Ahaz was twenty
years
old
when he began to reign
, and he reigned
sixteen
years
in Jerusalem
: but he did
not that which was right
in the sight
of the LORD
, like David
his father
:
For he walked in the ways
of the kings
of Israel
, and made
also molten images
for Baalim
.
Moreover he burnt incense in the valley
of the son
of Hinnom
, and burnt
his children
in the fire
, after the abominations
of the heathen
whom the LORD
had cast out
before
the children
of Israel
.
He sacrificed also and burnt incense
in the high places
, and on the hills
, and under every green
tree
.
Wherefore the LORD his God
delivered
him into the hand
of the king
of Syria
; and they smote
him, and carried away
a great multitude
of them captives
, and brought
them to Damascus
. And he was also delivered
into the hand
of the king
of Israel
, who smote
him with a great
slaughter
.
For Pekah the son
of Remaliah
slew
in Judah
an hundred
and twenty
thousand
in one
day
, which were all valiant
men
; because they had forsaken
the LORD
God
of their fathers
.
And Zichri, a mighty man
of Ephraim
, slew
Maaseiah
the king's
son
, and Azrikam
the governor
of the house
, and Elkanah
that was next
to the king
.
And the children of Israel
carried away captive
of their brethren
two hundred
thousand
, women
, sons
, and daughters
, and took also away
much
spoil
from them, and brought
the spoil
to Samaria
.
But a prophet of the LORD
was there, whose name
was Oded
: and he went out
before
the host
that came
to Samaria
, and said
unto them, Behold, because the LORD
God
of your fathers
was wroth
with Judah
, he hath delivered
them into your hand
, and ye have slain
them in a rage
that reacheth up
unto heaven
.
And now ye purpose to keep under
the children
of Judah
and Jerusalem
for bondmen
and bondwomen
unto you: but are there not with you, even
with you, sins
against the LORD
your God
?
Now hear me therefore, and deliver
the captives
again, which ye have taken captive
of your brethren
: for the fierce
wrath
of the LORD
is upon you.
Then certain of the heads
of the children
of Ephraim
, Azariah
the son
of Johanan
, Berechiah
the son
of Meshillemoth
, and Jehizkiah
the son
of Shallum
, and Amasa
the son
of Hadlai
, stood up
against them that came
from the war
,
And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in
the captives
hither: for whereas we have offended
against the LORD
already , ye intend
to add
more to our sins
and to our trespass
: for our trespass
is great
, and there is fierce
wrath
against Israel
.
So the armed men left
the captives
and the spoil
before
the princes
and all the congregation
.
And the men which were expressed
by name
rose up
, and took
the captives
, and with the spoil
clothed
all that were naked
among them, and arrayed
them, and shod
them, and gave them to eat
and to drink
, and anointed
them, and carried
all the feeble
of them upon asses
, and brought
them to Jericho
, the city
of palm trees
, to
their brethren
: then they returned
to Samaria
.
At that time did king
Ahaz
send
unto the kings
of Assyria
to help
him.
For again the Edomites had come
and smitten
Judah
, and carried away
captives
.
The Philistines also had invaded
the cities
of the low country
, and of the south
of Judah
, and had taken
Bethshemesh
, and Ajalon
, and Gederoth
, and Shocho
with the villages
thereof, and Timnah
with the villages
thereof, Gimzo
also and the villages
thereof: and they dwelt
there.
For the LORD brought
Judah
low
because of Ahaz
king
of Israel
; for he made
Judah
naked
, and transgressed
sore
against the LORD
.
And Tilgathpilneser king
of Assyria
came
unto him, and distressed
him, but strengthened
him not.
For Ahaz took away a portion
out of the house
of the LORD
, and out of the house
of the king
, and of the princes
, and gave
it unto the king
of Assyria
: but he helped
him not.
And in the time of his distress
did he trespass
yet more
against the LORD
: this is that king
Ahaz
.
For he sacrificed unto the gods
of Damascus
, which smote
him: and he said
, Because the gods
of the kings
of Syria
help
them, therefore will I sacrifice
to them, that they may help
me. But they were the ruin
of him, and of all Israel
.
And Ahaz gathered together
the vessels
of the house
of God
, and cut in pieces
the vessels
of the house
of God
, and shut up
the doors
of the house
of the LORD
, and he made
him altars
in every corner
of Jerusalem
.
And in every several city of Judah
he made
high places
to burn incense
unto other
gods
, and provoked to anger
the LORD
God
of his fathers
.
Now the rest of his acts
and of all his ways
, first
and last
, behold, they are written
in the book
of the kings
of Judah
and Israel
.
And Ahaz slept
with his fathers
, and they buried
him in the city
, even in Jerusalem
: but they brought
him not into the sepulchres
of the kings
of Israel
: and Hezekiah
his son
reigned
in his stead.