1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he didn’t do that which was right in the eyes
of Yahweh, like David his father; 2 but he walked in the ways of the kings
of Israel, and made also molten images for the Baals. 3 Moreover 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 Yahweh cast out
before the children of Israel. 4 He sacrificed and burnt incense in the
high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5 Therefore
Yahweh his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they
struck him, and carried away of his a great multitude of captives, and
brought them to Damascus. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of
Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter. 6 For Pekah the son of
Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them
valiant men; because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
7 Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, and
Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king.
8 The children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two
hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil
from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of Yahweh was
there, whose name was Oded: and he went out to meet the host that came to
Samaria, and said to them, Behold, because Yahweh, the God of your fathers,
was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have
slain them in a rage which has reached up to heaven. 10 Now you
purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondservants
and bondmaids to you: but aren’t there even with you trespasses of
your own against Yahweh your God? 11 Now hear me therefore, and send back
the captives, that you have taken captive of your brothers; for the
fierce wrath of Yahweh is on you. 12 Then 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 those who came from the war, 13 and said to them,
You shall not bring in the captives here: for you purpose that
which will bring on us a trespass against Yahweh, to add to our sins and to
our trespass; for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against
Israel. 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the
princes and all the assembly. 15 The men who have been mentioned by name
rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all who 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 on donkeys, and
brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers: then they
returned to Samaria. 16 At that time did king Ahaz send to the kings of
Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come and struck Judah,
and carried away captives. 18 The 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 of it, and Timnah with the
towns of it, Gimzo also and the towns of it: and they lived there. 19 For
Yahweh brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he had dealt
wantonly in Judah, and trespassed severely against Yahweh. 20 Tilgath
Pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and distressed him, but didn’t
strengthen him. 21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of
Yahweh, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it to
the king of Assyria: but it didn’t help him. 22 In the time of his
distress did he trespass yet more against Yahweh, this same king Ahaz.
23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which struck 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. 24 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 Yahweh; and he made him altars in every corner of
Jerusalem. 25 In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense
to other gods, and provoked to anger Yahweh, the God of his fathers.
26 Now 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. 27 Ahaz
slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem;
for they didn’t bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah
his son reigned in his place.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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