1Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done, (2Ki 16:2)2but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made metal images for the Baals, (Ex 34:17; Jud 2:11)3and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering,[1] according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. (Le 18:21; De 18:9; Jos 15:8; 2Ch 28:25; 2Ch 33:2; 2Ch 33:6)4And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree. (2Ch 28:3)
Judah Defeated
5Therefore the Lord his God gave him into the hand of the king of Syria, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force. (2Ki 16:5; Isa 7:1)6For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120,000 from Judah in one day, all of them men of valor, because they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. (2Ki 15:27; 2Ki 16:5)7And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son and Azrikam the commander of the palace and Elkanah the next in authority to the king.8The men of Israel took captive 200,000 of their relatives, women, sons, and daughters. They also took much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria. (2Ch 11:4)9But 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 gave them into your hand, but you have killed them in a rage that has reached up to heaven. (Ezr 9:6; Isa 47:6; Eze 25:12; Eze 25:15; Eze 26:2; Re 18:5)10And now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as your slaves. Have you not sins of your own against the Lord your God?11Now hear me, and send back the captives from your relatives whom you have taken, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.” (2Ch 28:8)12Certain chiefs also of the men 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 were coming from the war13and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives in here, for you propose to bring upon us guilt against the Lord in addition to our present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.”14So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the assembly.15And the men who have been mentioned by name rose and took the captives, and with the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them. They clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them with food and drink, and anointed them, and carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys, they brought them to their kinsfolk at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria. (Nu 1:17; De 34:3; Jud 1:16; 2Ki 6:22; 2Ch 28:12; 2Ch 31:19; Pr 25:21; Ro 12:20)16At that time King Ahaz sent to the king[2] of Assyria for help. (2Ki 16:7)17For the Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah and carried away captives.18And the Philistines had made raids on the cities in the Shephelah and the Negeb of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages. And they settled there. (Nu 21:25; Jos 15:33; Eze 16:27; Eze 16:57)19For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had made Judah act sinfully[3] and had been very unfaithful to the Lord. (2Ch 21:2)20So Tiglath-pileser[4] king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him. (2Ki 15:29; 2Ki 16:7)21For Ahaz took a portion from the house of the Lord and the house of the king and of the princes, and gave tribute to the king of Assyria, but it did not help him. (2Ki 16:8)
Ahaz’s Idolatry
22In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the Lord—this same King Ahaz.23For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and 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. (2Ch 25:14; Jer 44:17)24And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and he shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. (2Ki 16:17; 2Ch 30:14)25In every city of Judah he made high places to make offerings to other gods, provoking to anger the Lord, the God of his fathers. (2Ch 28:3)26Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. (2Ki 16:19)27And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his place. (2Ch 21:20; 2Ch 24:25)
1Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.2He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshipping the Baals.3He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations that the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.4He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.5Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hands of the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him and took many of his people as prisoners and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hands of the king of Israel, who inflicted heavy casualties on him.6In one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers in Judah – because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors.7Zikri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, second to the king.8The men of Israel took captive from their fellow Israelites who were from Judah two hundred thousand wives, sons and daughters. They also took a great deal of plunder, which they carried back to Samaria.9But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army when it returned to Samaria. He said to them, ‘Because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches to heaven.10And now you intend to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves. But aren’t you also guilty of sins against the Lord your God?11Now listen to me! Send back your fellow Israelites that you have taken as prisoners, for the Lord’s fierce anger rests on you.’12Then some of the leaders in Ephraim – Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai – confronted those who were arriving from the war.13‘You must not bring those prisoners here,’ they said, ‘or we will be guilty before the Lord. Do you intend to add to our sin and guilt? For our guilt is already great, and his fierce anger rests on Israel.’14So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and plunder in the presence of the officials and all the assembly.15The men designated by name took the prisoners, and from the plunder they clothed all who were naked. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink, and healing balm. All those who were weak they put on donkeys. So they took them back to their fellow Israelites at Jericho, the City of Palms, and returned to Samaria.16At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings[1] of Assyria for help. (2Ki 16:7)17The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away prisoners,18while the Philistines had raided towns in the foothills and in the Negev of Judah. They captured and occupied Beth Shemesh, Aijalon and Gederoth, as well as Soko, Timnah and Gimzo, with their surrounding villages.19The Lord had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel,[2] for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the Lord.20Tiglath-Pileser[3] king of Assyria came to him, but gave him trouble instead of help.21Ahaz took some of the things from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace and from the officials and presented them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help him.22In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord.23He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, ‘Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me.’ But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel.24Ahaz gathered together the furnishings from the temple of God and cut them in pieces. He shut the doors of the Lord’s temple and set up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem.25In every town in Judah he built high places to burn sacrifices to other gods and aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of his ancestors.26The other events of his reign and all his ways, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.27Ahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king.
2 Chronicles 28
King James Version
1Ahaz 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:2For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.3Moreover 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.4He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.5Wherefore 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.6For 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.7And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king' son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.8And 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.9But 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.10And 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?11Now 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.12Then 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,13And 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.14So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.15And 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.16At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.17For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.18The 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.19For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.20And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.21For 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.22And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.23For 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.24And 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.25And 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.26Now 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.27And 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.
1Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 16 years. He didn’t do what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He didn’t do what King David had done.2He followed the ways of the kings of Israel. He also made statues of gods that were named Baal.3He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. He sacrificed his children in the fire to other gods. He followed the practices of the nations. The LORD hates these practices. The LORD had driven out those nations to make room for the people of Israel.4Ahaz offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places. He also did it on the tops of hills and under every green tree.5So the LORD his God handed him over to the king of Aram. The men of Aram won the battle over him. They took many of his people as prisoners. They brought them to Damascus. God also handed Ahaz over to Pekah. Pekah was king of Israel. His army wounded or killed many of the troops of Ahaz.6In one day Pekah, the son of Remaliah, killed 120,000 soldiers in Judah. That’s because Judah had deserted the LORD, the God of their people.7Zikri was a fighting man from Ephraim. He killed Maaseiah, Azrikam and Elkanah. Maaseiah was the king’s son. Azrikam was the officer who was in charge of the palace. And Elkanah was next in command after the king.8The men of Israel captured 200,000 wives, sons and daughters from their relatives in Judah. They also took a large amount of goods. They carried all of it back to Samaria.9But a prophet of the LORD was there. His name was Oded. When the army returned to Samaria, he went out to meet them. He said to them, ‘The LORD is the God of your people. He was very angry with Judah. So he handed them over to you. But you have killed them. Your anger reached all the way to heaven.10Now you are planning to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves. But aren’t you also guilty of sins against the LORD your God?11Listen to me! You have taken your relatives from Judah as prisoners. The LORD is very angry with you. So send your relatives back.’12Then some of the leaders in Ephraim stood up to those who were returning from the war. The leaders were Azariah, Berekiah, Jehizkiah and Amasa. Azariah was the son of Jehohanan. Berekiah was the son of Meshillemoth. Jehizkiah was the son of Shallum. And Amasa was the son of Hadlai.13‘Don’t bring those prisoners here,’ they said. ‘If you do, we’ll be guilty in the sight of the LORD. Do you really want to add to our sin and guilt? We’re already very guilty. The LORD is very angry with Israel.’14So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and the goods they had taken. They did it in front of the officials and the whole community.15Azariah, Berekiah, Jehizkiah and Amasa received the prisoners. From the goods that had been taken, they gave clothes to everyone who was naked. They gave them clothes, sandals, food, drink and healing lotion. They put all the weak people on donkeys. They took them back to their relatives at Jericho. Then they returned to Samaria. Jericho was also known as the City of Palm Trees.16At that time King Ahaz sent men to the king of Assyria to get help.17The men of Edom had come and attacked Judah again. They had carried away prisoners.18At the same time the Philistines had attacked towns in the western hills and in the Negev Desert of Judah. They had captured Beth Shemesh, Aijalon and Gederoth. They had also captured Soko, Timnah and Gimzo and the villages around them. They had settled down in all of them.19The LORD had made Judah less powerful because of Ahaz, their king. Ahaz had stirred up the people of Judah to do evil things. He hadn’t been faithful to the LORD at all.20Tiglath-Pileser came to Ahaz. But he gave Ahaz trouble instead of help. Tiglath-Pileser was king of Assyria.21Ahaz took some things from the LORD’s temple. He also took some from the royal palace and from the officials. He gave all of them to the king of Assyria. But that didn’t help Ahaz.22When King Ahaz was in trouble, he became even more unfaithful to the LORD.23Ahaz offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus. They had won the battle over him. Ahaz thought, ‘The gods of the kings of Aram have helped them. So I’ll sacrifice to those gods. Then they’ll help me.’ But those gods only caused his ruin. In fact, those gods caused the ruin of the whole nation of Israel.24Ahaz gathered together everything that belonged to God’s temple. He cut all of it in pieces. Ahaz shut the doors of the LORD’s temple. He set up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem.25In every town in Judah he built high places. Sacrifices were burned there to other gods. That made the LORD, the God of his people, very angry.26The other events of the rule of Ahaz and all his evil practices from beginning to end are written down. They are written in the records of the kings of Judah and Israel.27Ahaz joined the members of his family who had already died. He was buried in the city of Jerusalem. But he wasn’t placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. Ahaz’s son Hezekiah became the next king after him.