1 A haz was twenty years old when he began his sixteen-year reign in Jerusalem. He did not do right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father.

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do right in the sight of the Lord as David his father had done.

2 B ut he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even made molten images for the Baals.

But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made molten images for the Baals.

3 A nd he burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, after the abominable customs of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites.

Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons in fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had driven out before the sons of Israel.

4 H e sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills and under every green tree. Judah Is Invaded

5 T herefore the Lord his God gave Ahaz into the power of the king of Syria, who defeated him and carried away a great multitude of the Jews as captives, taking them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hands of the king of Israel, who smote Judah with a great slaughter.

Wherefore, the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Aram; and they defeated him and carried away from him a great number of captives and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who inflicted him with heavy casualties.

6 F or Pekah son of Remaliah slew in Judah 120, 000 in one day, all courageous men, because they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers.

For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah 120, 000 in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.

7 A nd Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah, King Ahaz’ son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah, who was second to the king.

And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son and Azrikam the ruler of the house and Elkanah the second to the king.

8 A nd the Israelites carried away captive 200, 000 of their kinsmen —women, sons, and daughters—and also took much plunder from them and brought it to Samaria.

The sons of Israel carried away captive of their brethren 200, 000 women, sons and daughters; and they took also a great deal of spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

9 B ut a prophet of the Lord was there whose name was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that was returning to Samaria and said to them, Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, He delivered them into your hand; but you have slain them in a fury that reaches up to heaven.

But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army which 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 even reached heaven.

10 A nd now you intend to suppress the people of Judah and Jerusalem, both men and women, as your slaves. But are not you yourselves guilty of crimes against the Lord your God?

Now you are proposing to subjugate for yourselves the people of Judah and Jerusalem for male and female slaves. Surely, do you not have transgressions of your own against the Lord your God?

11 N ow hear me therefore, and set the prisoners free again whom you have taken captive of your kinsmen, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.

Now therefore, listen to me and return the captives whom you captured from your brothers, for the burning anger of the Lord is against you.”

12 T hen certain of the heads of the Ephraimites —Azariah son of Johanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—stood up against those returning from the war

Then some of the heads of the sons of Ephraim—Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai—arose against those who were coming from the battle,

13 A nd said, You shall not bring the captives in here; we are guilty before the Lord already, and what you intend will add more to our sins and our guilt. For our trespass (guilt) is great, and there is fierce anger against Israel.

and said to them, “You must not bring the captives in here, for you are proposing to bring upon us guilt against the Lord adding to our sins and our guilt; for our guilt is great so that His burning anger is against Israel.”

14 S o the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the assembly.

So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the officers and all the assembly.

15 A nd the men who have been mentioned by name rose up and took the captives, and with the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them; and having clothed them, shod them, given them food and drink, anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon donkeys, they brought them to Jericho, the City of Palm Trees, to their brethren. Then they returned to Samaria.

Then the men who were designated by name arose, took the captives, and they clothed all their naked ones from the spoil; and they gave them clothes and sandals, fed them and gave them drink, anointed them with oil, led all their feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers; then they returned to Samaria. Compromise with Assyria

16 A t that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria to help him.

At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help.

17 F or again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah and carried away captives.

For again the Edomites had come and attacked Judah and carried away captives.

18 T he Philistines had invaded the cities of the low country and of the South (the Negeb) of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco, and also Timnah and Gimzo, with their villages, and they settled there.

The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the Negev of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages, and they settled there.

19 F or the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for Ahaz had dealt with reckless cruelty against Judah and had been faithless against the Lord.

For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had brought about a lack of restraint in Judah and was very unfaithful to the Lord.

20 S o Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him without strengthening him.

So Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him.

21 F or Ahaz took from the house of the Lord and out of the house of the king and from the princes and gave it as tribute to the king of Assyria, but it did not help Ahaz.

Although Ahaz took a portion out of the house of the Lord and out of the palace of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

22 I n the time of his distress he became still more unfaithful to the Lord—this same King Ahaz.

Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the Lord.

23 F or he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which had defeated him, for he said, Since 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.

For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, and said, “ Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they became the downfall of him and all Israel.

24 A nd Ahaz collected the utensils of the house of God and cut them in pieces; and he shut up the doors of the Lord’s temple and made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

Moreover, when Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of God, he cut the utensils of the house of God in pieces; and he closed the doors of the house of the Lord and made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem.

25 I n each city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, provoking to anger the Lord, the God of his fathers.

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 N ow the rest of his acts and of all his ways, from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

Now 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.

27 A nd 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 Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

So 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.