Discovery Box1 Kings 15:12-13 
Context15:12 He removed the male cultic prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the disgusting idols 1 his ancestors 2 had made. 15:13 He also removed Maacah his grandmother 3 from her position as queen because she had made a loathsome Asherah pole. Asa cut down her Asherah pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.
1 tn The word used here, גִלּוּלִים [gillulim], is always used as a disdainful reference to idols. It is generally thought to have originally referred to “dung pellets” (cf. KBL 183 s.v. גִלּוּלִים). It is only one of several terms used in this way, such as “worthless things” (אֱלִילִים, ’elilim), “vanities” or “empty winds” (הֲבָלִים, havalim).
2 tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 24).
3 tn Heb “mother,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors.
