Asa’s actions as described in this verse agree with the teachings of the Law (see Deut 7.5; 12.3; 16.21-22).

He took away the foreign altars and the high places: Some other ways of expressing the verb took away are “caused to disappear” (La Bible du Semeur), “abolished” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), and “got rid of” (God’s Word). Foreign altars were not altars imported from other countries. Rather, they were altars built in order to worship foreign gods. New American Bible calls them “heathen altars,” and NET Bible says “pagan altars.” For high places, see the comments on 1 Chr 16.39 and 2 Chr 1.3.

And broke down the pillars: The verb broke down may be rendered “smashed” (Revised English Bible) or “broke to pieces” (similarly New American Bible). The Hebrew noun rendered pillars usually refers to an unhewn, uncut, or natural stone that stood upright. Sometimes these stones were used for burial-marking (Gen 35.20) or for reminding people of some special event that happened at that location (Gen 35.14). However, in this context the reference is to stones associated with the worship of Baal (see Exo 23.24). Archaeologists have discovered numerous such stones in the Near Eastern world of the Old Testament. Other translations for pillars include “sacred stone columns” (Good News Translation), “sacred pillars” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible), and “obelisks” (Moffatt).

And hewed down the Asherim: Asherim were probably poles or trees that served as symbols of the fertility goddess Asherah. Asherim is the plural of Asherah in Hebrew, which Good News Translation identifies as “the goddess Asherah.” Asherah was a goddess worshiped by different names in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Phoenicia, and Syria. A recently discovered inscription seems to suggest that in popular Israelite religion, Asherah was thought to be Yahweh’s consort, that is, his wife or partner. In the Old Testament Asherah sometimes refers to the Canaanite goddess (2 Chr 15.16), and sometimes it refers to a wooden pole that served as a symbol of the goddess (so here and 2 Chr 17.6; 19.3; 24.18; 31.1; 33.3, 19; 34.3-4, 7).

Both the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate usually render this Hebrew name as “grove [of trees].” This is the basis for the King James Version rendering “groves.” However, most interpreters today understand “Asherah” and Asherim to be objects made by people and not groves of trees. Various translations of Asherim include “sacred poles” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Moffatt) and “sacred posts” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). But since most readers will not know what function these “sacred poles” had, it will be better to say “sacred poles used in worshiping the goddess Asherah” (Contemporary English Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .