14 Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place.^(A) During his reign the land experienced peace for ten years.

Judah’s King Asa

² Asa did what was good and right^(B) in the sight of the Lord his God. ³ He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles.^{(C) 4} He told the people of Judah to seek the Lord God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands. ⁵ He also removed the high places and the shrines^[a] from all the cities of Judah,^(D) and the kingdom experienced peace under him.

⁶ Because the land experienced peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah.^(E) No one made war with him in those days because the Lord gave him rest.^{(F) 7} So he said to the people of Judah, “Let’s build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars.^(G) The land is still ours because we sought the Lord our God. We sought him and he gave us rest on every side.” So they built and succeeded.