Asa

Asa (meaning physician or cure) was the third king of Judah, son of Abijah and great-grandson of Solomon, who reigned forty-one years (circa 910–869 BC). He is remembered as one of Judah's reforming kings: he removed the foreign altars and high places, broke down sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and even deposed his own grandmother Maachah from the queen-mother's position because of her Asherah idol. A decisive military victory over Zerah the Ethiopian, granted after prayer, marked the high point of his reign.

In his latter years Asa's faith weakened: he relied on Syria rather than God against Baasha of Israel, imprisoned the prophet Hanani, and in his final illness sought only physicians rather than the LORD—failures that cast a shadow over an otherwise exemplary reign.