28
1 Ahaz
was twenty years
old when he began
to reign, and
he reigned sixteen
years in Jerusalem.
He didn’t do that
which was right
in the LORD’s
eyes, like David
his father,
2 but
he walked in
the ways of
the kings of
Israel, and also
made molten images
for the Baals.
3 Moreover he
burned incense in
the valley of
the son of
Hinnom, and burned
his children in
the fire, according to
the abominations
of the nations
whom the LORD
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 Therefore
the LORD his
God delivered him
into the hand
of the king
of Syria. They
struck him, and
carried away from
him 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 the LORD,
the God of
their fathers.
7 Zichri,
a mighty man
of Ephraim, killed
Maaseiah the king’s
son, 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
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
to meet the
army that came
to Samaria, and
said to them, “Behold, because the
LORD, 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 intend to degrade
the children of
Judah and
Jerusalem as male
and female slaves
for yourselves. Aren’t
there even with
you trespasses of
your own against
the LORD your
God?
11 Now
hear me therefore,
and send back the
captives that you
have taken captive
from your brothers,
for the fierce
wrath of the
LORD is on
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
must not bring
in the captives
here, for
you intend that
which will bring
on us a trespass
against the LORD,
to add to
our sins and
to our guilt; for
our guilt is great,
and there is
fierce wrath
against Israel.”
14 So
the armed men
left the captives
and the plunder
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 plunder
clothed all who
were naked among
them, dressed them,
gave them sandals,
gave them
something to eat
and to drink,
anointed them,
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 King Ahaz
sent 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, Aijalon,
Gederoth, Soco
with its villages,
Timnah with its
villages, and also
Gimzo and its
villages; and they
lived there.
19 For
the LORD brought
Judah low because
of Ahaz king of
Israel, because he
acted without
restraint in Judah
and trespassed severely
against the LORD.
20 Tilgath-pilneser king
of Assyria came to
him and gave
him trouble, but didn’t
strengthen him.
21 For Ahaz
took away a
portion out of
the LORD’s house,
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, he
trespassed yet
more against the
LORD, this same
King Ahaz.
23 For
he sacrificed to
the gods of
Damascus which had
defeated him.
He said, “Because
the gods of the
kings of Syria
helped them, I
will 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
God’s house, cut
the vessels of
God’s house in
pieces, and shut
up the doors
of the LORD’s
house; and he
made himself
altars in every
corner of
Jerusalem.
25 In
every city of
Judah he made
high places to
burn incense to
other gods, and
provoked the LORD,
the God of
his fathers, to
anger.
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, because
they didn’t bring him
into the tombs
of the kings
of Israel; and
Hezekiah his son
reigned in his
place.