1In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat’s reign, Abijam became king over Judah.
2He reigned in Jerusalem for three years. His mother’s name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom.
3He committed all the sins his father had committed before him, and his heart was not completely devoted to Yahweh his God, unlike the heart of his ancestor David.
4However, for David’s sake, Yahweh his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, meaning he would have a son to rule after him and to keep Jerusalem strong.
5This was because David had done what was right in Yahweh’s eyes and had not turned away from anything Yahweh commanded him throughout his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
6There was ongoing war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout Rehoboam's lifetime.
7The rest of Abijam’s actions and everything he did are recorded in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah, aren't they? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
8Abijam died and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa became king after him.
9In the twentieth year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Asa became king over Judah.
10He reigned in Jerusalem for forty-one years. His grandmother’s name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom.
11Asa did what was right in Yahweh’s eyes, just like his ancestor David.
12He removed the male cult prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made.
13Asa also removed his mother Maacah from being queen because she had made a disgusting idol for the goddess Asherah. Asa cut down her idol and burned it beside the Kidron Valley.
14However, the places of pagan worship were not removed. Nevertheless, Asa remained wholeheartedly devoted to Yahweh throughout his life.
15He brought into Yahweh's house the items his father had dedicated, as well as the items he himself had dedicated: silver, gold, and various utensils.
16There was constant war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel throughout their reigns.
17King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah and built up the city of Ramah, so that no one could go out or come in to King Asa of Judah.
18Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of Yahweh's temple and the royal palace. He gave it to his servants, and King Asa sent them to Ben Hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, who was King of Syria and lived in Damascus. Asa's message was:
19“There is a treaty between me and you, just as there was between my father and your father. Look, I'm sending you a gift of silver and gold. Go and break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”
20Ben Hadad listened to King Asa and sent his army commanders against the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, all of Chinneroth, and all the land of Naphtali.
21When Baasha heard about this, he stopped building Ramah and went to live in Tirzah.
22Then King Asa issued a proclamation to all Judah, sparing no one. They carried away the stones and timber from Ramah, which Baasha had used for building. King Asa then used these materials to build up Geba in Benjamin and Mizpah.
23The rest of Asa’s acts, his power, everything he did, and the cities he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? However, in his old age, he suffered from a foot disease.
24Asa passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his father David. His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place.
25Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, began to rule over Israel in the second year of Asa's reign as King of Judah, and he reigned over Israel for two years.
26He did what Yahweh considered evil, following the ways of his father and the sin by which his father caused Israel to sin.
27Baasha, the son of Ahijah, from the family of Issachar, conspired against him. Baasha attacked and killed him at Gibbethon, a city belonging to the Philistines, because Nadab and all Israel were besieging Gibbethon.
28This happened in the third year of Asa's reign as King of Judah; Baasha killed Nadab and took his place as king.
29As soon as he became king, he killed everyone in Jeroboam's family. He didn't leave anyone alive in Jeroboam's household until he had destroyed them all, just as Yahweh had said through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.
30This was because of the sins Jeroboam committed and caused Israel to commit, and because he angered Yahweh, the God of Israel.
31The rest of Nadab's acts and everything he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
32There was constant war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel throughout their reigns.
33In the third year of King Asa of Judah's reign, Baasha son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah and ruled for twenty-four years.
34He did what Yahweh considered evil. He followed the example of Jeroboam and continued the sin that Jeroboam led Israel into.