2nd Dabar-Hayamym (2 Chronicles) — 28

Ahaz Reigns in Yahudah

1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Yahushalam; and he did not do what was right in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, as his father Daud had done. 

2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Yashar'AL, and made molded images for Baals. 

3 He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnum, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH had cast out before the children of Yashar'AL. 

4 And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Syria and Yashar'AL Defeat Yahudah

5 Therefore 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH his  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought them to Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Yashar'AL, who defeated him with a great slaughter. 

6 For Pakah the son of Remalyahu killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Yahudah in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of their fathers. 

7 Zichri, a mighty man of Aphraim, killed Maasayahu the king’s son, Azrikam the officer over the house, and Alkanah who was second to the king. 

8 And the children of Yashar'AL carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

Yashar'AL Returns the Captives

9 But a Nabym of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH was there, whose name was Udad; and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: “Look, because  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of your fathers was angry with Yahudah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to Shamaym. 

10 And now you propose to force the children of Yahudah and Yahushalam to be your male and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH? 

11 Now hear me therefore, and return the captives, whom you have taken captive from your brethren, for the fierce wrath of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is upon you.”

12 Then some of the heads of the children of Aphraim, Azaryahu the son of Yuhanan, Barachyahu the son of Mashullamath, Yahizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war, 

13 and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives here, for we already have offended  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. You intend to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Yashar'AL.” 

14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the leaders and all the assembly. 

15 Then the men who were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals, gave them food and drink, and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to their brethren at Yarichu, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

Assyria Refuses to Help Yahudah

16 At the same time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. 

17 For again the Adumites had come, attacked Yahudah, and carried away captives. 

18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Yahudah, and had taken Bath Shamash, Aiyalun, Gadaruth, Suchuh with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzu with its villages; and they dwelt there. 

19 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH brought Yahudah low because of Ahaz, for he had encouraged moral decline in Yahudah and had been continually unfaithful to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. 

20 Also Tiglath-pilasar king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, and did not assist him. 

21 For Ahaz took part of the treasures from the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, from the house of the king, and from the leaders, and he gave it to the king of Assyria; but he did not help him.

Apostasy and Death of Ahaz

22 Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. This is that King Ahaz. 

23 For he sacrificed to the idols of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, “Because the idols of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Yashar'AL. 

24 So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, cut in pieces the articles of the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, shut up the doors of the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and made for himself altars in every corner of Yahushalam. 

25 And in every single city of Yahudah he made high places to burn incense to idol, and provoked to anger 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of his fathers.

26 Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Yahudah and Yashar'AL. 

27 So Ahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Yahushalam; but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Yashar'AL. Then Hazakyahu his son reigned in his place.