1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. 3 He walked in all the sins his father had committed before him. His heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of his ancestor David had been. 4 Yet for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, raising up his son after him and establishing Jerusalem. 5 For David had done what was right in the sight of the LORD and had not turned aside from anything he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6 There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 7 The rest of Abijam’s acts and all he did—are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8 Abijam rested with his ancestors, and they buried him in the City of David. His son Asa reigned in his place.

9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah. 10 He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. 11 Asa did what was right in the sight of the LORD, as his ancestor David had. 12 He expelled the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols his ancestors had made. 13 He also removed his mother Maacah from her position as queen mother, because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her abominable image and burned it at the Kidron Brook. 14 But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless, Asa’s heart was wholly devoted to the LORD all his days. 15 He brought into the house of the LORD the things his father had dedicated and his own dedicated things: silver, gold, and utensils. 16 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah. 18 Asa took all the silver and gold remaining in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and entrusted them to his servants. King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, with this message: 19 “There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. I have sent you a bribe of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.” 20 Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent his army commanders against the cities of Israel. He struck Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, along with all the land of Naphtali. 21 When Baasha heard of it, he stopped fortifying Ramah and stayed in Tirzah. 22 King Asa summoned all Judah, with no one exempt. They carried away the stones and timber Baasha had used to build Ramah. With them King Asa fortified Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. 23 The rest of all Asa’s acts, all his mighty deeds, all he did, and the cities he built—are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? In his old age, however, his feet became diseased. 24 Asa rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place.

25 Nadab son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah. He reigned over Israel two years. 26 He did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in his father’s way and in the sin by which his father had caused Israel to sin. 27 Baasha son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging Gibbethon. 28 Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place. 29 As soon as he became king, he struck down the whole house of Jeroboam. He left no one belonging to Jeroboam alive, until he had destroyed the house, according to the word the LORD had spoken through his servant Ahijah of Shiloh. 30 This was because of the sins Jeroboam committed and caused Israel to commit, and the provocation by which he had provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger. 31 The rest of Nadab’s acts and all he did—are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah. He reigned twenty-four years. 34 He did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in Jeroboam’s way and in the sin by which Jeroboam had caused Israel to sin.