ARVADITES (ar'vad-ites), (1-feb. ar zad-eem', Gen. x:18; 1 Citron. 6), the inhabitants of the island Aradus (see ARVAD), and doubtless also of the neighboring coast. The Arvadites were descended from Arvad, one of the sons of Canaan (Gen. x:18 ). Strabo ( xvi, p. 731) describes the Arvadites as a colony from Sidon. They were noted mariners ( Ezek. xxvii:8, Strabo, xvi, p. 754), and formed a distinct state, with a king of their own (Arrian, Exted. Alex. ii, p.cio); yet they appear to have been in some dependence upon 1 yre, for the prophet represents them as furnish ing their contingent of mariners to that city (Ezek. xxvii:8, II). The Arvadites took their full share in the maritime traffic for which the Phccnician nation was celebrated, particularly after Tyre and Sidon had fallen under the dominion of the Graco Syrian kings. They early entered into alliance with the Romans, and Aradus is named among the states to which the consul Lucius formerly made known the league which had been contracted with Simon Maccabxus Mace. xv:23).
ARZA (arza), (Heb. t:T earthiness), governor of Tirzah, in whose house Zimri killed Elah, king of Israel (I Kings xvi:o, to).
ASA (A'sdl, Web. aw-saw', healing or phy sician), son of Abijah, grandson of Rehl)boam, and third king of Judah. Ile began to reign two years before the death of Jeroboam, in Israel, and he reigned forty-one years, from B.C.o15-875. As Asa was very young at his accession, the affairs of the government were athninistered by his mother, or, according to sonic (Comp. I Kings xv:i, to), his grandmother Nlaachah, who is understood to have been a granddaughter of Absalom (see M AA CHAU). She give much tncouragement to idola try.
(1) Religious Conduct. The young king, on as suming the reins of government, zealously rooted out the idolatrous practices v,hidi had grown up during his minority and under the preceding reigns; and only the altars in the 'high places were suffered to remain (I Kings xv: 11-13; 2 Chron.
(2) Ware. Ile neglected no human means of plating his kingdom in the best po‘sible military condition, for which ample opportunity was offered by the peace sshich he enjoyed in the first ten years of his reign. And his resources were so well organized, and the population had so increased, that he was eventually in a condition to count on the militarr services of 58o,os.).3 men (2 Citron. xiv: 6
8). In the eleventh year of his reign, relying upon the Divine aid, Asa attacked and defeated the numerous hosts of the Cushite king Zerah, who had penetrated through Arabia Petra into the vale of Zephathah with an immense host. As the trium phant Judahites were returning, laden with spoil, to Jerusalem, they were met by the prophet Aza riah, who declared this splendid victory to be a consequence of Asa's confidence in Jehovah, and exhorted him to perseverance.
(3) Reforms. Thus encouraged, the king ex erted himself to extirpate the remains of idolatry, and caused the people to renew their covenant with Jehovah (2 Chron. xv: 1-15). It was this clear knowledge of his dependent political position, as the vicegerent of Jehovah, which won for Asa the highest praise that could be given to a Jewish king that lie walked in the steps of his ancestor David (1 Kings xv: 11).
(4) Alliance with Ben-hadad. Nevertheless, toward the latter end of his reign the king failed to maintain the character he had thus acquired. When Baasha, king of Israel, had renewed the war between the two kingdoms, and had taken Ramah, which he was proceeding to fortify as a frontier barrier, Asa, the conqueror of Zerah, was so far wanting to his kingdom and his God as to employ the wealth of the Temple and of the royal treas ures to induce the king of Syria (Damascus) to make a diversion in his favor by invading the do minions of Baasha. By this means lie recovered Raniali, indeed; hut his treasures were squandered, and lie incurred the rebuke of the prophet Hanani, whom he cast into prison, being, as it seems, both alarmed and enraged at the effect his address was calculated toproduce upon the people. Other per sons (who had probably manifested their disappro bation) also suffered from his anger (1 Kings xv: 16 22; 2 Chron. xvi: 1-io). In the last three years of his life, Asa was afflicted with a grievous 'disease in his feet;' and it is mentioned to his reproach that he placed too much confidence in his physi cians.
(5) Death. At his death, however, it anpeared that his popularity had not been substantially im paired; for he was honored with a funeral of unus ual cost and magnificence (1 Chron. xvi: He was succeeded by his son Jelioshaphat.