Ahaz's Idolatry, Defeats, and Assyrian Subjugation
2 Chronicles 28:1-27
1Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was upright in the eyes of the LORD, as David his father had done.2He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and also made cast images for the Baals.3He offered sacrifices in the Valley of the son of Hinnom and burned his sons in the fire according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel.4He sacrificed and offered incense on the high places and on the hills and under every luxuriant tree.5Therefore the LORD his God gave him into the hand of the king of Aram, who defeated him and carried off a great number of captives to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who inflicted a severe defeat on him.6Pekah son of Remaliah killed one hundred twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.7Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah son of the king, Azrikam the leader of the house, and Elkanah the second of the king.8The men of Israel took captive from their kinsmen two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; they also seized much plunder and brought the plunder to Samaria.9A prophet of the LORD named Oded was there. He went out to meet the army as it returned to Samaria and said to them, "Because the LORD God of your fathers was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand; you have killed them in a rage that has reached up to heaven."10And now you, people of Judah and Jerusalem, intend to make slaves and slave-women of them. Do you not realize that you yourselves are guilty before the LORD your God?11Now therefore listen to me and send back the captives you took from your brothers, for the fierce anger of the LORD is upon you.12Then certain men among the leaders of the Ephraimites—Azariah son of Johanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—confronted those returning from the army.13They said to them, "Do not bring the captives here, for that would bring guilt upon the LORD against us. You are proposing to add to our sins and our guilt; our guilt is already great, and fierce anger rests upon Israel."14The armed men left the captives and the plunder before the rulers and all the assembly.15The men who had been designated by name arose and took charge of the captives; from the spoil they clothed all who were naked, gave them clothing and sandals, provided them food and drink, anointed them, led them on donkeys for every one who stumbled, brought them to Jericho the city of palms beside their brothers, and returned to Samaria.16At that time King Ahaz sent messengers to the kings of Assyria asking for help.17The Edomites also came and attacked Judah and carried away captives.18The Philistines raided the cities of the Shephelah and the Negeb belonging to Judah; they captured Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its daughters, Timnah and its daughters, and Gimzo and its daughters, and they dwelt there.19The LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had been unfaithful to the LORD and had led Judah into unfaithfulness.20Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came against him and confined him, and did not strengthen him.21For Ahaz had divided the house of the LORD and the house of the king and the rulers and had given to the king of Assyria, and it did not help him.22In his time of distress he became even more unfaithful to the LORD—he, King Ahaz.23He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him, saying, "Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me." But they became a snare to him and to all Israel.24Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut the articles of the house of God in pieces, shut the doors of the house of the LORD, and made altars for himself in every corner in Jerusalem.25In every town of Judah he made high places to offer sacrifices to other gods, and so provoked the LORD God of his fathers to anger.26The rest of his acts and all his ways, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.27Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but not in the tombs of the kings of Israel; and his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.