Abijam, 2nd King of Judah of the House of David and His Son, King Asa

Nadene Goldfoot               

David---Solomon---Reheboam + Maacah----Abijam----Asa

Abijam or Abijah who was king from his father Reheboam's death in 917 to 915 -875 BCE, for only three years, had to engage in continuous warfare with Jeroboam, king of the divide that kept the name of Israel. His opposition became king during his own 18th year as king of Israel.   (I Kings 15); ( II Chron. 13).  Abijam's mother was Maacah, daughter of  Abishalom.  

Abijam reigned for 3 years in Jerusalem. He went in the way of all the sins of his father that he had done before him;  and his heart was not whole with Hashem, his (G-d), as his heart of his ggrandfather David had been.   It was only for David's sake that G-d had given him dominion in Jerusalem, to raise up his son after him and to establish Jeusalem , because David had done what is proper in the eyes of G-d, and did not veer from all that He had commanded him all the days of his life except for the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

There was warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of Abijam's life.  Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, and gathered together the House of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 choice warriors, to fight against the House of Israel, to return the kingdom to Rehoboam.   The rest of the deeds of Abijam and all that he did---are recorded in the Book of chronicles of the Kings of Judah.  There was warfare between Abijam and Jeroboam.  Abijam lay with his forefathers and they buried him in the City of David. 

 Asa, his son, reigned in his place.  In  the 20th year of Jeroboam, king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah.  He reigned in Jerusalem for 41 years, and his grandmother's name was Maacah, daughter of Abishalom.  Asa did what was proper in the eyes of G-d, like his gggrandfather, David.  

He removed the prostitutes from the land, and removed all the idols that his forefathers had made.  And even his grandmother Maacah, he deposed from being a queen for she had made an abomination unto an Asherah-tree.                        

“Asherah” was a Canaanite goddess associated with fertility and prosperity. The word can also refer to the sacred poles or objects connected with her worship. Unfortunately, Asherah worship became a recurring problem throughout Israel’s history. Involving “Asherah” in worship was a direct violation of the Torah.

“You are not to plant for yourself an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of Adonai your God.” (Deuteronomy 16:21)

It’s interesting and significant that Asherah promised many of the things Israel was supposed to trust God to provide: from blessing and fertility to prosperity and security.

 Asa chopped up the abomination and burned it in the Kidron Valley.  But, they did not take away the high places nevertheless.  Asa's heart was whole with Hashem all his days.  He brought in the consecrated goods of his father and his own consecrated goods to the Temple of Hashem-----silver and gold and articles.                                     

                                 Continued Warfare

There was warfare between Asa and Baasa, the king of Israel, for all their days.  Baasa, king of Israel, attacked Judah and built up Ramah, Ramah means "height" or "high place" in Hebrew and most commonly refers to an ancient city in the territory of Benjamin located about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Jerusalem. in order to prevent  Asa, king of Judah, from leaving or entering. 

 Ramah was the birthplace, home, judicial center, and burial site of the prophet Samuel.  It served as a gathering place for Israel's elders when they asked for a king (where Saul was anointed), a stop near Deborah's headquarters, and a refuge for David when fleeing Saul.  King Baasha of Israel fortified Ramah during border conflicts with Judah, though it was later dismantled by King Asa.

 Asa then took all the silver and gold remaining in the treasuries of the Temple of Hashem and the treasures of the king's palace and placed it in the hands of his servants.  King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, the king of Aram (Syria) who dwelled in Damascus, saying, "There is a treaty between  me and you, between my father and your father.  Behold, I have sent you an inducement of silver and gold;  go, annul your treaty with Baasa, King of Israel, so that he will depart from me.  

Ben-hadad heeded King Asa, and he sent the officers of his soldiers against the cities of Israel.  He struck at Ijon, Dan and Abel-beth-maacah, and the whole Chinneroth area, together with the entire land of Naphtali.  When Baasa heard this he ceased his building of Ramah, and he settled in Tirzah.

And King Asa called together all of Judah---no one was exempt---and they  carried away the stones of Ramah and its wood, with which Baasa had built, and with them King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.  All the rest of the deeds of Asa and all his heroic acts and all that he did and the cities that he built---behold, they are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah.  Only in his old age, his legs ailed.  Asa lay with his forefathers and was buried with his forefathers, in the city of David his forefather;  

Although this feud is taken in rabbinic literature as evidence of Asa's religious zeal, the rabbis censure him for his uncharitable attitude toward Judah's northern neighbors.    

Resource:

The Stone Edition, The Torah, (II Chronicles 11)

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia