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Ahaz was
twenty years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did
not that which was right in the sight of the
Lord, like David his father:
02 For he walked in the ways of the kings of
Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
03 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the
son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the
fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom
the Lord had cast out before the children of
Israel.
04 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the
high places, and on the hills, and under every
green tree.
05 Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into
the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote
him, and carried away a great multitude of them
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.
06 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an
hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which
were all valiant men; because they had forsaken
the Lord God of their fathers.
07 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew
Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor
of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the
king.
08 And 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.
09 But a prophet of the Lord was there, 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 was wroth
with Judah, he hath delivered them into your
hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that
reacheth up unto heaven.
10 And now ye purpose to keep under 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?
11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the
captives again, which ye have taken captive of
your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord
is upon 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 them that came from the war,
13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the
captives hither: for whereas we have offended
against the Lord already, ye intend to add more
to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass
is great, and there is fierce wrath against
Israel.
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14 So the armed men left the captives and the
spoil before the princes and all the
congregation.
15 And the men which were expressed 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, to their
brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings
of Assyria to help him.
17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten
Judah, and carried away captives.
18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of
the low country, and of the south of Judah, and
had taken 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 dwelt there.
19 For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz
king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and
transgressed sore against the Lord.
20 And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto
him, and distressed him, but strengthened him
not.
21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house
of the Lord, and out of the house of the king,
and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of
Assyria: but he helped him not.
22 And in the time of his distress did he
trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that
king Ahaz.
23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus,
which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of
the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I
sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But
they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
24 And 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 the Lord, and he made him altars in
every corner of Jerusalem.
25 And in every several city of Judah he made
high places to burn incense unto other gods, and
provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.
26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways,
first and last, behold, they are written in the
book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they
buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but
they brought him not into the sepulchres of the
kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in
his stead.
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