מלכים א, פרק ט״ו, פסוק ט׳

The ascension of a new king often brings a shift in a nation's destiny, and the rise of Asa to the throne of Judah marks the beginning of a long and stable era. His timeline, however, presents a chronological puzzle when calculating the reigns of the kings before him. Rehoboam of Judah and Jeroboam of Israel began their reigns at the exact same time, with Rehoboam ruling for seventeen years. His son, Abijam, took over during Jeroboam's eighteenth year and ruled for three years. If these were full calendar years, Asa would not have taken the throne until Jeroboam's twenty-first year. The primary approach among commentators is that the timeline relies on fractional years. Abijam's three years were not complete; they spanned the eighteenth, the nineteenth, and merely a fraction of Jeroboam's twentieth year. Therefore, that twentieth year is shared by both kings, marking the end of Abijam's rule and the immediate beginning of Asa's reign.

Asa went on to rule for forty-one years. This remarkable longevity on the throne was a direct result of his deep piety and his commitment to following the righteous path of David, reflecting the principle that the fear of God lengthens a person's days. This stands in sharp contrast to the wicked kings of Israel, such as Jeroboam and his descendants, whose lives and reigns were cut short as a consequence of their sins [אברבנאל].

What makes Asa's righteousness truly stand out is the family environment in which he was raised. He grew up under the heavy influence of Maacah. Although she was actually his grandmother, she is referred to as his mother because she was the one who raised him. Despite her guidance, Asa refused to be drawn into the sinful behaviors that had defined his father and grandfather. Instead, he acted with great courage to wipe out the idol worship she had introduced. He stripped her of her high royal status and burned the idol she had made in the Kidron Valley, ensuring that no one could ever derive any benefit from it [אברבנאל].