[1] Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. [2] Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. [3] in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. [4] Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: [5] Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. [6] And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. [7] Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. [8] And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. [9] And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah. [10] And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. [11] And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. [12] And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. [13] And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. [14] But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect all his days. [15] And he brought which his father had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels. [16] And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. [17] And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. [18] Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, [19] There is a league between me and thee, and between my father behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. [20] So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. [21] And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah. [22] Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. [23] The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. [24] And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.