1Ahaz was twenty years old when he began his reign in Judah, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; but he did not do right in the eyes of the LORD, as David had. 2Instead, he followed in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made melted images for Baalim. 3He also burned incense and offerings in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his children (as an offering), after the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the children of Israel. 4He also sacrificed, and burned incense in the high places, on hilltops, and under every green tree.

5Therefore, the LORD, his God, delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they defeated him, and led a great many of his people away to Damascus as captives. And he was also defeated by the armies of the king of Israel, who inflicted heavy casualties upon Judah. 6In one day, Pekah, king of Israel, son of Remaliah, killed a hundred twenty thousand brave men in Judah, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their ancestors. 7And Zichri, a warrior of Ephraim, killed Ahaz's son, Maaseiah, Azrikam, in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, who was second in command to King Ahaz. 8And Israel took captive two hundred thousand of their Jewish brethren - women, sons, and daughters - and much plunder and brought it to Samaria.

9But a prophet of the LORD named Oded was there in Samaria; and he went out to meet those returning to Samaria, and told them, “Look, because the LORD God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has let you defeat them; and you have killed many in a rage that reaches up unto heaven. 10And now you intend to enslave your brethren of Judah and Jerusalem. But are you not, yourselves, also guilty of sins against the LORD your God? 11Now hear me, and return your brethren that you have taken captive; for the fierce wrath of the LORD is turned upon you.”

12Then certain leaders of the tribe of Ephraim - Azariah, son of Johanan, Berechiah, son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah, son of Shallum, and Amasa, son of Hadlai - stood up against those returning from the war, 13And told them, “You shall not bring the captives in here; for we are already guilty before the LORD, and you intend to add more to our guilt. Our guilt is already great, and the fierce wrath of God is against Israel.” 14So the soldiers left their captives and plunder before the leaders of the assembly. 15And the men of Ephraim just identified by name came forward, took from the plunder, and clothed the captives that were naked, giving them sandals, food, drink, anointed them with oil, and took them to their brethren at Jericho, the city of palm trees, transporting those that were feeble upon donkeys; then they returned to Samaria.

16At that time, King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help, 17Because the Edomites had returned and attacked Judah, and carried off captives; 18And the Philistines had also invaded the cities of the low country, south of Judah, and had captured and occupied Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco, with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo, with its villages. 19The LORD was humbling Judah because of Ahaz, king of Israel; who had allowed and promoted wicked behavior in Judah, sinning greatly against the LORD. 20But when Tilgathpilneser, king of Assyria, finally did come; he did not help Ahaz, but harassed him even more, 21Even though Ahaz had taken things from the Temple of the LORD, from his own palace, and from his officials, and given them to the king of Assyria.

22And in this time of distress, Ahaz sinned against the LORD even more: 23He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which had defeated him; and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore I will sacrifice to them, so that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. 24Then Ahaz gathered the furnishings of the Temple of God, cut them in pieces, shut up the doors of the Temple of the LORD, and built altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25And in every city of Judah, Ahaz made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked the LORD God of his fathers to anger.

26Now the rest of the acts and ways of Ahaz, first to last, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27And Ahaz died, and they buried him in the city of Jerusalem; but not in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah, his son, reigned in his stead.