12. They made a solemn promise to faithfully worship the Lord God their ancestors had worshipped,
13. and to put to death anyone who refused to obey him.
14. The crowd solemnly agreed to keep their promise to the Lord, then they celebrated by shouting and blowing trumpets and horns.
15. Everyone was happy because they had made this solemn promise, and in return, the Lord blessed them with peace from all their enemies.
16. Asa's grandmother Maacah had made a disgusting idol of the goddess Asherah, so he cut it down, crushed it, and burnt it in Kidron Valley. Then he removed Maacah from her position as queen mother.
17. As long as Asa lived, he was faithful to the Lord, even though he did not destroy the local shrines in Israel.