2 Chronicles 28

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:

At just twenty, Ahaz took the throne in Jerusalem, ruling for sixteen years. Yet, unlike his father David, he failed to live a life pleasing to the Lord.

For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.

He followed the path of Israel's kings, crafting idols for Baalim with his own hands.

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.

He desecrated the valley of Hinnom, filling it with the smoke of his incense. Heartbreakingly, he even sacrificed his own children in the fire, imitating the horrific practices of the pagans whom God had expelled from the land of Israel.

He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

He passionately offered sacrifices and fervently burned incense on sacred grounds, atop hills, and beneath every lush tree.

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.

So the Lord his God handed him over to the Syrian king. They defeated him, took many prisoners, and brought them to Damascus. He was also handed over to the king of Israel, who inflicted a massive defeat on him.

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.

Pekah, Remaliah's son, tragically killed 120,000 brave men in Judah in just one day. Their downfall was their abandonment of the faith and love of the God their ancestors worshipped.

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.

Zichri, a powerful warrior from Ephraim, tragically killed Maaseiah, the king's beloved son. He also took the lives of Azrikam, the respected house governor, and Elkanah, the king's trusted confidant.

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.

The Israelites heartbreakingly forced their own kin - 200,000 mothers, sons, and daughters - into captivity. They seized a great deal of their possessions and took these stolen treasures to Samaria.

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.

A man of God named Oded was present. He bravely confronted the army approaching Samaria, saying, "Listen, God, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah. That's why He allowed you to defeat them. But you killed them in a fury so intense, it's as if it touched the heavens."

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?

So, you plan to oppress the people of Judah and Jerusalem, making them your slaves. But aren't you, too, guilty of sins against God?

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.

Listen to me, set free those you've wrongfully imprisoned, your own kin. God's intense anger is looming over you.

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,

Then some leaders of Ephraim, Azariah son of Johanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai, confronted those returning from the war.

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.

They told them, "Don't bring the prisoners here. We've already sinned against God, and you're adding to our sins and our guilt. Our guilt is great, and God's anger towards Israel is intense."

So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.

The soldiers, filled with remorse, abandoned their prisoners and loot in front of the leaders and the gathered crowd.

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.

The named men, filled with compassion, stood up and helped the captives. They used their spoils to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and comfort the weary. They tenderly cared for the weak, carrying them on donkeys, and led them to the safe haven of Jericho, a city filled with palm trees. After ensuring their brethren were safe, they returned home to Samaria.

At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

In his time of need, King Ahaz reached out to the Assyrian kings, pleading for their assistance.

For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.

Once more, the Edomites attacked Judah with fury, taking away its people as prisoners.

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.

The Philistines, with their overwhelming force, had ruthlessly taken over the peaceful towns in the southern part of Judah. They had seized Bethshemesh, Ajalon, Gederoth, and Shocho, including their surrounding villages. They also took over Timnah and Gimzo, along with their villages. They settled there, casting a shadow of fear and despair over the once tranquil lands.

For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.

God humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel, for Ahaz had stripped Judah of all restraint, leaving them exposed, and had deeply wronged the Lord.

And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.

The Assyrian King, Tilgathpilneser, visited him, bringing turmoil yet offering no support.

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.

Ahaz, in desperation, stripped the Lord's house, the royal palace, and the nobles' homes to appease the Assyrian king. Yet, his sacrifice brought no aid.

And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.

In his darkest hour, King Ahaz continued to defy God, his actions reflecting his deepening despair.

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.

He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had hurt him, believing that since they aided the Syrian kings, they might assist him too. But, instead, they led to his downfall and the destruction of all Israel.

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.

Ahaz collected all of God's sacred items, ruthlessly destroyed them, and locked the doors of God's house. He then set up his own altars all over Jerusalem.

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.

In every city of Judah, he built altars to worship false gods, deeply angering the Lord, the God of his ancestors.

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.

All his deeds, from beginning to end, are recorded in the history books of Judah and Israel.

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.

Ahaz joined his ancestors in eternal rest, laid to rest in Jerusalem, but not in the royal tombs of Israel's kings. His son, Hezekiah, took his place on the throne.