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 what was right in the sight of the Lord, as his father David had done.

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

For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molded 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.

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 had cast out before the children of Israel.

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

And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. Syria and Israel Defeat Judah

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.

Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought them to Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter.

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 killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Judah 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.

Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer over the house, and Elkanah who was 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.

And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. Israel Returns the Captives

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 before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: “Look, because the Lord God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to 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?

And now you propose to force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be your male and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before 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 hear me, therefore, and return the captives, whom you have taken captive from your brethren, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon 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 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 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 shall not bring the captives here, for we already have offended the Lord. You intend to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath 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 leaders 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 rose up and took the captives, and from the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals, gave them food and drink, and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to their brethren at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria. Assyria Refuses to Help Judah

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

At the same time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him.

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

For again the Edomites had come, 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 South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Sochoh with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages; and they dwelt 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 brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the Lord.

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

Also Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, and did not assist 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.

For Ahaz took part of the treasures from the house of the Lord, from the house of the king, and from the leaders, and he gave it to the king of Assyria; but he did not help him. Apostasy and Death of Ahaz

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 King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord. This is that King Ahaz.

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, saying, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of 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.

So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and made for himself altars 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.

And in every single city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.

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, indeed 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 rested 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. Then Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.