1Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign ; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem : and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah , like David his father ; 2but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel , and made also molten images for the Baalim . 3Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom , and burnt his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the children of Israel . 4And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places , and on the hills , and under every green tree .
Judah's Defeat and the Consequences of Sin
5Wherefore Jehovah his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him , and carried away of his a great multitude of 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 a hundred and twenty thousand in one day , all of them valiant men ; because they had forsaken Jehovah , the God of their fathers. 7And Zichri , a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king ’s son , and Azrikam the ruler 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 .
The Prophetic Warning and the Response of Ahaz
9But a prophet of Jehovah was there , whose name was Oded : and he went out to meet the host that came to Samaria , and said unto them , Behold , because Jehovah , the God of your fathers, was wroth with Judah , he hath delivered them into your hand , and ye have slain them in a rage which hath reached 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 even with you trespasses of your own against Jehovah your God ? 11Now hear me therefore , and send back the captives , that ye have taken captive of your brethren; for the fierce wrath of Jehovah 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 ye purpose that which will bring upon us a trespass against Jehovah , to add unto 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 assembly . 15And the men that have been mentioned 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, unto their brethren: then they returned to Samaria .
Ahaz's Further Idolatry and the State of Judah
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 lowland , and of the South of Judah , and had taken Beth-shemesh , and Aijalon, and Gederoth , and Soco with the towns thereof , and Timnah with the towns thereof , Gimzo also and the towns thereof : and they dwelt there . 19For Jehovah brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel ; for he had dealt wantonly in Judah , and trespassed sore against Jehovah . 20And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him , and distressed him , but strengthened him not . 21For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of Jehovah , and out of the house of the king and of the princes , and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but it helped him not . 22And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against Jehovah , this same king Ahaz. 23For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus , which smote him ; and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped 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 Jehovah ; and he 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 Jehovah , the God of his fathers.
The End of Ahaz's Reign
26Now 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 , even in Jerusalem ; for they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel : and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead .