 1 Ahaz was 20 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. But he did not do the right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father. 2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and also made molded images for Baals. 3 He burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. 4 He sacrificed and burned incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5 The Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They struck him and carried away a great captivity, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter. 6 Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120,000 in Judah in one day, all mighty men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. 7 Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king. 8 The children of Israel carried away captive 200,000 of their brothers, women, and daughters, and also took away much plunder from them and brought the plunder to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded. And he went out before the army that came to Samaria and said to them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them to you and you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to Heaven. 10 Now you intend to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen to you. Are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God? 11 Now hear me, and deliver again the captives that you have taken captive of your brothers. For the fierce wrath of the Lord is on you. 12 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 who came from the war. 13 They said to them, you shall not bring the captives here. For we have offended the Lord, and you intend to add to our sins and to our trespass. For our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. 14 The armed men left the captives and the plunder before the rulers and all the congregation. 15 The men who were called by name rose and took the captives and clothed all who were naked among them with the plunder, and dressed them, and shod them, and made them eat and drink, and anointed them, and led the feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria. 16 At that time, king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come and had beaten Judah and had carried away captives. 18 The Philistines also invaded the cities of the low country and of the south of Judah and took Bethshemesh and Aijalon, Gederoth, Shocho with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo and its villages. So they lived there. 19 The Lord brought Judah low because of King Ahaz of Israel. For he loosed immorality in Judah and sinned grievously against the Lord. 20 King Tilgathpilneser of Assyria came to him and troubled him, but did not strengthen him. 21 For Ahaz took away a portion of the house of the Lord, and of the house of the king, and of the rulers, and gave it to the king of Assyria. But it was no help to him. 22 In the time of his distress he trespassed even more against the Lord, this king Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus who struck him. And he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel. 24 Ahaz gathered 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. He made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 In each separate city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers. 26 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. 27 Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem. But they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.
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