Ahaz’s Reign over Judah

16 In the seventeenth year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah, Jotham’s son Ahaz became king over Judah. ² Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what pleased the Lord his God, in contrast to his ancestor David.^{[a] 3} He followed in the footsteps of^[b] the kings of Israel. He passed his son through the fire,^[c] a horrible sin practiced by the nations^[d] whom the Lord drove out from before the Israelites. ⁴ He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Hezekiah Becomes King of Judah

18 In the third year of the reign of Israel’s King Hoshea son of Elah, Ahaz’s son Hezekiah became king over Judah. ² He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother^[a] was Abi,^[b] the daughter of Zechariah. ³ He did what the Lord approved, just as his ancestor David had done.^{[c] 4} He eliminated the high places, smashed the sacred pillars to bits, and cut down the Asherah pole.^[d] He also demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for up to that time^[e] the Israelites had been offering incense to it; it was called Nehushtan.^{[f] 5} He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; in this regard there was none like him among the kings of Judah either before or after.^{[g] 6} He was loyal to^[h] the Lord and did not abandon him.^[i] He obeyed the commandments that the Lord had given to^[j] Moses.

Amon’s Reign over Judah

¹⁹ Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem. His mother^[a] was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz, from Jotbah. ²⁰ He did evil in the sight of^[b] the Lord, just as his father Manasseh had done. ²¹ He followed in the footsteps of his father^[c] and worshiped and bowed down to the disgusting idols^[d] that his father had worshiped.^{[e] 22} He abandoned the Lord, God of his ancestors, and did not follow the Lord’s instructions.^{[f] 23} Amon’s servants conspired against him and killed the king in his palace. ²⁴ The people of the land executed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they^[g] made his son Josiah king in his place.

Josiah Repents

22 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother^[a] was Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah, from Bozkath. ² He did what the Lord approved^[b] and followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps;^[c] he did not deviate to the right or the left.

²⁵ No king before or after repented before the Lord as he did, with his whole heart, soul, and being in accordance with the whole law of Moses.^[a]

Ahaz’s Reign

28 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what pleased the Lord, in contrast to his ancestor David.^{[a] 2} He followed in the footsteps of^[b] the kings of Israel; he also made images of the Baals. ³ He offered sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and passed his sons through the fire,^[c] a horrible sin practiced by the nations^[d] whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites. ⁴ He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Hezekiah Consecrates the Temple

29 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother^[a] was Abijah,^[b] the daughter of Zechariah. ² He did what the Lord approved, just as his ancestor David had done.^[c]

²⁰ This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what the Lord his God considered good and right and faithful. ²¹ He wholeheartedly and successfully reinstituted service in God’s temple and obedience to the law, in order to follow his God.^[a]

Amon’s Reign

²¹ Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem. ²² He did evil in the sight of^[a] the Lord, just as his father Manasseh had done. Amon offered sacrifices to all the idols his father Manasseh had made, and worshiped^[b] them. ²³ He did not humble himself before the Lord as his father Manasseh had done.^[c] Amon was guilty of great sin.^{[d] 24} His servants conspired against him and killed him in his palace. ²⁵ The people of the land executed all who had conspired against King Amon, and they^[e] made his son Josiah king in his place.