1 Kings 15:9-15

New Living Translation

Asa Rules in Judah

⁹ Asa began to rule over Judah in the twentieth year of Jeroboam’s reign in Israel. ¹⁰ He reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother^[a] was Maacah, the granddaughter of Absalom.

¹¹ Asa did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, as his ancestor David had done. ¹² He banished the male and female shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols^[b] his ancestors had made. ¹³ He even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made an obscene Asherah pole. He cut down her obscene pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley. ¹⁴ Although the pagan shrines were not removed, Asa’s heart remained completely faithful to the Lord throughout his life. ¹⁵ He brought into the Temple of the Lord the silver and gold and the various items that he and his father had dedicated.