Ahaz Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 16:1–9)

1  בֶּן־ (A son) עֶשְׂרִ֤ים (of twenty) שָׁנָה֙ (years) אָחָ֣ז (Ahaz was) בְּמָלְכ֔וֹ (in his reigning), וְשֵׁשׁ־ (and six) עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה (and ten) שָׁנָ֔ה (years) מָלַ֖ךְ (he reigned) בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (in Jerusalem). וְלֹא־ (And not) עָשָׂ֧ה (he did do) הַיָּשָׁ֛ר (right) בְּעֵינֵ֥י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) כְּדָוִ֥יד (as David) אָבִֽיו׃ (his father). 2  וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ (And for he walked) בְּדַרְכֵ֖י (in the ways) מַלְכֵ֣י (of the kings) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וְגַ֧ם (and) מַסֵּכ֛וֹת (images) עָשָׂ֖ה (he made) לַבְּעָלִֽים׃ (for the Baals).

3  וְה֥וּא (And he) הִקְטִ֖יר (burned incense) בְּגֵ֣יא (in the Valley) בֶן־ (of the Son) הִנֹּ֑ם (of Hinnom) וַיַּבְעֵ֤ר (and he burned) אֶת־ (-) בָּנָיו֙ (his sons) בָּאֵ֔שׁ (in the fire), כְּתֹֽעֲבוֹת֙ (according to the abominations) הַגּוֹיִ֔ם (of the nations) אֲשֶׁר֙ (whom) הֹרִ֣ישׁ (had cast out) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) מִפְּנֵ֖י (before) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 4  וַיְזַבֵּ֧חַ (And he sacrificed) וַיְקַטֵּ֛ר (and burned incense) בַּבָּמ֖וֹת (on the high places), וְעַל־ (and on) הַגְּבָע֑וֹת (the hills), וְתַ֖חַת (and under) כָּל־ (every) עֵ֥ץ (tree) רַעֲנָֽן׃ (green).

Aram Defeats Judah
(Isaiah 1:1–9)

5  וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֜הוּ (And gave him) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהָיו֮ (his God) בְּיַ֣ד (into the hand) מֶ֣לֶךְ (of the king) אֲרָם֒ (of Aram), וַיַּ֨כּוּ־ (and they defeated) ב֔וֹ (him) וַיִּשְׁבּ֤וּ (and carried away) מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ (of them) שִׁבְיָ֣ה (as captives) גְדוֹלָ֔ה (a great number), וַיָּבִ֖יאוּ (and they brought them in) דַּרְמָ֑שֶׂק (to Damascus).

וְ֠גַם (And also) בְּיַד־ (into the hand) מֶ֤לֶךְ (of the king) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) נִתָּ֔ן (he was delivered), וַיַּךְ־ (and he struck) בּ֖וֹ (him) מַכָּ֥ה (with a slaughter) גְדוֹלָֽה׃ס (great). 6  וַיַּהֲרֹג֩ (And killed) פֶּ֨קַח (Pekah) בֶּן־ (son) רְמַלְיָ֜הוּ (of Remaliah) בִּֽיהוּדָ֗ה (in Judah) מֵאָ֨ה (a hundred) וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים (and twenty) אֶ֛לֶף (thousand) בְּי֥וֹם (in day) אֶחָ֖ד (one)— הַכֹּ֣ל (all) בְּנֵי־ (sons) חָ֑יִל (of valor)— בְּעָזְבָ֕ם (because they had forsaken) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֥י (God) אֲבוֹתָֽם׃ (of their fathers). 7  וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֞ג (And killed) זִכְרִ֣י׀ (Zichri), גִּבּ֣וֹר (a mighty man) אֶפְרַ֗יִם (of Ephraim), אֶת־ (-) מַעֲשֵׂיָ֙הוּ֙ (Maaseiah) בֶּן־ (the son) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king), וְאֶת־ (and) עַזְרִיקָ֖ם (Azrikam) נְגִ֣יד (the officer over) הַבָּ֑יִת (the house), וְאֶת־ (and) אֶלְקָנָ֖ה (Elkanah) מִשְׁנֵ֥ה (the second) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ס (to the king). 8  וַיִּשְׁבּוּ֩ (And removed) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל (of Israel) מֵֽאֲחֵיהֶ֜ם (from their brothers) מָאתַ֣יִם (two hundred) אֶ֗לֶף (thousand) נָשִׁים֙ (women), בָּנִ֣ים (sons), וּבָנ֔וֹת (and daughters). וְגַם־ (And also) שָׁלָ֥ל (plunder) רָ֖ב (much) בָּזְז֣וּ (they took away) מֵהֶ֑ם (from them) וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ (and they brought in) אֶת־ (-) הַשָּׁלָ֖ל (the spoil) לְשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ס (to Samaria).

9  וְ֠שָׁם (And there) הָיָ֨ה (was) נָבִ֥יא (a prophet) לַֽיהוָה֮ (of YHWH) עֹדֵ֣ד (Oded) שְׁמוֹ֒ (his name)) וַיֵּצֵ֗א (and he went out) לִפְנֵ֤י (before) הַצָּבָא֙ (the army) הַבָּ֣א (that came in) לְשֹׁמְר֔וֹן (to Samaria), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and he said) לָהֶ֗ם (to them), הִ֠נֵּה (Behold), בַּחֲמַ֨ת (in the fury) יְהוָ֧ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֵֽי־ (God) אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם (of your⁺ fathers) עַל־ (against) יְהוּדָ֖ה (Judah), נְתָנָ֣ם (He has delivered them) בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם (into your⁺ hands). וַתַּֽהַרְגוּ־ (And you⁺ have killed) בָ֣ם (them) בְזַ֔עַף (in a rage)— עַ֥ד (up) לַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (to the heavens) הִגִּֽיעַ׃ (it reaches). 10  וְ֠עַתָּה (And now) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) יְהוּדָ֤ה (of Judah) וִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (and Jerusalem) אַתֶּ֣ם (you⁺) אֹמְרִ֔ים (propose) לִכְבֹּ֛שׁ (to subdue) לַעֲבָדִ֥ים (for menservants) וְלִשְׁפָח֖וֹת (and for maidservants) לָכֶ֑ם (unto you⁺). הֲלֹ֤א (Is there not) רַק־ (also) אַתֶּם֙ (yourselves) עִמָּכֶ֣ם (unto you⁺) אֲשָׁמ֔וֹת (guilt) לַיהוָ֖ה (before YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ God)? 11  וְעַתָּ֣ה (And now) שְׁמָע֔וּנִי (hear me) וְהָשִׁ֙יבוּ֙ (and return) הַשִּׁבְיָ֔ה (the captives) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) שְׁבִיתֶ֖ם (you⁺ have taken captive) מֵאֲחֵיכֶ֑ם (from your⁺ brothers), כִּ֛י (for) חֲר֥וֹן (the heat) אַף־ (of the anger) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ס (is upon you⁺).

12  וַיָּקֻ֨מוּ (And stood up) אֲנָשִׁ֜ים (some) מֵרָאשֵׁ֣י (of the heads) בְנֵֽי־ (of the sons) אֶפְרַ֗יִם (of Ephraim)— עֲזַרְיָ֤הוּ (Azariah) בֶן־ (son) יְהֽוֹחָנָן֙ (of Jehohanan), בֶּרֶכְיָ֣הוּ (Berechiah) בֶן־ (son) מְשִׁלֵּמ֔וֹת (of Meshillemoth), וִֽיחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ (and Hezekiah) בֶּן־ (son) שַׁלֻּ֔ם (of Shallum), וַעֲמָשָׂ֖א (and Amasa) בֶּן־ (son) חַדְלָ֑י (of Hadlai)— עַל־ (against) הַבָּאִ֖ים (those coming in) מִן־ (from) הַצָּבָֽא׃ (the host), 13  וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (and they said) לָהֶ֗ם (to them), לֹא־ (Not) תָבִ֤יאוּ (you⁺ shall bring) אֶת־ (-) הַשִּׁבְיָה֙ (the captives) הֵ֔נָּה (here), כִּי֩ (for) לְאַשְׁמַ֨ת (guilt) יְהוָ֤ה (against YHWH) עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (is upon us); אַתֶּ֣ם (you⁺) אֹמְרִ֔ים (are saying) לְהֹסִ֥יף (to add) עַל־ (to) חַטֹּאתֵ֖ינוּ (our sins) וְעַל־ (and to) אַשְׁמָתֵ֑ינוּ (our guilt). כִּֽי־ (For) רַבָּ֤ה (is great) אַשְׁמָה֙ (is the guilt) לָ֔נוּ (unto us), וַחֲר֥וֹן (and the burning) אָ֖ף (of anger) עַל־ (is upon) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ס (Israel).

14  וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב (And left) הֶֽחָל֗וּץ (the armed ones) אֶת־ (-) הַשִּׁבְיָה֙ (the captives) וְאֶת־ (and) הַבִּזָּ֔ה (the spoil) לִפְנֵ֥י (before) הַשָּׂרִ֖ים (the leaders) וְכָל־ (and all) הַקָּהָֽל׃ (the assembly). 15  וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ (And rose up) הָאֲנָשִׁים֩ (the men) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) נִקְּב֨וּ (were marked) בְשֵׁמ֜וֹת (by name) וַיַּחֲזִ֣יקוּ (and took charge) בַשִּׁבְיָ֗ה (of the captives), וְכָֽל־ (and all) מַעֲרֻמֵּיהֶם֮ (their naked ones) הִלְבִּ֣ישׁוּ (they clothed) מִן־ (from) הַשָּׁלָל֒ (the plunder), וַיַּלְבִּשׁ֣וּם (and they clothed them), וַ֠יַּנְעִלוּם (and gave them sandals), וַיַּאֲכִל֨וּם (and gave them food) וַיַּשְׁק֜וּם (and drink), וַיְסֻכ֗וּם (and anointed them), וַיְנַהֲל֤וּם (and they let ride) בַּחֲמֹרִים֙ (on donkeys) לְכָל־ (all) כּוֹשֵׁ֔ל (the feeble ones). וַיְבִיא֛וּם (And they brought them in) יְרֵח֥וֹ (to Jericho), עִיר־ (the City) הַתְּמָרִ֖ים (of Palms), אֵ֣צֶל (near) אֲחֵיהֶ֑ם (their brothers). וַיָּשׁ֖וּבוּ (And they returned) שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃פ (to Samaria).

The Idolatry of Ahaz
(2 Kings 16:10–20)

16  בָּעֵ֣ת (At the time) הַהִ֗יא (that) שָׁלַ֞ח (sent) הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ (King) אָחָ֛ז (Ahaz) עַל־ (to) מַלְכֵ֥י (the kings) אַשּׁ֖וּר (of Assyria) לַעְזֹ֥ר (to help) לֽוֹ׃ (him). 17  וְע֥וֹד (And again) אֲדוֹמִ֖ים (the Edomites) בָּ֑אוּ (had come) וַיַּכּ֥וּ (and struck) בִיהוּדָ֖ה (Judah) וַיִּשְׁבּוּ־ (and carried away) שֶֽׁבִי׃ (captives). 18  וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֣ים (And the Philistines) פָּשְׁט֗וּ (had raided) בְּעָרֵ֨י (the cities) הַשְּׁפֵלָ֣ה (of the Shephelah) וְהַנֶּגֶב֮ (and of the Negev) לִֽיהוּדָה֒ (of Judah), וַֽ֠יִּלְכְּדוּ (and they captured) אֶת־ (-) בֵּֽית־ (Beth-) שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ (shemesh), וְאֶת־ (and) אַיָּל֜וֹן (Aijalon), וְאֶת־ (and) הַגְּדֵר֗וֹת (Gederoth), וְאֶת־ (and) שׂוֹכ֤וֹ (Sochoh) וּבְנוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ (and its villages), וְאֶת־ (and) תִּמְנָ֣ה (Timnah) וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ (and its villages), וְאֶת־ (and) גִּמְז֖וֹ (Gimzo) וְאֶת־ (and) בְּנֹתֶ֑יהָ (its villages). וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ (And they dwelt) שָֽׁם׃ (there). 19  כִּֽי־ (For) הִכְנִ֤יעַ (humbled) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) יְהוּדָ֔ה (Judah) בַּעֲב֖וּר (because) אָחָ֣ז (of Ahaz) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel); כִּ֤י (for) הִפְרִ֙יעַ֙ (he had thrown off restraint) בִּֽיהוּדָ֔ה (in Judah) וּמָע֥וֹל (and acted unfaithfully) מַ֖עַל (an unfaithfulness) בַּיהוָֽה׃ (against YHWH).

20  וַיָּבֹ֣א (And came) עָלָ֔יו (to him) תִּלְּגַ֥ת (Tiglath-) פִּלְנְאֶ֖סֶר (pilneser) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) אַשּׁ֑וּר (of Assyria) וַיָּ֥צַר (and distressed) ל֖וֹ (him) וְלֹ֥א (and not) חֲזָקֽוֹ׃ (he did strengthen him). 21  כִּֽי־ (For) חָלַ֤ק (had taken a portion) אָחָז֙ (Ahaz) אֶת־ (from) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְאֶת־ (and from) בֵּ֥ית (the house) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king), וְהַשָּׂרִ֑ים (and from the leaders), וַיִּתֵּן֙ (and he gave it) לְמֶ֣לֶךְ (to the king) אַשּׁ֔וּר (of Assyria); וְלֹ֥א (not) לְעֶזְרָ֖ה (did it help) לֽוֹ׃ (him).

22  וּבְעֵת֙ (And in the time) הָצֵ֣ר (of distress) ל֔וֹ (to him) וַיּ֖וֹסֶף (and he added) לִמְע֣וֹל (to act faithlessly) בַּיהוָ֑ה (against YHWH) ה֖וּא (this was) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (King) אָחָֽז׃ (Aha z)). 23  וַיִּזְבַּ֗ח (And he sacrificed) לֵֽאלֹהֵ֣י (to the gods) דַרְמֶשֶׂק֮ (of Damascus), הַמַּכִּ֣ים (those striking) בּוֹ֒ (him), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), כִּ֠י (Because) אֱלֹהֵ֤י (the gods) מַלְכֵֽי־ (of the kings) אֲרָם֙ (of Aram), הֵ֚ם (they are) מַעְזְרִ֣ים (helping) אוֹתָ֔ם (them), לָהֶ֥ם (to them) אֲזַבֵּ֖חַ (I will sacrifice), וְיַעְזְר֑וּנִי (that they may help me).” וְהֵ֛ם (And they) הָֽיוּ־ (were) ל֥וֹ (of him) לְהַכְשִׁיל֖וֹ (the cause of stumbling), וּלְכָל־ (and of all) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel).

24  וַיֶּאֱסֹ֨ף (And gathered) אָחָ֜ז (Ahaz) אֶת־ (-) כְּלֵ֣י (the articles) בֵית־ (of the house) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֗ים (of God), וַיְקַצֵּץ֙ (and he cut in pieces) אֶת־ (-) כְּלֵ֣י (the articles) בֵית־ (of the house) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God), וַיִּסְגֹּ֖ר (and he shut up) אֶת־ (-) דַּלְת֣וֹת (the doors) בֵּית־ (of the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (and he made) ל֧וֹ (for himself) מִזְבְּח֛וֹת (altars) בְּכָל־ (in every) פִּנָּ֖ה (corner) בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (of Jerusalem). 25  וּבְכָל־ (And in every) עִ֨יר (city) וָעִ֤יר (and city) לִֽיהוּדָה֙ (of Judah) עָשָׂ֣ה (he made) בָמ֔וֹת (high places) לְקַטֵּ֖ר (to burn incense) לֵֽאלֹהִ֣ים (to gods) אֲחֵרִ֑ים (other), וַיַּכְעֵ֕ס (and provoked to anger) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֥י (God) אֲבֹתָֽיו׃ (of his fathers).

26  וְיֶ֤תֶר (And the rest) דְּבָרָיו֙ (of his acts) וְכָל־ (and all) דְּרָכָ֔יו (his ways), הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים (from the first) וְהָאַחֲרוֹנִ֑ים (and to the last), הִנָּ֣ם (behold), כְּתוּבִ֔ים (they are written) עַל־ (in) סֵ֥פֶר (the Book) מַלְכֵֽי־ (of the Kings) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) וְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (and Israel). 27  וַיִּשְׁכַּ֨ב (And rested) אָחָ֜ז (Ahaz) עִם־ (with) אֲבֹתָ֗יו (his fathers), וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֤הוּ (and they buried him) בָעִיר֙ (in the city), בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (in Jerusalem); כִּ֚י (but) לֹ֣א (not) הֱבִיאֻ֔הוּ (they did bring him) לְקִבְרֵ֖י (into the tombs) מַלְכֵ֣י (of the kings) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel). וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ (And reigned) יְחִזְקִיָּ֥הֽוּ (Hezekiah) בְנ֖וֹ (his son) תַּחְתָּֽיו׃פ (in his place).