ASA, in the Bible, son (or perhaps, rather brother) of Abijah, the son of Rehoboam and king of Judah (I. Kings xv. 9-24). He was a contemporary of Baasha, Zimri and Omri of Israel, but little is recorded of his long reign except some religious reforms and conflicts with the first-named. Baasha fortified Ramah (er Ram), 5m. north of Jerusalem, and Asa was compelled to use the residue of the temple-funds, to bribe the king of Damascus to renounce his league with Baasha and attack Israel. Galilee was invaded and Baasha was forced to return, the building ma terial which he had collected at Ramah being used by Asa to fortify Geba, and Mizpah to the immediate north of Jerusalem. The Book of Chronicles relates a story of a sensational defeat of Zerah the "Cushite," and a great religious revival in which Judah and Israel took part (II. Chron. xiv.—xv. 15). Asa was succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat.