Chapter 28

Ahaz [was] twenty years old when he began to reign,² and he reigned¹ sixteen ⁶²⁴⁰ years in Jerusalem: but he did¹ not [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:

For he walked in⁴ the ways of the kings of Israel, and made¹ also molten images for Baalim.

Moreover he burnt incense⁵² in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt⁵⁵ his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out⁵² before the children of Israel.

He sacrificed¹⁷ also and burnt incense¹⁷ in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

Wherefore the LORD his God delivered⁴ him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote⁵⁵ him, and carried away⁴ a great multitude of them captives, and brought⁵⁵ [them] to Damascus. And he was also delivered¹² into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote⁵⁵ him with a great slaughter.

For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew⁴ in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, [which were] all valiant men; because they had forsaken² the LORD God of their fathers.

And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew⁴ Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah [that was] next to the king.

And the children of Israel carried away⁴ captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away¹ much spoil from them, and brought⁵⁵ the spoil to Samaria.

But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name [was] Oded: and he went out⁴ before the host that came⁶ to Samaria, and said⁴ unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered¹ them into your hand, and ye have slain⁴ them in a rage [that] reacheth up⁵² unto heaven.

And now ye purpose⁶ to keep under² the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: [but are there] not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?

Now hear³ me therefore, and deliver⁵⁴ the captives again, which ye have taken captive¹ of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD [is] upon you.

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 up⁴ against them that came⁶ from the war,

And said⁴ unto them, Ye shall not bring in⁵⁵ the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD [already], ye intend⁶ to add⁵³ [more] to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and [there is] fierce wrath against Israel.

So the armed⁷ men left⁴ the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.

And the men which were expressed⁸ by name rose up,⁴ and took⁵⁵ the captives, and with the spoil clothed⁵² all that were naked among them, and arrayed⁵⁵ them, and shod⁵⁵ them, and gave them to eat⁵⁵ and to drink,⁵⁵ and anointed⁴ them, and carried¹⁷ all the feeble⁶ of them upon asses, and brought⁵⁵ them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, ^{8558 5899} to their brethren: then they returned⁴ to Samaria.

At that time did king Ahaz send¹ unto the kings of Assyria to help² him.

For again the Edomites had come¹ and smitten⁵⁵ Judah, and carried away⁴ captives.

The Philistines also had invaded¹ the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken⁴ Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt⁴ there.

For the LORD brought Judah low⁵² because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked,⁵² and transgressed² sore against the LORD.

And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came⁴ unto him, and distressed⁴ him, but strengthened¹ him not.

For Ahaz took away a portion¹ [out] of the house of the LORD, and [out] of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave⁴ [it] unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.

And in the time of his distress⁵³ did he trespass² yet more⁵⁵ against the LORD: this [is that] king Ahaz.

For he sacrificed⁴ unto the gods of Damascus, which smote⁵⁶ him: and he said,⁴ Because the gods of the kings of Syria help⁵⁶ them, [therefore] will I sacrifice¹⁷ to them, that they may help⁴ me. But they were the ruin⁵³ of him, and of all Israel.

And Ahaz gathered⁴ together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces¹⁷ the vessels of the house of God, and shut up⁴ the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made⁴ him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

And in every several city ⁵⁸⁹² of Judah he made¹ high places to burn incense¹⁵ unto other gods, and provoked to anger⁵⁵ the LORD God of his fathers.

Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they [are] written⁷ in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

And Ahaz slept⁴ with his fathers, and they buried⁴ him in the city, [even] in Jerusalem: but they brought⁵² him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned⁴ in his stead.