28:1 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:
28:2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made
also molten images for Baalim.
28:3 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.
28:4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places,
and on the hills, and under every green tree.
28:5 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.
28:6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah a hundred and
twenty thousand in one day, [who were] all valiant men; because
they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.
28:7 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.
28:8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their
brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and
also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to
Samaria.
28:9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name [was] Oded:
and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said
to 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 to heaven.
28:10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and
Jerusalem for bond-men and bond-women to you: [but are there]
not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?
28:11 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.
28:12 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.
28:13 And said to 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.
28:14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before
the princes and all the congregation.
28:15 And the men who were expressed by name arose, 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.
28:16 At that time king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to
help him.
28:17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and
carried away captives.
28:18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low
country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh,
and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with its villages, and
Timnah with its villages, Gimzo also and its villages: and they
dwelt there.
28:19 For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of
Israel: for he made Judah naked, and greatly transgressed
against the LORD.
28:20 And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and
distressed him, but strengthened him not.
28:21 For Ahaz took away a portion from the house of the LORD,
and from the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave
[it] to the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.
28:22 And in the time of his distress he trespassed yet more
against the LORD: this [is that] king Ahaz.
28:23 For he sacrificed to 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.
28:24 And Ahaz collected 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 for himself altars
in every corner of Jerusalem.
28:25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to
burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God
of his fathers.
28:26 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.
28:27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in
the city, [even] in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into
the sepulchers of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son
reigned in his stead.
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