What is the context?
Asa reigns forty-one years in Jerusalem and receives a different assessment from his father: he does what is right in the LORD’s sight. He removes idols and male shrine prostitutes from the land.
The changes reach his own household. He removes his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because of the Asherah pole she has made, then cuts it down and burns it. He also brings the dedicated silver, gold and articles into the LORD’s house.
The account includes a limit: the high places are not removed. Even with that unfinished work, it describes Asa’s heart as fully devoted to the LORD.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Henry emphasizes that reform begins at home. Asa’s family relationship does not prevent him from acting against worship that dishonors God.
Wesley and Gill distinguish high places used for worship of the LORD from those dedicated to foreign gods. They use that distinction to read Kings alongside 2 Chronicles 14:2–5, which describes Asa removing foreign worship and high places.
That is an explanation they offer for the accounts’ different statements. Kings itself records both the remaining high places and Asa’s wholehearted devotion, holding a favorable assessment together with a limit to the reform.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.