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[1]Ahaz was twenty year old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen year in Jerusalem, and did not uprightly in the sight of the Lord, like David his father.
[2]But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made even molten images for Baalim.
[3]Moreover he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom, and burned his sons with fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
[4]He sacrificed also and burned incense in the high places, and on hills, and under every green tree.
[5]Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of the Aramites [Syrians], and they smote him, and took of his, many prisoners, and brought them to Damascus: and he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, which smote him with a great slaughter.
[6]For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah sixscore thousand in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.
[7]And Zichri a mighty man of Ephraim slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah the second after the king.
[8]And the children of Israel took prisoners of their brethren, two hundred thousand of women, sons and daughters, and carried away much spoil of them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
[9]But there was a prophet of the Lord's, (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 is wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage, that reacheth up to heaven.
[10]And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem, as servants and handmaids unto you: but are not you such, that sins are with you before the Lord your God?
[11]Now therefore hear me, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken prisoners of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord is toward you.
[12]Wherefore certain of the chief 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, Bring not in the captives hither: for this shall be a sin upon us against the Lord: ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass, though our trespass be great, and the fierce wrath of God is against Israel.
[14]So the army left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
[15]And the men that were named by name, rose up and took the prisoners, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them meat, and gave them drink, and anointed them, and carried all that were feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho the city of Palm trees to their brethren: so they returned to Samaria.
[16]At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Asshur [Assyria], to help him.
[17](For the Edomites came moreover, and slew of Judah, and carried away captives.
[18]The Philistines also invaded the cities in the low country, and toward the south of Judah, and took Bethshemesh, and Aijalon, and Gederoth and Shocho, with the villages thereof, and Timnah, with her villages, and Gimzo, with her villages, and they dwelt there.
[19]For the Lord had humbled Judah, because of Ahaz king of Israel: for he had brought vengeance upon Judah, and had grievously transgressed against the Lord)
[20]And Tilgath Pilneser [Pul] king of Asshur [Assyria] came unto him who troubled him and did not strengthen him.
[21]For Ahaz took a portion out of the house of the Lord and out of the king's house and of the princes, and gave unto the king of Asshur [Assyria]: yet it helped him not.
[22]And in the time of his tribulation did he yet trespass more against the Lord, (this is king Ahaz)
[23]For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which plagued him, and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Aram [Syria] helped them, I will sacrifice unto them, and they will help me: yet they were his ruin, and of all Israel.
[24]And Ahaz gathered the vessels of the house of God, and break the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
[25]And in every city of Judah he made high places, to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.
[26]Concerning 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]And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of Jerusalem, but brought him not unto the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
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