II Chronicles Chapter 28

II Chronicles Chapter 28
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.