2 Chronicles 28
1ACHAZ was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, like his father David,
2but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made graven images;
3and for their idols in the land of Benennom he actually caused his children to pass through fire, according to the abominable acts of those nations which the Lord had rooted out from before the Israelites.
4He burned incense also on the high places, and on the tops of houses and under every shady tree.
5So the Lord his God delivered him into the hands of the king of Syria, who smote him, and took many of them captives, and carried them to Damascus. He delivered him also into the hands of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
6Indeed Phakee, the son of Romelias, king of Israel, slew of Juda in one day, a hundred and twenty thousand men mighty in power, because they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers.
7Zechri also, the chieftain of Ephraim, slew Maasias the king’s son, and Ezrikan, the leader of his house, and Elkana, the lieutenant of the king.
8And the Israelites carried away captive, of their brethren, three hundred thousand, including married women, sons and daughters. And they took from them much spoil.
9But as they were carrying the spoils to Samaria, there was there a prophet of the Lord, whose name was Oded, who went out to meet the army coming to Samaria, and said to them, Behold the anger of the Lord God of your fathers is against Juda, and he hath delivered them into your hands, and you have slain them with a rage which hath reached up to heaven.
10And now you purpose to keep the children of Juda and Jerusalem, for men slaves and women slaves! Behold am not I with you to testify to the Lord your God?
11Now therefore hearken to me, and send back those captives whom you have taken of your brethren; for the anger of the Lord is on you.
12Upon this there arose certain chiefs of the Ephraimites, namely, Oudeias the son of Joanas, and Barachias the son of Mosolamoth, and Ezekias the son of Sellem, and Amasias the son of Eldai, against them who came from the war,
13and said to them, You shall not bring these captives here to us, for that would be to bring your guilt on us. Because you have sinned against the Lord, do you mean to lay it on us, to add to our sins and to heighten our folly, because our sins are many, and the fervent anger of the Lord is hanging over Israel?
14Thereupon the warriors left the captives and the spoils before the chiefs and the whole congregation.
15And the chiefs above mentioned arose and took the captives, and out of the spoils clothed all who were naked. And when they had clothed them and shod them, and had given them something to eat and to anoint themselves, they took up on asses all who were weak, and carried them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren, and then returned to Samaria.
16At that time king Achaz sent to the king of Assur for assistance,
17because the Idumeans had invaded and smitten Juda and carried off captives.
18The Philistines also had fallen upon the cities of the plain and in the southern border of Juda, and had taken Baithsamus. But after he had given the king the treasures in the house of the Lord, and the treasures in the house of the king, and the chiefs, they took Ailon and Galero, and Socho, and the villages thereof, and Thamna and the villages thereof, and Gamzo and the villages thereof, and settled there.
19Because the Lord humbled Juda on the account of Achaz, king of Juda, because he had greatly apostatised from the Lord,
20therefore Thalgathphallasar came upon him and afflicted him.
21Though Achaz took the treasures in the house of the Lord, and the treasures in the house of the king, and the chiefs, and gave them to the king of Assur, yet he was of no service to him,
22but only added to his distress, and contributed to his apostacy from the Lord. For king Achaz said,
23I will seek the gods of Damascus who smite me. Because said he, the gods of the king of Syria strengthen them, therefore I will sacrifice to them and they will help me. But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
24Now when Achaz had taken away the vessels of the house of the Lord, and chopped them to pieces, he shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem,
25and erected high places in every city of Juda, to burn incense to strange gods. So they provoked to wrath the Lord the God of their fathers.
26Now the rest of his acts and his doings, first and last, behold they are written in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel.
27And when Achaz slept with his fathers, he was buried in the city of David, but they did not carry him to the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Ezekias his son, reigned in his stead.