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2 Chronicles 28
New American Standard Bible
2 Chronicles 28
New American Standard Bible
Ahaz Succeeds Jotham in Judah
28 (A)Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for sixteen years. (B)He did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord as his father David had done. 2 (C)But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also (D)made cast metal images for the Baals. 3 Furthermore, (E)he burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom, and (F)burned his sons in fire, (G)according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had driven out from the sons of Israel. 4 He sacrificed and (H)burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.
Judah Is Invaded
5 Therefore (I)the Lord his God handed him over to the king of Aram; and they [a]defeated him and carried from him a great number of captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also handed over to the king of Israel, who struck him with heavy casualties. 6 For (J)Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120,000 in Judah in one day, all valiant men, because they had abandoned the Lord God of their fathers. 7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah the second to the king.
8 (K)The sons of Israel led away captive two hundred thousand of (L)their relatives, women, sons, and daughters; and they also [b]took a great deal of spoils from them, and brought the spoils to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded; and (M)he went out to meet the army which came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, (N)was angry with Judah, He has handed them over to you, and you have killed them in a rage (O)which has even reached heaven. 10 Now you are proposing to (P)subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. Are you not, however guilty yourselves of offenses against the Lord your God? 11 Now then, listen to me and return the captives (Q)whom you captured from your brothers, (R)for the burning anger of the Lord is against you.” 12 Then some of the leading men of the sons of Ephraim—Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai—rose up against those who were coming from the battle, 13 and said to them, “You must not bring the captives in here, for you are proposing to bring guilt upon us before the Lord, adding to our sins and our guilt; for our guilt is great, and His burning anger is against Israel.” 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoils before the officers and all the assembly. 15 Then (S)the men who were designated by name got up, took the captives, and they clothed all their naked people from the spoils; they gave them clothes and sandals, fed them and (T)gave them drink, anointed them with oil, led all their feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, (U)the city of palm trees, to their brothers; then they returned to Samaria.
Compromise with Assyria
16 (V)At that time King Ahaz sent word to the [c]kings of Assyria for help. 17 (W)For the Edomites had come again and attacked Judah, and led away captives. 18 (X)The Philistines had also invaded the cities of the [d]lowland and of the Negev of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages; and they had settled there. 19 For the Lord had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of (Y)Israel, for he had brought about a lack of restraint in Judah and was very unfaithful to the Lord. 20 So (Z)Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him. 21 (AA)Although Ahaz took a portion out of the house of the Lord and out of the palace of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.
22 Now during the time of his distress, this same King Ahaz (AB)became even more unfaithful to the Lord. 23 (AC)For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus who had [e]defeated him, and said, “(AD)Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me.” But they became the [f]downfall of him and all Israel. 24 Moreover, when Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of God, he (AE)cut the utensils of the house of God in pieces; and he (AF)closed the doors of the house of the Lord, and (AG)made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked the Lord, the God of his fathers, to anger. 26 (AH)Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from the first to the last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 (AI)So Ahaz [g]lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him to the tombs of the kings of (AJ)Israel; and his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 28:5 Lit struck
- 2 Chronicles 28:8 Lit plundered
- 2 Chronicles 28:16 Ancient versions king
- 2 Chronicles 28:18 Heb shephelah
- 2 Chronicles 28:23 Lit struck
- 2 Chronicles 28:23 Lit stumbling
- 2 Chronicles 28:27 I.e., died
2 Chronicles 28
Holman Christian Standard Bible
2 Chronicles 28
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Judah’s King Ahaz
28 Ahaz was 20 years old(A) when he became king and reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the Lord’s sight(B) like his ancestor David, 2 for he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel(C) and made cast images of the Baals.(D) 3 He burned incense in the Valley of Hinnom(E) and burned his children in[a](F) the fire, imitating the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.(G) 4 He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places,(H) on the hills, and under every green tree.
5 So the Lord his God handed Ahaz over(I) to the king of Aram. He attacked him and took many captives to Damascus.
Ahaz was also handed over to the king of Israel, who struck him with great force: 6 Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 in Judah in one day—all brave men—because they had abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors. 7 An Ephraimite warrior named Zichri killed the king’s son Maaseiah, Azrikam governor of the palace, and Elkanah who was second to the king. 8 Then the Israelites took 200,000 captives from their brothers—women, sons, and daughters.(J) They also took a great deal of plunder from them and brought it to Samaria.
9 A prophet of the Lord named Oded was there. He went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Look, the Lord God of your ancestors handed them over to you because of His wrath against Judah,(K) but you slaughtered them in a rage that has reached heaven.(L) 10 Now you plan to reduce the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, to slavery. Are you not also guilty before Yahweh your God? 11 Listen to me and return the captives you took from your brothers,(M) for the Lord’s burning anger is on you.”
12 So some men who were leaders of the Ephraimites—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—stood in opposition to those coming from the war. 13 They said to them, “You must not bring the captives here, for you plan to bring guilt on us from the Lord to add to our sins and our guilt. For we have much guilt, and burning anger is on Israel.”
14 The army left the captives and the plunder in the presence of the officers and the congregation. 15 Then the men who were designated by name(N) took charge of the captives and provided clothes for their naked ones from the plunder. They clothed them, gave them sandals, food and drink,(O) dressed their wounds, and provided donkeys for all the feeble. The Israelites brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms,(P) among their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.
16 At that time King Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help.(Q) 17 The Edomites came again, attacked Judah, and took captives.(R) 18 The Philistines also raided the cities of the Judean foothills[b] and the Negev of Judah(S) and captured Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its villages, Timnah and its villages, Gimzo and its villages, and they lived there. 19 For the Lord humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah,[c] who threw off restraint in Judah and was unfaithful to the Lord. 20 Then Tiglath-pileser[d](T) king of Assyria came against Ahaz; he oppressed him and did not give him support.(U) 21 Although Ahaz plundered the Lord’s temple and the palace of the king and of the rulers and gave the plunder to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.
22 At the time of his distress, King Ahaz himself became more unfaithful to the Lord. 23 He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him; he said, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram are helping them, I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me.”(V) But they were the downfall of him and of all Israel.
24 Then Ahaz gathered up the utensils of God’s temple, cut them into pieces,(W) shut the doors of the Lord’s temple,(X) and made himself altars on every street corner in Jerusalem.(Y) 25 He made high places in every city of Judah to offer incense to other gods, and he provoked the Lord, the God of his ancestors.
Ahaz’s Death
26 As for the rest of his deeds(Z) and all his ways, from beginning to end, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in the city, in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah became king in his place.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 28:3 LXX, Syr, Tg read and passed his children through
- 2 Chronicles 28:18 Or the Shephelah
- 2 Chronicles 28:19 Some Hb mss; other Hb mss read Israel
- 2 Chronicles 28:20 Text emended; MT reads Tilgath-pilneser; 1Ch 5:6,26
2 Chronicles 28
New International Version
2 Chronicles 28
New International Version
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. 2 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols(C) for worshiping the Baals. 3 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. 4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.
5 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. 6 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. 7 Zikri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, second to the king. 8 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)
9 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
- 2 Chronicles 28:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint and Vulgate (see also 2 Kings 16:7) king
- 2 Chronicles 28:19 That is, Judah, as frequently in 2 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles 28:20 Hebrew Tilgath-Pilneser, a variant of Tiglath-Pileser
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Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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