1 A haz was twenty years old when he became king. And he ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done.

Ahaz 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.

2 B ut he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He also made objects to look like the false gods of Baal.

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

3 H e burned special perfume in the valley of Ben-Hinnom. And he burned his sons in fire, following the hated ways of the nations whom the Lord had driven out before the sons of Israel.

And 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.

4 H e gave gifts in worship and burned special perfume on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. Syria and Israel Win over Judah

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

5 S o the Lord his God gave him into the hand of the king of Syria. The Syrians won the war against Ahaz and carried away many of his people to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who killed many of his people in the war.

Therefore 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.

6 F or Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120, 000 powerful soldiers of Judah in one day, because they had turned away from the Lord God of their fathers.

For 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.

7 A nd Zichri, a strong man of Ephraim, killed the king’s son Maaseiah, and Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah the second in power to the king. Oded—the Man of God

And 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.

8 T he sons of Israel carried away 200, 000 women and sons and daughters of Judah. They also took many good things from them to Samaria.

And 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.

9 B ut a man who spoke for the Lord was there, whose name was Oded. He went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “See, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, He has given them into your hand. But you have killed them in an anger which has even gone up to heaven.

But 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.

10 A nd now you plan to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem work hard for you. Do you not have sins of your own against the Lord your God?

And 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?

11 N ow listen to me. Return the people whom you have taken from your brothers. For the burning anger of the Lord is against you.”

Now 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.

12 T hen some of the leaders of the sons of Ephraim stood up against those who were coming from the battle. These leaders were Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai.

Then 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

13 T hey said, “You must not bring the people in here. For you plan to bring guilt upon us against the Lord, adding to our sins and our guilt. We are already so guilty that His burning anger is against Israel.”

And 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.

14 S o the men of war left the people and things taken from Judah in front of the leaders and all the people of Israel.

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

15 T hen the men who were chosen by name came and took the people of Judah. And they gave clothing to all of them who had none, using the clothes found among the things taken from Judah. They gave them clothes and shoes, and food and drink, and poured oil on them. They led all their weak ones on donkeys, and brought them to their brothers at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

And 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.

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

At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria to help him.

17 F or the Edomites had come to fight Judah again, and carried people away.

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

18 T he Philistines also had come to fight against the cities of the valley and of the Negev of Judah. They had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages. And they came to live there.

The 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.

19 F or the Lord brought trouble to Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel. Ahaz caused the people of Judah to sin and was not faithful to the Lord.

For 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.

20 S o King Tilgath-pilneser of Assyria came against him and brought him trouble instead of strength.

So Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him without strengthening him.

21 A haz took riches from the house of the Lord and from the house of the king and of the princes, and gave them to the king of Assyria. But it did not help him. The Sins and Death of Ahaz

For 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.

22 I n the time of his trouble, this same King Ahaz became even less faithful to the Lord.

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

23 F or he gave gifts on the altar to the gods of Damascus who had beaten him in battle. He said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will give gifts to them so they may help me.” But they were what destroyed him and all Israel.

For 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.

24 A haz gathered together the objects of the house of God and cut them in pieces. Then he closed the doors of the Lord’s house, and made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem.

And 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.

25 I n every city of Judah he made high places to burn special perfume to other gods. And he made the Lord, the God of his fathers, very angry.

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

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

Now 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.

27 A haz died, and they buried him in the city of Jerusalem. They did not bring him into the graves of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son ruled in his place.

And 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.