1Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not uprightly in the sight of the Lord, like David his father.
2But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made even molten images for Baalim.
3Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom, and burnt his sons with 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 hills, and under every green tree.
5Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of the Aramites, and they smote him, and took of his many prisoners, and brought them to Damascus: and he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, which smote him with a great slaughter.
6For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah sixscore thousand in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.
7And Zichri a mighty man of Ephraim slew Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah the second after the king.
8And the children of Israel took prisoners of their brethren, two hundred thousand of women, sons and daughters, and carried away much spoil of them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
9But there was a Prophet of the Lord, (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 is wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage, that reacheth up to heaven.
10And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem, as servants and handmaids unto you, but are not you such that sins are with you before the Lord your God?
11Now therefore hear me, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken prisoners of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord is toward you.
12Wherefore certain of the chiefs 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, Bring not in the captives hither: for this shall be a sin upon us against the Lord: ye intended to add more to our sins and to our trespass, though our trespass be great, and the fierce wrath of God is against Israel.
14So the army left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the Congregation.
15And the men that were named by name, rose up and took the prisoners, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them meat, and gave them drink, and anointed them, and carried all that were feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho the city of Palm trees to their brethren: so they returned to Samaria.
16At that time did King Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.
17(For the Edomites came moreover, and slew of Judah, and carried away captives.
18The Philistines also invaded the cities in the low country, and toward the South of Judah, and took Beth Shemesh, and Aijalon, and Gederoth and Sochoh, with the villages thereof, and Timnah, with her villages, and Gimzo, with her villages, and they dwelt there.
19For the Lord had humbled Judah, because of Ahaz king of Israel: for he had brought vengeance upon Judah, and had grievously transgressed against the Lord.)
20And Tilgath-Pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, who troubled him and did not strengthen him.
21For Ahaz took a portion out of the house of the Lord and out of the king’s house and of the princes’, and gave unto the king of Assyria: yet it helped him not.
22And in the time of his tribulation did he yet trespass more against the Lord, (this is king Ahaz)
23For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which plagued him, and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice unto them, and they will help me: yet they were his ruin, and of all Israel.
24And Ahaz gathered the vessels of the house of God, and brake the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
25And in every city of Judah he made high places, to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.
26Concerning 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.
27And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of Jerusalem, but brought him not unto the sepulchers of the Kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.