entered into the covenant to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul” (2 Chronicles 15:12). “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 Jehovah gave them rest round about” (2 Chronicles 15:15).

Baasha builds Ramah; silver and gold sent to Ben-hadad (1 Kings 15:16–22; 2 Chronicles 16:1–6)

Baasha king of Israel builds Ramah against Judah; Asa sends silver and gold from the treasuries to Ben-hadad of Syria, Baasha leaves off, and Asa builds Geba and Mizpah with the stones.

Baasha builds Ramah; silver and gold sent to Ben-hadad

“And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah” (1 Kings 15:16-17).

“Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king's house” (1 Kings 15:18) and sent it to Ben-hadad king of Syria, saying, “There is a league between me and thee, between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me” (1 Kings 15:19).

“And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel” (1 Kings 15:20). Baasha “left off building Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah” (1 Kings 15:21), and Asa carried away the stones and timber of Ramah and built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah (1 Kings 15:22).

Hanani the seer (2 Chronicles 16:7–10)

Hanani the seer tells Asa he relied on the king of Syria and not on the LORD; Asa is wroth, puts him in the prison-house, and oppresses some of the people.

Hanani the seer

“And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and hast not relied on Jehovah thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand” (2 Chronicles 16:7).

He pointed back: “Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host … yet, because thou didst rely on Jehovah, he delivered them into thy hand” (2 Chronicles 16:8). “For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; for from henceforth thou shalt have wars” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

“Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in the prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time” (2 Chronicles 16:10). The text does not record what became of Hanani.

Diseased in his feet (1 Kings 15:23; 2 Chronicles 16:11–12)

Asa is diseased in his feet, and in his disease he seeks the physicians and not the LORD.

Diseased in his feet

Kings says, “But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet” (1 Kings 15:23).

Chronicles says, “And in the thirty and ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to Jehovah, but to the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12).

Death and burial (1 Kings 15:24; 2 Chronicles 16:13–14)

Asa sleeps with his fathers and is buried in his own sepulchres in the city of David with a very great burning; Jehoshaphat his son reigns in his stead.

The LORD (2 Chronicles 14:11; 2 Chronicles 15:2)

Asa cried to him against Zerah, and Azariah told Asa and Judah that he is with them while they are with him.

Abijah (Abijam) (1 Kings 15:8; 2 Chronicles 14:1; Matthew 1:7)

His father, who slept with his fathers, and Asa his son reigned in his stead.

Maacah (1 Kings 15:2; 1 Kings 15:10; 1 Kings 15:13; 2 Chronicles 15:16)

His mother, whom he removed from being queen because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Kings gives the same name, Maacah the daughter of Abishalom, for the mother of Abijah his father.

Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 15:24; 1 Kings 22:43; 2 Chronicles 20:32)

His son, who reigned in his stead and walked in all the way of Asa his father.

Baasha (1 Kings 15:16–17; 2 Chronicles 16:1)

King of Israel, with whom there was war all their days; he built Ramah against Judah.

Ben-hadad (1 Kings 15:18–20; 2 Chronicles 16:2–4)

King of Syria, to whom Asa appealed to a league between them and sent silver and gold to break his league with Baasha; he hearkened.

Hanani the seer (2 Chronicles 16:7–10)

Rebuked Asa for relying on the king of Syria and was put in the prison-house.

Azariah the son of Oded (2 Chronicles 15:1–8)

The Spirit of God came upon him, and he went out to meet Asa with a word to seek the LORD.

Zerah the Ethiopian (2 Chronicles 14:9–13)

Came out against Judah to Mareshah with a great army, and the Ethiopians fled before Asa.

Major sections

• 1 Kings 15:8–24
• 2 Chronicles 14–16

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