Abijam Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 13:1–3)

1In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam (the people will contend) son of Nebat (aspect), Abijam [Abijah]a became king of Judah (praised), 2and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) three years. His mother’s name was Maacah (oppression) daughter of Abishalom (Absalom).b

3And Abijam walked in all the sins that his father before him had committed, and his heart was not as fully devoted to the LORD his God {YHWH Elohaw} as the heart of David (beloved) his forefather had been. 4Nevertheless, for the sake of David (beloved), the LORD his God {YHWH Elohaw} gave him a lamp in Jerusalem (city of peace) by raising up a son to succeed him and to make Jerusalem strong. 5For David (beloved) had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD {YHWH} and had not turned aside from anything the LORD commanded all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah (YHWH is my light) the Hittite.

6And there was war between the houses of Rehoboamc and Jeroboam (the people will contend) all the days of Abijam’s life \of his life/.d

7As for the rest of the acts of Abijam (my father is the sea), along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah (praised)? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam (the people will contend).

8And Abijam (my father is the sea) rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David (beloved), and his son Asa (healer) reigned in his place.

Asa Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 14:1–15; 2 Chronicles 15:8–19)

9In the twentieth year of Jeroboam’s (the people will contend) reign over Israel (he wrestles with God), Asa (healer) became king of Judah (praised), 10and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) forty-one years. His grandmother’s (The queen mother’s)e name was Maacah (oppression) daughter of Abishalom (my father is peace).

11And Asa (healer) did what was right in the eyes of the LORD {YHWH}, as his father David had done (beloved). 12He banished the male shrine prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13He also removed his grandmother Maacah (oppression) from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole (goddess). Asa (healer) chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron (dark) Valley.

14The high places were not removed, but Asa’s (healer) heart was fully devoted to the LORD {YHWH} all his days. 15And he brought into the house of the LORD {YHWH} the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.

War between Asa and Baasha
(2 Chronicles 16:1–6)

16Now there was war between Asa (healer) and Baasha (wicked) king of Israel (he wrestles with God) throughout their days. 17Baasha (wicked) king of Israel (he wrestles with God) went to war against Judah (praised) and fortified Ramah (hill) to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa (healer) king of Judah.

18So Asa (healer) withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the house of the LORD {YHWH} and the royal palace. He entrusted it to his servants and sent them with this message to Ben-hadad (son of Hadad) son of Tabrimmon (good is Rimmon), the son of Hezion (vision), the king of Aram (exalted), who was ruling in Damascus (well-watered land): 19“Let there be a treaty (covenant)f between me and you as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha (wicked) king of Israel (he wrestles with God), so that he will withdraw from me.”

20And Ben-hadad (son of Hadad) listened to King Asa (healer) and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel (he wrestles with God), conquering Ijon (a ruin), Dan (He has judged), Abel-beth-maacah (house of pressure), and the whole land of Naphtali (wrestling), including the region of Chinnereth (harps).

21When Baasha (wicked) learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah (hill) and withdrew to Tirzah (favorable). 22Then King Asa (healer) summoned all the men of Judah,g with no exceptions, and they carried away the stones of Ramah (hill) and the timbers Baasha (wicked) had used for building. And with these materials King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin (son of the right hand), as well as Mizpah (watchtower).

Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa
(2 Chronicles 17:1–19)

23Now the rest of the acts of Asa (healer), along with all his might, all his accomplishments, and the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah (praised)? In his old age, however, he became diseased in his feet.

24And Asa (healer) rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his father David (beloved), and his son Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) reigned in his place.

Nadab Reigns in Israel

25In the second year of Asa’s (healer) reign over Judah (praised), Nadab (generous) son of Jeroboam (the people will contend) became king of Israel (he wrestles with God), and he reigned two years. 26And he did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH} and walked in the way of his father and in his sin, which he had caused Israel (he wrestles with God) to commit.

27Then Baasha (wicked) son of Ahijah (brother of Yah) of the house of Issachar (there is recompense) conspired against Nadab, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon (mound) of the Philistines (immigrants) while Nadab (generous) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) were besieging the city. 28In the third year of Asa’s (healer) reign over Judah (praised), Baasha (wicked) killed Nadab and reigned in his place.

29As soon as Baasha became king, he struck down the entire household of Jeroboam (the people will contend). He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone who breathed, but destroyed them all according to the word that the LORD {YHWH} had spoken through His servant Ahijah (brother of Yah) the Shilonite, 30because of the sins Jeroboam (the people will contend) had committed and had caused Israel (he wrestles with God) to commit, and because he had provoked the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel, to anger.

31As for the rest of the acts of Nadab (generous), along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel (he wrestles with God)? 32And there was war between Asa (healer) and Baasha (wicked) king of Israel (he wrestles with God) throughout their days.

Baasha Reigns in Israel

33In the third year of Asa’s (healer) reign over Judah (praised), Baasha (wicked) son of Ahijah (brother of Yah) became king of all Israel (he wrestles with God), and he reigned in Tirzah (favorable) twenty-four years.

34And Baasha did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH} and walked in the way of Jeroboam (the people will contend) and in his sin, which he had caused Israel (he wrestles with God) to commit.