Ahaz Reigns in Judah
1 Ahazwastwenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not dowhatwasright in the sight of theLord, as his father Davidhaddone.
2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and mademolded images forthe Baals.
3 He burned incense inthe Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burnedhis children in thefire, according to the abominations of the nations whom theLordhadcast out before the children of Israel.
4 And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.
Syria and Israel Defeat Judah
5 ThereforetheLordhis God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. Theydefeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and broughtthemto Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter.
6 ForPekah the son of Remaliah killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all valiant men,because they had forsaken theLordGod of their fathers.
7 Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer over the house, and Elkanahwhowassecond to the king.
8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of theirbrethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
Israel Returns the Captives
9 But aprophet of theLordwas there, whose namewasOded; and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: “Look,because theLordGod of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a ragethatreaches up to heaven.
10 And now you propose to force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be yourmale and female slaves;butareyou not also guilty before theLordyour God?
11 Now hear me, therefore, and return the captives, whom you have taken captive from your brethren,for the fierce wrath of theLordisupon you.”
12 Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,
13 and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives here, for wealreadyhave offended theLord. You intend to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, andthereisfierce wrath against Israel.”
14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the leaders and all the assembly.
15 Then the menwho were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals,gave them food and drink, and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to their brethren at Jericho,the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.
Assyria Refuses to Help Judah
16 At the same time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him.
17 For again theEdomites had come, attacked Judah, and carried away captives.
18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Sochoh with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages; and they dwelt there.
19 For theLordbrought Judah low because of Ahaz king ofIsrael, for he hadencouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to theLord.
20 AlsoTiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, and did not assist him.
21 For Ahaz took partofthetreasuresfrom the house of theLord, from the house of the king, and from the leaders, and he gaveitto the king of Assyria; but he did not help him.
Apostasy and Death of Ahaz
22 Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to theLord. ThisisthatKing Ahaz.
23 Forhe sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to themthat they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
24 So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God,shut up the doors of the house of theLord, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
25 And in every single city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger theLordGod of his fathers.
26 Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, indeed theyarewritten in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
27 So Ahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem; but theydid not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. Then Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.