2 Chronicles 28

Ahaz Reigns in Judah

(2 Kings 16:1–9)

1AhazH271 was twentyH6242 years oldH1121H8141 when he became kingH4427, and he reignedH4427 in JerusalemH3389 sixteenH8337H6240 yearsH8141. And unlike DavidH1732 his fatherH1, he did notH3808 doH6213 what was rightH3477 in the eyesH5869 of the LORDH3068. 2Instead, he walkedH1980 in the waysH1870 of the kingsH4428 of IsraelH3478 and evenH1571 madeH6213 cast imagesH4541 of the BaalsH1168.

3Moreover, AhazH1931 burned incenseH6999 in the ValleyH1516 of Ben-hinnomH1121H2011 and sacrificedH1197 his sonsH1121 in the fireH784,1 according to the abominationsH8441 of the nationsH1471 thatH834 the LORDH3068 had driven outH3423 beforeH6440 the IsraelitesH1121H3478. 4And he sacrificedH2076 and burned incenseH6999 on the high placesH1116, onH5921 the hillsH1389, and underH8478 everyH3605 greenH7488 treeH6086.

Aram Defeats Judah

(Isaiah 1:1–9)

5So the LORDH3068 his GodH430 delivered AhazH5414 into the handH3027 of the kingH4428 of AramH758, who attackedH5221 him and tookH7617H4480 manyH1419H935 captivesH7633 to DamascusH1834.

Ahaz was alsoH1571 deliveredH5414 into the handH3027 of the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478, who struckH5221 him with greatH1419 forceH4347. 6For in oneH259 dayH3117 PekahH6492 sonH1121 of RemaliahH7425 killedH2026 120,000H3967H6242H505 valiantH2428 menH1121 in JudahH3063. This happened because they had forsakenH5800 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of their fathersH1. 7ZichriH2147, a mighty manH1368 of EphraimH669, killedH2026 MaaseiahH4641 the sonH1121 of the kingH4428, AzrikamH5840 the governorH5057 of the palaceH1004, and ElkanahH511 the secondH4932 to the kingH4428. 8Then the IsraelitesH1121H3478 took 200,000H3967H505 captivesH7617 from their kinsmenH251—womenH802, sonsH1121, and daughtersH1323. They alsoH1571 carried offH962 a great deal ofH7227 plunderH7998 and broughtH935 itH7998 to SamariaH8111.

9But a prophetH5030 of the LORDH3068 namedH8034 OdedH5752 wasH1961 thereH8033, and he went outH3318 to meetH6440 the armyH6635 that returnedH935 to SamariaH8111. “LookH2009,” he saidH559 to them, “because of His wrathH2534 againstH5921 JudahH3063, the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of your fathersH1, has delivered themH5414 into your handH3027. But you have slaughteredH2026 them in a rageH2197 that reaches upH5060 to heavenH8064. 10And nowH6258 youH859 intendH559 to reduce to slaveryH3533 the menH5650 and womenH8198 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389. But are youH859H5973 notH3808 alsoH7535 guiltyH819 before the LORDH3068 your GodH430? 11Now thereforeH6258, listen to meH8085 and returnH7725 the captivesH7633 you tookH7617 from your kinsmenH251, forH3588 the fierce angerH2740H639 of the LORDH3068 is upon youH5921.”

12Then someH582 of the leadersH7218 of the EphraimitesH1121H6692—AzariahH5838 sonH1121 of JehohananH3076, BerechiahH1296 sonH1121 of MeshillemothH4919,3 JehizkiahH3169 sonH1121 of ShallumH7967, and AmasaH6021 sonH1121 of HadlaiH2311—stoodH6965 in opposition toH5921 those arrivingH935 fromH4480 the warH6635. 13“You must notH3808 bringH935 the captivesH7633 hereH2008,” they saidH559, “forH3588 youH859 are proposingH559 to bring guiltH819 upon usH5921 from the LORDH3068 and to addH3254 toH5921 our sinsH2403 andH5921 our guiltH819. ForH3588 our guiltH819 is greatH7227, and fierce angerH2740H639 is uponH5921 IsraelH3478.”

14So the armed menH2502 leftH5800 the captivesH7633 and the plunderH961 beforeH6440 the leadersH8269 and allH3605 the assemblyH6951. 15Then the menH582 whoH834 were designatedH5344 by nameH8034 aroseH6965, took chargeH2388 of the captivesH7633, and provided fromH4480 the plunderH7998 clothingH3847 for the nakedH4636. They clothed themH3847, gave them sandalsH5274 and foodH398 and drinkH8248, anointedH5480 their wounds, and putH5095 allH3605 the feebleH3782 on donkeysH2543. So they brought themH935 to JerichoH3405, the CityH5892 of PalmsH8558, toH681 their brothersH251. Then they returnedH7725 to SamariaH8111.

The Idolatry of Ahaz

(2 Kings 16:10–20)

16At thatH1931 timeH6256 KingH4428 AhazH271 sentH7971 for helpH5826 fromH5921 the kingH44284 of AssyriaH804. 17The EdomitesH130 had againH5750 comeH935 and attackedH5221 JudahH3063 and carried awayH7617 captivesH7628. 18The PhilistinesH6430 had also raidedH6584 the citiesH5892 of the foothillsH82195 and the NegevH5045 of JudahH3063, capturingH3920 and occupyingH3427H8033 Beth-shemeshH1053, AijalonH357, andH853 GederothH1450, as well asH853 SocoH7755, TimnahH8553, andH853 GimzoH1579 with their villagesH1323. 19ForH3588 the LORDH3068 humbledH3665 JudahH3063 becauseH5668 AhazH271 kingH4428 of IsraelH3478H35886 had thrown off restraintH6544 in JudahH3063 and had been most unfaithfulH4603H4604 to the LORDH3068.

20Then Tiglath-pileserH84077 kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 cameH935 toH5921 Ahaz but afflictedH6887 him rather thanH3808 strengthening himH2388. 21AlthoughH3588 AhazH271 had taken a portionH2505 from the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068, fromH853 the royalH4428 palaceH1004, and from the princesH8269 and had presentedH5414 it to the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804, it did notH3808 helpH5833 him.

22In the timeH6256 of his distressH6887, KingH4428 AhazH271 became even moreH3254 unfaithfulH4603 to the LORDH3068. 23He sacrificedH2076 to the godsH430 of DamascusH1834, who had defeatedH5221 him, and he saidH559, “BecauseH3588 the godsH430 of the kingsH4428 of AramH758 have helpedH5826 themH853, I will sacrificeH2076 to them that they may help meH5826.” But theseH1992 gods wereH1961 the downfallH3782 of Ahaz and of allH3605 IsraelH3478.

24Then AhazH271 gathered upH622 the articlesH3627 of the houseH1004 of GodH430, cut themH3627H1004H430 into piecesH7112, shutH5462 the doorsH1817 of the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068, and set upH6213 altarsH4196 of his own on everyH3605 street cornerH6438 in JerusalemH3389. 25In everyH3605 cityH5892 of JudahH3063 he builtH6213 high placesH1116 to offer incenseH6999 to otherH312 godsH430, and so he provokedH3707 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of his fathersH1.

26As for the restH3499 of the actsH1697 of Ahaz and allH3605 his waysH1870, from beginningH7223 to endH314, they are indeedH2005 writtenH3789 inH5921 the BookH5612 of the KingsH4428 of JudahH3063 and IsraelH3478. 27And AhazH271 restedH7901 withH5973 his fathersH1 and was buriedH6912 in the cityH5892 of JerusalemH3389, butH3588 he was notH3808 placedH935 in the tombsH6913 of the kingsH4428 of IsraelH3478. And his sonH1121 HezekiahH2396 reignedH4427 in his placeH8478.