[1] Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he didn`t do that which was right in the
eyes of Yahweh, like David his father; [2] but he walked in the ways of the
kings of Israel, and made also molten images for the Baals. [3] Moreover he
burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in
the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out
before the children of Israel. [4] He sacrificed and burnt incense in the
high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. [5] Why Yahweh
his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they struck
him, and carried away of his a great multitude of captives, and brought
them to Damascus. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of
Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter. [6] For Pekah the son of
Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of
them valiant men; because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their
fathers. [7] Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king`s
son, and Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the
king. [8] The children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two
hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil
from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. [9] But a prophet of Yahweh
was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out to meet the host that came
to Samaria, and said to them, Behold, because Yahweh, the God of your
fathers, was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand, and
you have slain them in a rage which has reached up to heaven. [10] Now you
purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondservants
and bondmaids to you: [but] aren`t there even with you trespasses of your
own against Yahweh your God? [11] Now hear me therefore, and send back the
captives, that you have taken captive of your brothers; for the fierce
wrath of Yahweh is on you. [12] 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 those who came from the war, [13] and said to them, You shall not
bring in the captives here: for you purpose that which will bring on us a
trespass against Yahweh, to add to our sins and to our trespass; for our
trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. [14] So the
armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the
assembly. [15] The men who have been mentioned by name rose up, and took
the captives, and with the spoil clothed all who 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 on donkeys, and brought
them to Jericho, the city of palm-trees, to their brothers: then they
returned to Samaria. [16] At that time did king Ahaz send to the kings of
Assyria to help him. [17] For again the Edomites had come and struck 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, and
Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Soco with the towns of it, and Timnah with the
towns of it, Gimzo also and the towns of it: and they lived there. [19] For
Yahweh brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he had dealt
wantonly in Judah, and trespassed sore against Yahweh. [20]
Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and distressed him, but
didn`t strengthen him. [21] For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house
of Yahweh, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it
to the king of Assyria: but it didn`t help him. [22] In the time of his
distress did he trespass yet more against Yahweh, this same king Ahaz. [23]
For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which struck him; and he said,
Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, [therefore] will I
sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him,
and of all Israel. [24] 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 Yahweh; and he made him altars in every corner of
Jerusalem. [25] In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense
to other gods, and provoked to anger Yahweh, the God of his fathers. [26]
Now the rest of his acts, and all his ways, first and last, behold, they
are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. [27] Ahaz slept
with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem; for
they didn`t bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah
his son reigned in his place.
