1 Kings 15:1-15

Abijah King of Judah 1In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 2 Chron. 12:16); most Hebrew manuscripts Abijam; also in verses 7 and 8 became king of Judah,

2and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maakah daughter of Abishalom. A variant of Absalom; also in verse 10 3He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. 4Nevertheless, for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong.

5For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not failed to keep any of the LORD ’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite. 6There was war between Abijah Some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Abijam (that is, Abijah); most Hebrew manuscripts Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout Abijah’s lifetime. 7As for the other events of Abijah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

8And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. And Asa his son succeeded him as king.

Asa King of Judah 9In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah,

10and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother’s name was Maakah daughter of Abishalom. 11Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done. 12He expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made. 13He even deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 14Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life.

15He brought into the temple of the LORD the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.