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

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

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) 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:5 Or incense altars

Asa Succeeds Abijah in Judah

14 [a](A)So Abijah [b]lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days.

[c]And Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God, for he removed (B)the foreign altars and (C)high places, tore down the memorial stones, cut down the [d](D)Asherim, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to [e]comply with the Law and the commandment. He also removed the high places and the (E)incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbed under him. (F)He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and [f]there was no one at war with him during those years, (G)because the Lord had given him rest. For he said to Judah, “(H)Let’s build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still [g]ours because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 14:1 Ch 13:23 in Heb
  2. 2 Chronicles 14:1 I.e., died
  3. 2 Chronicles 14:2 Ch 14:1 in Heb
  4. 2 Chronicles 14:3 I.e., wooden symbols of a female deity (Asherah)
  5. 2 Chronicles 14:4 Lit do the
  6. 2 Chronicles 14:6 Lit no war was with him
  7. 2 Chronicles 14:7 Lit before us