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1. The reign of Asa the son of Aviyam:
- In the twentieth year of the reign of Yeravam, king of Israel, Asa ruled over Judah.
- His years of reign: Asa ruled in Jerusalem for forty one years.
- His mother: His [grand[1]] mother’s name was Maachah, and she was the daughter of Avishalom [and mother of Aviyam].
- His righteousness: Asa followed the ways of Hashem, as had done David his father. He abolished the adulterers from the land, and he removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
- Removal of Maachah from royalty and destruction of her idol monument: Asa removed his mother Maachah from her royalty status, as she had constructed a structure by an Asheira tree [which was used for idol worship[2], and which contained male genitals which she had intercourse with on a daily basis[3]]. Asa cut off this structure from the tree and burnt it in the Kidron Valley.
- The Bamos were not destroyed: [Despite Asa’s righteousness] the Bamos which were used to offer sacrifices to G-d were not removed [even though once the temple was built in Jerusalem, bringing an offering in another area carried a penalty of excision[4]].
- Despite the above, Asa’s heart remained faithful to G-d throughout all of his days.
- Filling up the treasury of the temple: Asa brought his father’s consecrated items and his own consecrated items into the temple. This included both silver and gold and vessels.
[1] See Radak and Metzudos Dovid 15:10
[2] See Radak 15:13
[3] See Rashi 15:13; Avoda Zara 44a
[4] Rashi 15:14