Ahaz Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 28:1–4)

1  בִּשְׁנַת֙ (In the year) שְׁבַֽע־ (seven) עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה (and tenth) שָׁנָ֔ה (year) לְפֶ֖קַח (of Pekah) בֶּן־ (son) רְמַלְיָ֑הוּ (of Remaliah), מָלַ֛ךְ (began to reign) אָחָ֥ז (Ahaz) בֶּן־ (son) יוֹתָ֖ם (of Jotham) מֶ֥לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah). 2  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) עָשָׂ֣ה (he did) הַיָּשָׁ֗ר (right) בְּעֵינֵ֛י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֥ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהָ֖יו (his God) כְּדָוִ֥ד (like David) אָבִֽיו׃ (his father). 3  וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ (And he walked) בְּדֶ֖רֶךְ (in the way) מַלְכֵ֣י (of the kings) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel) וְגַ֤ם (and even) אֶת־ (-) בְּנוֹ֙ (his son) הֶעֱבִ֣יר (he made pass) בָּאֵ֔שׁ (through the fire), כְּתֹֽעֲבוֹת֙ (according to the abominations) הַגּוֹיִ֔ם (of the nations) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (whom) הוֹרִ֤ישׁ (had cast out) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֹתָ֔ם (-) מִפְּנֵ֖י (from 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).

5  אָ֣ז (Then) יַעֲלֶ֣ה (came up) רְצִ֣ין (Rezin) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) אֲ֠רָם (of Aram) וּפֶ֨קַח (and Pekah) בֶּן־ (son) רְמַלְיָ֧הוּ (of Remaliah) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (to Jerusalem) לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (to battle). וַיָּצֻ֙רוּ֙ (And they lay siege) עַל־ (upon) אָחָ֔ז (Ahaz), וְלֹ֥א (not) יָכְל֖וּ (they could) לְהִלָּחֵֽם׃ (fight him).

6  בָּעֵ֣ת (At the time) הַהִ֗יא (that) הֵ֠שִׁיב (captured) רְצִ֨ין (Rezin) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) אֲרָ֤ם (of Aram) אֶת־ (-) אֵילַת֙ (Elath) לַֽאֲרָ֔ם (for Aram), וַיְנַשֵּׁ֥ל (and he drove out) אֶת־ (-) הַיְהוּדִ֖ים (the Jews) מֵֽאֵיל֑וֹת (from Elath). וַאֲרַמִּים (And the Edomites) בָּ֣אוּ (went in) אֵילַ֔ת (to Elath) וַיֵּ֣שְׁבוּ (and they dwell) שָׁ֔ם (there) עַ֖ד (to) הַיּ֥וֹם (the day) הַזֶּֽה׃פ (this).

7  וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (And sent) אָחָ֜ז (Ahaz) מַלְאָכִ֗ים (messengers) אֶל־ (to) תִּ֠גְלַת (Tiglath-) פְּלֶ֤סֶר (pileser) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) אַשּׁוּר֙ (of Assyria), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), עַבְדְּךָ֥ (Your servant) וּבִנְךָ֖ (and your son) אָ֑נִי (I am); עֲלֵ֨ה (come up) וְהוֹשִׁעֵ֜נִי (and save me) מִכַּ֣ף (from the hand) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) אֲרָ֗ם (of Aram) וּמִכַּף֙ (and from the hand) מֶ֣לֶךְ (of the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), הַקּוֹמִ֖ים (who are rising up) עָלָֽי׃ (against me).

8  וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And took) אָחָ֜ז (Ahaz) אֶת־ (-) הַכֶּ֣סֶף (the silver) וְאֶת־ (and) הַזָּהָ֗ב (the gold) הַנִּמְצָא֙ (that was found) בֵּ֣ית (in the house) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) וּבְאֹֽצְר֖וֹת (and in the treasuries) בֵּ֣ית (of house) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king), וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (and he sent it) לְמֶֽלֶךְ־ (to the king) אַשּׁ֖וּר (of Assyria)— שֹֽׁחַד׃ (a bribe). 9  וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע (And listened) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) אַשּׁ֔וּר (of Assyria), וַיַּעַל֩ (and went up) מֶ֨לֶךְ (the king) אַשּׁ֤וּר (of Assyria) אֶל־ (against) דַּמֶּ֙שֶׂק֙ (Damascus), וַֽיִּתְפְּשֶׂ֔הָ (and took it) וַיַּגְלֶ֖הָ (and he removed it) קִ֑ירָה (to Kir). וְאֶת־ (And) רְצִ֖ין (Rezin) הֵמִֽית׃ (he killed).

The Idolatry of Ahaz
(2 Chronicles 28:16–27)

10  וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (And went) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) אָחָ֡ז (Ahaz) לִ֠קְרַאת (to meet) תִּגְלַ֨ת (Tiglath-) פִּלְאֶ֤סֶר (pileser) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (King) אַשּׁוּר֙ (of Assyria) דּוּמֶּ֔שֶׂק (to Damascus). וַיַּ֥רְא (And he saw) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ (an altar) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) בְּדַמָּ֑שֶׂק (at Damascus), וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ (and sent) הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (King) אָחָ֜ז (Ahaz) אֶל־ (to) אוּרִיָּ֣ה (Urijah) הַכֹּהֵ֗ן (the priest) אֶת־ (-) דְּמ֧וּת (the design) הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ (of the altar) וְאֶת־ (and) תַּבְנִית֖וֹ (its pattern), לְכָֽל־ (according to all) מַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃ (its workmanship). 11  וַיִּ֛בֶן (And built) אוּרִיָּ֥ה (Urijah) הַכֹּהֵ֖ן (the priest) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ (an altar) כְּכֹ֣ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) שָׁלַח֩ (had sent) הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (King) אָחָ֜ז (Ahaz) מִדַּמֶּ֗שֶׂק (from Damascus). כֵּ֤ן (So) עָשָׂה֙ (did) אוּרִיָּ֣ה (Urijah) הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (the priest) עַד־ (until) בּ֥וֹא (came back) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־ (King) אָחָ֖ז (Ahaz) מִדַּמָּֽשֶׂק׃ (from Damascus).

12  וַיָּבֹ֤א (And came back) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) מִדַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק (from Damascus), וַיַּ֥רְא (and saw) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ (the altar), וַיִּקְרַ֥ב (and drew near) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king) עַל־ (on) הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ (the altar) וַיַּ֥עַל (and made offerings) עָלָֽיו׃ (on it). 13  וַיַּקְטֵ֤ר (And he burned) אֶת־ (-) עֹֽלָתוֹ֙ (his burnt offering) וְאֶת־ (and) מִנְחָת֔וֹ (his grain offering), וַיַּסֵּ֖ךְ (and he poured out) אֶת־ (-) נִסְכּ֑וֹ (his drink offering) וַיִּזְרֹ֛ק (and sprinkled) אֶת־ (-) דַּֽם־ (the blood) הַשְּׁלָמִ֥ים (of the peace offerings) אֲשֶׁר־ (that were) ל֖וֹ (of him) עַל־ (on) הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ (the altar). 14  וְאֵ֨ת (And) הַמִּזְבַּ֣ח (the altar) הַנְּחֹשֶׁת֮ (bronze) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) לִפְנֵ֣י (before) יְהוָה֒ (YHWH) וַיַּקְרֵ֗ב (and He also brought) מֵאֵת֙ (from) פְּנֵ֣י (the front) הַבַּ֔יִת (of the temple) מִבֵּין֙ (from between) הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ (the altar) וּמִבֵּ֖ין (and between) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH)) וַיִּתֵּ֥ן (and he put) אֹת֛וֹ (it) עַל־ (on) יֶ֥רֶךְ (the side) הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ (of the altar) צָפֽוֹנָה׃ (to the north).

15  וַיְצַוֵּהוּ (And commanded) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־ (King) אָ֠חָז (Ahaz) אֶת־ (-) אוּרִיָּ֨ה (Urijah) הַכֹּהֵ֜ן (the priest), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), עַ֣ל (On) הַמִּזְבֵּ֣חַ (the altar) הַגָּד֡וֹל (great) הַקְטֵ֣ר (burn) אֶת־ (-) עֹֽלַת־ (burnt offering) הַבֹּקֶר֩ (of the morning), וְאֶת־ (and) מִנְחַ֨ת (grain offering) הָעֶ֜רֶב (of the evening), וְֽאֶת־ (and) עֹלַ֧ת (burnt offering) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of the king), וְאֶת־ (and) מִנְחָת֗וֹ (his grain offering), וְ֠אֵת (and) עֹלַ֞ת (the burnt offering) כָּל־ (of all) עַ֤ם (the people) הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (of the land), וּמִנְחָתָ֣ם (and their grain offerings), וְנִסְכֵּיהֶ֔ם (and their drink offerings). וְכָל־ (And all) דַּ֥ם (the blood) עֹלָ֛ה (of the burnt offering) וְכָל־ (and all) דַּם־ (the blood) זֶ֖בַח (of the sacrifice), עָלָ֣יו (on it) תִּזְרֹ֑ק (sprinkle). וּמִזְבַּ֧ח (And altar) הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת (the bronze) יִֽהְיֶה־ (shall be) לִּ֖י (for me) לְבַקֵּֽר׃ (to seek guidance).

16  וַיַּ֖עַשׂ (And did) אוּרִיָּ֣ה (Urijah) הַכֹּהֵ֑ן (the priest) כְּכֹ֥ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) צִוָּ֖ה (commanded) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (King) אָחָֽז׃ (Aha z).

17  וַיְקַצֵּץ֩ (And cut off) הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (King) אָחָ֜ז (Ahaz) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּסְגְּר֣וֹת (the borders) הַמְּכֹנ֗וֹת (of the bases), וַיָּ֤סַר (and he removed) מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶם֙ (from them) וְאֶת (-) הַכִּיֹּ֔ר (the basin). וְאֶת־ (And) הַיָּ֣ם (the Sea) הוֹרִ֔ד (he took down) מֵעַ֛ל (from) הַבָּקָ֥ר (the oxen) הַנְּחֹ֖שֶׁת (bronze) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that were) תַּחְתֶּ֑יהָ (under it), וַיִּתֵּ֣ן (and he put) אֹת֔וֹ (it) עַ֖ל (on) מַרְצֶ֥פֶת (a pavement) אֲבָנִֽים׃ (of stones). 18  וְאֶת־ (And) מִיסַךְ (the covered place) הַשַּׁבָּ֜ת (for the Sabbath) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בָּנ֣וּ (they had built) בַבַּ֗יִת (in the temple), וְאֶת־ (and) מְב֤וֹא (the entrance) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (of the king) הַֽחִיצ֔וֹנָה (outer), הֵסֵ֖ב (he removed) בֵּ֣ית (from the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH) מִפְּנֵ֖י (on account) מֶ֥לֶךְ (of the king) אַשּֽׁוּר׃ (of Assyria).

19  וְיֶ֛תֶר (And the rest) דִּבְרֵ֥י (of the acts) אָחָ֖ז (of Ahaz) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עָשָׂ֑ה (he did), הֲלֹא־ (are not) הֵ֣ם (they) כְּתוּבִ֗ים (written) עַל־ (in) סֵ֛פֶר (the Book) דִּבְרֵ֥י (of the Words) הַיָּמִ֖ים (of the Days) לְמַלְכֵ֥י (of the Kings) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah)?

20  וַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב (And rested) אָחָז֙ (Ahaz) עִם־ (with) אֲבֹתָ֔יו (his fathers) וַיִּקָּבֵ֥ר (and was buried) עִם־ (with) אֲבֹתָ֖יו (his fathers) בְּעִ֣יר (in the City) דָּוִ֑ד (of David). וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ (And reigned) חִזְקִיָּ֥הוּ (Hezekiah) בְנ֖וֹ (his son) תַּחְתָּֽיו׃פ (in his place).