1 AHAZ was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father:
2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
5 Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.
7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.
10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God?
11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.
12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,
13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the Lord already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.
17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.
18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
19 For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord.
20 And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.
22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz.
23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.
26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

1Ahaz was twentie yeeres olde when hee beganne to reigne, and he reigned sixteene yeres in Ierusalem: but hee did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like Dauid his father.

2For he walked in the wayes of the Kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.

3Moreouer, he burnt incense in the valley of the sonne of Hinnom, & burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen, whome the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

4Hee sacrificed also, and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hils, and vnder euery greene tree.

5Wherefore the Lord his God deliuered him into the hand of the king of Syria, and they smote him, and caried away a great multitude of them captiues, and brought them to Damascus: And he was also deliuered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him wich a great slaughter.

6 For Pekah the sonne of Remaliah slew in Iudah an hundred & twentie thousand in one day, which were all valiant men: because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.

7And Zichri a mightie man of Ephraim, slue Maaseiah the kings sonne, and Azrikam the gouernour of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the King.

8And the children of Israel caried away captiue of their brethren, two hundred thousand, women, sonnes and daughters, and tooke also away much spoile from them, and brought the spoile to Samaria.

9But a Prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded: and hee went out before the hoste that came to Samaria, and said vnto them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was wroth with Iudah, he hath deliuered them into your hand, and yee haue slaine them in a rage that reacheth vp vnto heauen.

10And now ye purpose to keepe vnder the children of Iudah and Ierusalem for bondmen, and bondwomen vnto you: But are there not with you, euen with you, sinnes against the Lord your God?

11Now heare me therefore, and deliuer the captiues againe, which ye haue taken captiue of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of God is vpon you.

12Then certeine of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the sonne of Iohanan, Berechiah the sonne of Meshillemoth, and Iehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the sonne of Hadlai, stood vp against them that came from the warre,

13And said vnto them, Ye shall not bring in the captiues hither: for whereas wee haue offended against the Lord already, ye intend to adde more to our sinnes and to our trespasse: for our trespasse is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.

14So the armed men left the captiues, and the spoile before the Princes, and all the congregation.

15And the men which were expressed by name, rose vp and tooke the captiues, and with the spoile clothed all that were naked among them, and arayed them, and shod them, and gaue them to eate and to drinke, and anointed them, and caried all the feeble of them vpon asses, and brought them to Iericho, the city of palme-trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time did king Ahaz send vnto the kings of Assyria to helpe him.

17For againe the Edomites had come and smitten Iudah, and caried away captiues.

18The Philistines also had inuaded the cities of the low-countrey, and of the South of Iudah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Aialon, and Gedetoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also, and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

19For the Lord brought Iudah low, because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Iudah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord.

20And Tilgath-Pilneser king of Assyria came vnto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.

21For Ahaz tooke away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the King, and of the Princes, and gaue it vnto the King of Assyria: but he helped him not.

22 And in the time of this distresse did hee trespasse yet more against the Lord: This is that king Ahaz.

23For he sacrificed vnto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helpe them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may helpe me: but they were the ruine of him, and of all Israel.

24And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut vp the doores of the house of the Lord, and hee made him altars in euery corner of Ierusalem.

25And in euery seuerall city of Iudah hee made high places to burne incense vnto other gods, and prouoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.

26 Now the rest of his acts, and of all his wayes, first and last, behold, they are written in the booke of the kings of Iudah and Israel.

27And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the citie, euen in Ierusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his sonne reigned in his stead.

I == 2nd Kings 16:2

 

II == Ex 34:17 ; Lev 19:4 ; Judg 2:11

III == Lev 18:21 ; 2nd Kings 16:3 ; 23:10 ; 2nd Chr 33:6

 

 

 

 

V == 2nd Kings 16:5-6 ; Isa 7:1

 

 

 

 

VI == 2nd Kings 15:27

 

 

 

 

 

VIII == 2 Chr 11:4

 

 

 

IX == Ezra 9:6 ; Ps 69:26 ; Isa 10:5 ; 47:6 ; Ezek 25:12 , 15 ; 26:2 ; Obad 1:10 ; Zech 1:15 ; Rev 18:5

 

 

X == Lev 25:39 , 42-43 , 46

 

XI== James 2:13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XV == Deut 34:3 ; Judg 1:16 ; 2nd Kings 6:22 ; 2nd Chr 28:12 ; Prov 25:21-22 ; Luke 6:27 ; Rom 12:20

 

 

 

 

XVI == 2nd Kings 16:7

 

XVIII == Ezek 16:27 , 57

 

 

 

 

XIX == Ex 32:25 ; 2nd Chr 21:2

 

XX == 2nd Kings 15:29 ; 16:7-9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXIII == 2nd Chr 25:14 ; Jer 44:17-18

 

 

 

XXIV == 2nd Chr 29:3 , 7

 

 

 

 

 

XXVI == 2nd Kings 16:19-20

 

 

1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not please the LORD as his forefather David had done,

2 but conducted himself like the kings of Israel and even made molten idols of the Baals.

3 Moreover, he offered sacrifice in the Valley of Ben-hinnom, and immolated his sons by fire according to the abominable practice of the nations which the LORD had cleared out before the Israelites.

4 He offered sacrifice and incense on the high places, on hills, and under every leafy tree.

5 Therefore the LORD, his God, delivered him into the power of the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him and carried away captive a large number of his people, whom they brought to Damascus. He was also delivered into the power of the king of Israel, who defeated him with great slaughter.

6 For Pekah, son of Remaliah, slew one hundred and twenty thousand of Judah in a single day, all of them valiant men, because they had abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers.

7 Zichri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed Maaseiah, the king's son, and Azrikam, the master of the palace, and also Elkanah, who was second to the king.

8 The Israelites took away as captives two hundred thousand of their brethren's wives, sons and daughters; they also took from them much plunder, which they brought to Samaria.

9 In Samaria there was a prophet of the LORD by the name of Oded. He went out to meet the army returning to Samaria and said to them: "It was because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah that he delivered them into your hands. You, however, have slaughtered them with a fury that has reached up to heaven.

10 And now you are planning to make the children of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves and bondwomen. Are not you yourselves, therefore, guilty of a crime against the LORD, your God?

11 Now listen to me: send back the captives you have carried off from among your brethren, for the burning anger of the LORD is upon you."

12 At this, some of the Ephraimite leaders, Azariah, son of Johanan, Berechiah, son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah, son of Shallum, and Amasa, son of Hadlai, themselves stood up in opposition to those who had returned from the war.

13 They said to them: "Do not bring the captives here, for what you propose will make us guilty before the LORD and increase our sins and our guilt. Our guilt is already great, and there is a burning anger upon Israel."

14 Therefore the soldiers left their captives and the plunder before the princes and the whole assembly.

15 Then the men just named proceeded to help the captives. All of them who were naked they clothed from the booty; they clothed them, put sandals on their feet, gave them food and drink, anointed them, and all who were weak they set on asses. They brought them to Jericho, the city of palms, to their brethren. Then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time King Ahaz sent an appeal for help to the kings of Assyria.

17 The Edomites had returned, attacked Judah, and carried off captives.

18 The Philistines too had raided the cities of the foothills and the Negeb of Judah; they captured Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its dependencies, Timnah and its dependencies, and Gimzo and its dependencies, and occupied them.

19 For the LORD had brought Judah low because of Ahaz, king of Israel, who let Judah go its own way and proved utterly faithless to the LORD.

20 Tilgath-pilneser, king of Assyria, did indeed come to him, but to oppress him rather than to help him.

21 Though Ahaz plundered the LORD'S house and the houses of the king and the princes to make payment to the king of Assyria, it availed him nothing.

22 While he was already in distress, the same King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD.

23 He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, saying, "Since it was the gods of the kings of Aram who helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me also." However, they only caused further disaster to him and to all Israel.

24 Ahaz gathered up the utensils of God's house and broke them in pieces. He closed the doors of the LORD'S house and had altars made for himself in every corner of Jerusalem.

25 In every city throughout Judah he set up high places to offer sacrifice to other gods. Thus he angered the LORD, the God of his fathers.

26 The rest of his deeds and his activities, first and last, can be found written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

27 Ahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in Jerusalem - in the city, for they did not bring him to the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah succeeded him as king.

v 1-4. Apparently Ahaz was vice-regent under Jotham four years. Jotham was unable to remove the high places, but Ahaz sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places and promoted a proliferation of them. He was wicked and even sacrificed one of his sons (Obviously not Hezekiah) as a burnt offering as the heathen did, particularly in worship of Molech.
 2 Chr. 28:1-4 add that more than one child was offered, and the most prominent place was the Valley of Hinnom, later called Gehenna. (Because of these sacrificial offerings as well as garbage constantly burning, it became another name for Hell.)

v 5-6. Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel tried to force Ahaz into joining them in an alliance to resist Assyria. They did not succeed in this, but they did take Elath on the Gulf of Aqaba from him, which had been built up by Azariah a few years before. Thus it passed into Syrian hands, and later to the Edomites.
2 Chr. 28:5-15 add considerable detail. It was because of Ahaz’s wickedness that the Lord allowed Rezin and Pekah to come against him. They slew 120,000 valiant men in one day, because Judah had forsaken God. Zichri from Ephraim killed prince Maaseiah, also the governor of the house and the kings assistant. Israel also took to Samaria 200,000 women and children for slaves, and much spoil. The prophet, Oded, met the returning group and rebuked them for taking captives from Judah. They had been delivered because of Judah’s sin, but Israel had also sinned and the wrath of God was upon Israel. The named princes of Ephraim stood up against them and forbade them to bring the captives or they would incur great wrath from God. The army left the people in the hands of the princes and congregation, who fed, clothed and anointed the captives. Then they were put on donkeys and returned as far as Jericho from where they would be repatriated to their homes.

v 7-9 Instead of calling on God for help, Ahaz called on Tiglath-pileasar king of Assyria, but it was at a high price of the silver and gold from the house of the Lord and treasures that were in the King’s house. In response, Assyria took Damascus, carrying away captives to Kir to relocate them, and killing king Rezin.

v 10-16. Then Ahaz went to Damascus to see King Tiglath-pileasar, and was so impressed by a large heathen altar that he sent instructions to Urijah the priest to construct another just like it. The priesthood had so declined that he readily complied and had it built before Ahaz returned. When he returned he moved the old altar aside to give the new one a more prominent place, and offered on it. He instructed that all other offerings be made on that great altar, and the old one would only be used when he wanted guidance from the Lord. (When all else fails, turn to the Lord, as some say.)

v 17-27 He took the basins from the ten movable stands of 1 Ki. 7:23-26, and took the bronze oxen from under the bronze sea and placed it on a pavement of stones. He also removed a special covering for use on the Sabbath, the royal entry way into the temple, probably because he didn’t intend to use it much, and it somehow seemed to offend the king of Assyria. All these actions desecrated the temple and seemed to limit the purification  of the priests.
2 Chr. 28:16-25 add to verses 7-18: Ahaz was not satisfied that Israel would not come after him again, and because of his wickedness, Edom and Philistines began to cause trouble. Instead of calling on God, he called upon the king of Assyria. Isaiah tried to talk him out of it, Isa. 7:4-9, but he wouldn’t listen. The king of Assyria came and pressured Ahaz into some of the destruction at the temple, probably taking the above mentioned bronze items as well as other treasures for bribe, but didn’t help him. As times got tougher, Ahaz just turned farther from the Lord. Since the Syrians had overpowered him, he decided the Syrian gods were the powerful ones, so he started worshiping them. After making merchandise of the vessels of the temple, he barred the doors and made heathen altars all over Jerusalem and Judah, incurring more wrath from God.
Ahaz was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the royal sepulchers, which would indicate there were still some people in Judah who did not approve of Ahaz. His  son Hezekiah will be a sharp contrast by his obedience to God.