猶大王亞哈斯

28 亞哈斯二十歲登基,在耶路撒冷執政十六年。他沒有效法他祖先大衛做耶和華視為正的事, 反而步以色列諸王的後塵,又鑄造巴力神像。 他不但在欣嫩子谷燒香,還效法耶和華在以色列人面前趕走的外族人的可憎行徑,焚燒自己的兒子作祭物。 他還在邱壇、山岡和綠樹下獻祭燒香。

與亞蘭和以色列交戰

因此,他的上帝耶和華把他交在亞蘭王手中,亞蘭王就打敗他,把他的許多人民擄到大馬士革。他也被交在以色列王手中,損失慘重。 利瑪利的兒子比加一天之內殺了猶大十二萬勇士,因為他們背棄了他們祖先的上帝耶和華。 以法蓮的勇士細基利殺了王子瑪西雅、宮廷總管押斯利甘和宰相以利加拿。 以色列軍隊從他們的猶大同胞中擄走了二十萬婦孺,同時也將大量戰利品帶回撒瑪利亞。

俄德先知

撒瑪利亞有一位耶和華的先知名叫俄德,他出城去迎接班師回來的軍隊,說:「看啊,你們祖先的上帝耶和華向猶大發怒,才將他們交在你們手中。你們竟怒氣衝天,對他們大加殺戮。 10 現在你們竟還想讓猶大和耶路撒冷的男女做你們的僕俾。你們豈不也得罪你們的上帝耶和華嗎? 11 你們還是聽我的忠告,釋放你們擄來的同胞,讓他們回去吧!因為耶和華的烈怒已經臨到你們了。」

12 約哈難的兒子亞撒利雅、米實利末的兒子比利迦、沙龍的兒子耶希西迦和哈得萊的兒子亞瑪撒四位以法蓮族長起來阻擋從戰場回來的軍隊, 13 說:「你們不可把這些俘虜帶進來,我們的罪已經夠重了,耶和華的烈怒已經臨到以色列人,不要再得罪耶和華,加重我們的罪惡了。」 14 於是,士兵們便把俘虜和戰利品交給眾首領和民眾。 15 那些以法蓮族長就上前照顧俘虜,從戰利品中拿出衣服和鞋子給那些赤身露體的俘虜穿上,供應他們吃喝,又給他們的傷口抹上油,讓軟弱的騎驢。他們把所有的俘虜送到棕樹城耶利哥他們的親族那裡,隨後返回撒瑪利亞。

亞哈斯向亞述王求援

16 那時,亞哈斯王派人到亞述王那裡求援。 17 原來以東人又來攻打猶大,擄掠民眾。 18 非利士人也入侵丘陵和猶大南方的城鎮,攻佔了伯·示麥、亞雅崙、基低羅,以及梭哥、亭拿、瑾鎖和三城周圍的村莊,並住在那裡。 19 耶和華使猶大衰微,因為以色列王[a]亞哈斯在猶大肆無忌憚,悖逆耶和華。 20 亞述王提革拉·毗列色來到猶大後,不但不救他,反而壓迫他。 21 亞哈斯從耶和華的殿裡、王宮和官員家中取財寶送給亞述王,但無濟於事。

亞哈斯的惡行

22 亞哈斯在患難時越發悖逆耶和華, 23 竟去祭拜打敗他的大馬士革人的神明,說:「既然亞蘭王的神明幫助了亞蘭人,我要向這些神明獻祭,以便它們幫助我。」但那些神明導致了他和全體以色列人的滅亡。 24 亞哈斯將耶和華上帝殿裡的器皿收集起來打碎,封鎖殿門,並在耶路撒冷的每個角落為自己設立祭壇。 25 他還在猶大各城建立邱壇,向其他神明燒香,惹他祖先的上帝耶和華發怒。 26 亞哈斯其他的事及所作所為自始至終都記在猶大和以色列的列王史上。 27 亞哈斯與祖先同眠後,葬在耶路撒冷城中,但沒有葬在以色列的王陵。他兒子希西迦繼位。

Footnotes

  1. 28·19 以色列王」這裡可能指統治猶大的王,而非統治北國以色列的王。

28 DE VEINTE años era Achâz cuando comenzó á reinar, y dieciséis años reinó en Jerusalem: mas no hizo lo recto en ojos de Jehová, como David su padre.

Antes anduvo en los caminos de los reyes de Israel, y además hizo imágenes de fundición á los Baales.

Quemó también perfume en el valle de los hijos de Hinnom, y quemó sus hijos por fuego, conforme á las abominaciones de las gentes que Jehová había echado delante de los hijos de Israel.

Asimismo sacrificó y quemó perfumes en los altos, y en los collados, y debajo de todo árbol espeso.

Por lo cual Jehová su Dios lo entregó en manos del rey de los Siros, los cuales le derrotaron, y cogieron de él una grande presa, que llevaron á Damasco. Fué también entregado en manos del rey de Israel, el cual lo batió con gran mortandad.

Porque Peca, hijo de Remalías mató en Judá en un día ciento y veinte mil, todos hombres valientes; por cuanto habían dejado á Jehová el Dios de sus padres.

Asimismo Zichri, hombre poderoso de Ephraim, mató á Maasías hijo del rey, y á Azricam su mayordomo, y á Elcana, segundo después del rey.

Tomaron también cautivos los hijos de Israel de sus hermanos doscientos mil, mujeres, muchachos, y muchachas, á más de haber saqueado de ellos un gran despojo, el cual trajeron á Samaria.

Había entonces allí un profeta de Jehová, que se llamaba Obed, el cual salió delante del ejército cuando entraba en Samaria, y díjoles: He aquí Jehová el Dios de vuestros padres, por el enojo contra Judá, los ha entregado en vuestras manos; y vosotros los habéis muerto con ira, que hasta el cielo ha llegado.

10 Y ahora habéis determinado sujetar á vosotros á Judá y á Jerusalem por siervos y siervas: mas ¿no habéis vosotros pecado contra Jehová vuestro Dios?

11 Oidme pues ahora, y volved á enviar los cautivos que habéis tomado de vuestros hermanos: porque Jehová está airado contra vosotros.

12 Levantáronse entonces algunos varones de los principales de los hijos de Ephraim, Azarías hijo de Johanán, y Berechîas hijo de Mesillemoth, y Ezechîas hijo de Sallum, y Amasa hijo de Hadlai, contra los que venían de la guerra.

13 Y dijéronles: No metáis acá la cautividad; porque el pecado contra Jehová será sobre nosotros. Vosotros tratáis de añadir sobre nuestros pecados y sobre nuestras culpas, siendo asaz grande nuestro delito, y la ira del furor sobre Israel.

14 Entonces el ejército dejó los cautivos y la presa delante de los príncipes y de toda la multitud.

15 Y levantáronse los varones nombrados, y tomaron los cautivos, y vistieron del despojo á los que de ellos estaban desnudos; vistiéronlos y calzáronlos, y diéronles de comer y de beber, y ungiéronlos, y condujeron en asnos á todos los flacos, y lleváronlos hasta Jericó, ciudad de las palmas, cerca de sus hermanos; y ellos se volvieron á Samaria.

16 En aquel tiempo envió á pedir el rey Achâz á los reyes de Asiria que le ayudasen:

17 Porque á más de esto, los Idumeos habían venido y herido á los de Judá, y habían llevado cautivos.

18 Asimismo los Filisteos se habían derramado por las ciudades de la llanura, y al mediodía de Judá, y habían tomado á Beth-semes, á Ajalón, Gederoth, y Sochô con sus aldeas, Timna también con sus aldeas, y Gimzo con sus aldeas; y habitaban en ellas.

19 Porque Jehová había humillado á Judá por causa de Achâz rey de Israel: por cuanto él había desnudado á Judá, y rebeládose gravemente contra Jehová.

20 Y vino contra él Tilgath-pilneser, rey de los Asirios: pues lo redujo á estrechez, y no lo fortificó.

21 Aunque despojó Achâz la casa de Jehová, y la casa real, y las de los príncipes, para dar al rey de los Asirios, con todo eso él no le ayudó.

22 Además el rey Achâz en el tiempo que aquél le apuraba, añadió prevaricación contra Jehová;

23 Porque sacrificó á los dioses de Damasco que le habían herido, y dijo: Pues que los dioses de los reyes de Siria les ayudan, yo también sacrificaré á ellos para que me ayuden; bien que fueron éstos su ruina, y la de todo Israel.

24 A más de eso recogió Achâz los vasos de la casa de Dios, y quebrólos, y cerró las puertas de la casa de Jehová, é hízose altares en Jerusalem en todos los rincones.

25 Hizo también altos en todas las ciudades de Judá, para quemar perfumes á los dioses ajenos, provocando así á ira á Jehová el Dios de sus padres.

26 Lo demás de sus hechos, y todos sus caminos, primeros y postreros, he aquí ello está escrito en el libro de los reyes de Judá y de Israel.

27 Y durmió Achâz con sus padres, y sepultáronlo en la ciudad de Jerusalem: mas no le metieron en los sepulcros de los reyes de Israel; y reinó en su lugar Ezechîas su hijo.

Ahaz King of Judah(A)

28 Ahaz(B) was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols(C) for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom(D) and sacrificed his children(E) in the fire, engaging in the detestable(F) practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.

Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hands of the king of Aram.(G) The Arameans defeated him and took many of his people as prisoners and brought them to Damascus.

He was also given into the hands of the king of Israel, who inflicted heavy casualties on him. In one day Pekah(H) son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers in Judah(I)—because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors. Zikri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, second to the king. The men of Israel took captive from their fellow Israelites who were from Judah(J) two hundred thousand wives, sons and daughters. They also took a great deal of plunder, which they carried back to Samaria.(K)

But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army when it returned to Samaria. He said to them, “Because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry(L) with Judah, he gave them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches to heaven.(M) 10 And now you intend to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves.(N) But aren’t you also guilty of sins against the Lord your God? 11 Now listen to me! Send back your fellow Israelites you have taken as prisoners, for the Lord’s fierce anger rests on you.(O)

12 Then some of the leaders in Ephraim—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—confronted those who were arriving from the war. 13 “You must not bring those prisoners here,” they said, “or we will be guilty before the Lord. Do you intend to add to our sin and guilt? For our guilt is already great, and his fierce anger rests on Israel.”

14 So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and plunder in the presence of the officials and all the assembly. 15 The men designated by name took the prisoners, and from the plunder they clothed all who were naked. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink,(P) and healing balm. All those who were weak they put on donkeys. So they took them back to their fellow Israelites at Jericho, the City of Palms,(Q) and returned to Samaria.(R)

16 At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings[a] of Assyria(S) for help. 17 The Edomites(T) had again come and attacked Judah and carried away prisoners,(U) 18 while the Philistines(V) had raided towns in the foothills and in the Negev of Judah. They captured and occupied Beth Shemesh, Aijalon(W) and Gederoth,(X) as well as Soko,(Y) Timnah(Z) and Gimzo, with their surrounding villages. 19 The Lord had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel,[b] for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful(AA) to the Lord. 20 Tiglath-Pileser[c](AB) king of Assyria(AC) came to him, but he gave him trouble(AD) instead of help.(AE) 21 Ahaz(AF) took some of the things from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace and from the officials and presented them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help him.(AG)

22 In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful(AH) to the Lord. 23 He offered sacrifices to the gods(AI) of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me.”(AJ) But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel.(AK)

24 Ahaz gathered together the furnishings(AL) from the temple of God(AM) and cut them in pieces. He shut the doors(AN) of the Lord’s temple and set up altars(AO) at every street corner in Jerusalem. 25 In every town in Judah he built high places to burn sacrifices to other gods and aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of his ancestors.

26 The other events of his reign and all his ways, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27 Ahaz rested(AP) with his ancestors and was buried(AQ) in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 28:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint and Vulgate (see also 2 Kings 16:7) king
  2. 2 Chronicles 28:19 That is, Judah, as frequently in 2 Chronicles
  3. 2 Chronicles 28:20 Hebrew Tilgath-Pilneser, a variant of Tiglath-Pileser

Reforms of Hezekiah and Josiah

Chapter 28

The Impiety of Ahaz. Ahaz was twenty years old when he ascended the throne, and he reigned in Jerusalem for sixteen years. Unlike what his ancestor David had done, he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord. Rather, he followed the example of the kings of Israel and even cast molten idols of the Baals.

Furthermore, Ahaz offered burnt sacrifices in the Valley of Ben-hinnom[a] and even went so far as to immolate his sons by fire according to the abominable practices of the nations whom the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Retribution. Therefore, the Lord his God delivered him over into the hands of the king of Aram. After the Arameans defeated him, they took large numbers of captives and brought them to Damascus. He was also given over into the power of the king of Israel, who inflicted heavy casualties on him.[b] In a single day, Pekah, the son of Remaliah, killed one hundred and twenty thousand valiant warriors.

Zichri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed Maaseiah, the king’s son, Azrikam, the commander of the palace, and Elkanah, who was second only to the king in authority. The Israelites took captive from their kinsmen two hundred thousand women, sons and daughters. They also took immense quantities of booty from them and brought it all back to Samaria.

The Prophecy of Oded. In Samaria there was a prophet of the Lord by the name of Oded. He went out to meet the army when it returned to Samaria, and he said: “It was because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah that he delivered them into your hands. However, you have slaughtered them with an intense rage that has reached up to heaven.

10 “And now you have decided to force the people of Judah and Jerusalem to be your slaves. However, have you yourselves not been guilty of sins against the Lord, your God? 11 Now listen to me! Release the captives you have taken from your kinsmen, for the fierce anger of the Lord has been aroused against you.”

12 On hearing this, some of the Ephraimite leaders—Azariah, son of Jehohanan; Berechiah, son of Meshillemoth; Jehizkiah, son of Shallum; and Amasa, son of Hadlai—confronted those who were returning from the war 13 and said to them: “Do not bring these captives here, for what you are proposing will only increase our sins and our guilt. For our guilt is already substantial, and fierce anger threatens the security of Israel.”

14 Therefore, in the presence of the officials and the entire assembly, the soldiers surrendered the captives and the booty. 15 Then those Ephraimite leaders proceeded to help those who had been led away captive. From the booty they clothed those who were naked. They gave them clothing and sandals and gave them food, drink, and healing balm. All those who were weak they mounted on donkeys and took them to their brethren in Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they themselves returned to Samaria.

16 Other Sins of Ahaz. At that time King Ahaz sent a plea to the king of Assyria asking for help. 17 The Edomites had once again invaded and defeated Judah, and carried away captives.

18 Meanwhile, the Philistines had raided the towns in the foothills and the Negeb of Judah. They captured and occupied Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages, and settled there. 19 For the Lord had brought Judah low because of Ahaz, king of Israel,[c] who had behaved without restraint in Judah and had proved to be totally unfaithful to the Lord.

20 After that, Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, came to Ahaz, but rather than assisting him, he oppressed him instead. 21 Then Ahaz plundered the temple of the Lord, the palace of the king, and the house of his officials. He proceeded to give the plunder to the king of Assyria, but no help from him was forthcoming.

22 During this period of distress, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord. 23 He proceeded to offer sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, thinking: “Since the gods of the king of Aram have supported them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may decide to help me.” However, they only caused further disaster to him and to all of Israel. 24 Then Ahaz gathered up the vessels of the house of God and broke them into pieces. After he shut up the doors of the house of the Lord he made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 In every city of Judah he built high places to offer sacrifices to other gods, thus provoking the anger of the Lord, the God of his ancestors.

26 The rest of his deeds and all his activities, from first to last, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27 Ahaz slept with his ancestors, and he was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not laid to rest in the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah succeeded him.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 28:3 Ben-hinnom: Gehenna, south and southwest of Jerusalem.
  2. 2 Chronicles 28:5 In the account of Ahaz, the Chronicler supplies many details peculiar to him.
  3. 2 Chronicles 28:19 King of Israel: Ahaz ruled the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the Chronicler refers to him often as the king of all the people, not only the northern kingdom.