The Reign Of Ahaz

1 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.

1 (A)Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and (B)he did not do right in the sight of the Lord as David his father had done.

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:

1 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,

1 Ahaz was 20 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem, but he did not practice what the LORD considered to be right, as his ancestor David had done.

2 He followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel; he also made images of the Baals.

2 (C)But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also (D)made molten images for the Baals.

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

2 for he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel(C) and made cast images of the Baals.(D)

2 Instead, he lived like the kings of Israel did. He cast metal images of Baal,

3 He offered sacrifices in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom and passed his sons through the fire, a horrible sin practiced by the nations whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites.

3 Moreover, (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 before the sons of Israel.

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.

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)

3 burned incense in the Ben-hinnom Valley, and burned his sons as an offering, following the detestable activities of the nations whom the LORD had expelled in front of the people of Israel.

4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

4 He sacrificed and (H)burned incense on the high places, on the hills and under every green tree.

4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

4 He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places,(H) on the hills, and under every green tree.

4 He sacrificed and burned incense on high places, on the top of hills, and under every green tree.

Judah Defeated

5 The Lord his God handed him over to the king of Syria. The Syrians defeated him and deported many captives to Damascus. He was also handed over to the king of Israel, who thoroughly defeated him.

5 Wherefore, (I)the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Aram; and they (a)defeated him and carried away from him a great number of captives and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who (b)inflicted him with heavy casualties.

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.

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:

5 As a result, the LORD his God handed Ahaz over to the king of Aram, who defeated him and took a large number of captives away to Damascus. Ahaz was also delivered over to the control of the King of Israel, who defeated him with many heavy casualties.

6 In one day King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel killed 120,000 warriors in Judah, because they had abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors.

6 For (J)Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah 120,000 in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.

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.

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.

6 Remaliah's son Pekah killed 120,000 soldiers in a single day, all of them elite forces, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their ancestors.

Syria And Israel Attack Judah

7 Zikri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed the king's son Maaseiah, Azrikam, the supervisor of the palace, and Elkanah, the king's second-in-command.

7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son and Azrikam the ruler of the house and Elkanah the second to the king.

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.

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.

7 Zichri, a valiant soldier from Ephraim, killed the king's son Maaseiah, Azrikam, the palace manager, and Elkanah, who was second in rank to the king.

8 The Israelites seized from their brothers 200,000 wives, sons, and daughters. They also carried off a huge amount of plunder and took it back to Samaria.

8 (K)The sons of Israel carried away captive of (L)their brethren 200,000 women, sons and daughters; and they (c)took also a great deal of spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

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.

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.

8 The Israelis carried away 200,000 women, sons, and daughters from among their own relatives. They also took a great deal of plunder, and brought it all to Samaria.

Oded The Prophet Condemns Israel

9 Oded, a prophet of the Lord, was there. He went to meet the army as they arrived in Samaria and said to them: "Look, because the Lord God of your ancestors was angry with Judah he handed them over to you. You have killed them so mercilessly that God has taken notice.

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 delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage (O)which has even reached heaven.

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.

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)

9 But a prophet of the LORD was there named Oded. He went out to greet the army as it arrived in Samaria. He warned them, "Look! Because the LORD God of your ancestors was angry at Judah, he delivered them into your control, but you have killed them with a vehemence that has reached all the way to heaven!

10 And now you are planning to enslave the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Yet are you not also guilty before the Lord your God?

10 Now you are proposing to (P)subjugate for yourselves the people of Judah and Jerusalem for male and female slaves. Surely, do you not have transgressions of your own against the Lord your God?

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?

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?

10 Now you're intending to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem to be your slaves. Surely you have your own sins against the LORD your God for which you're accountable, don't you?

11 Now listen to me! Send back those you have seized from your brothers, for the Lord is very angry at you!"

11 Now therefore, 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.”

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.

11 Listen to me and return the captives you took from your brothers,(M) for the Lord’s burning anger is on you.”

11 So listen to me! Return the captives whom you've captured from your brothers, because the anger of the LORD is burning hot against you!"

12 So some of the Ephraimite family leaders, Azariah son of Jehochanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jechizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai confronted those returning from the battle.

12 Then some of the heads 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—arose against those who were coming from the battle,

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,

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.

12 Some of the leaders of the descendants of Ephraim, including Johanan's son Azariah, Meshillemoth's son Berechiah, Shallum's son Jehizkiah, and Hadlai's son Amasa, stood up to the army as they were coming back from the battle

13 They said to them, "Don't bring those captives here! Are you planning on making us even more sinful and guilty before the Lord? Our guilt is already great and the Lord is very angry at Israel."

13 and said to them, “You must not bring the captives in here, for you are proposing to bring upon us guilt against the Lord adding to our sins and our guilt; for our guilt is great so that His burning anger is against Israel.”

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.

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.”

13 and told them, "Don't bring those captives here! You'll bring even more guilt on us from the LORD, in addition to our own existing sin and guilt! He's already mad enough against Israel because of our guilt!"

14 So the soldiers released the captives and the plunder before the officials and the entire assembly.

14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the officers and all the assembly.

14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.

14 The army left the captives and the plunder in the presence of the officers and the congregation.

14 So the army abandoned the captives and the war booty in front of the officers and the entire assembled retinue.

15 Men were assigned to take the prisoners and find clothes among the plunder for those who were naked. So they clothed them, supplied them with sandals, gave them food and drink, and provided them with oil to rub on their skin. They put the ones who couldn't walk on donkeys. They brought them back to their brothers at Jericho, the city of the date palm trees, and then returned to Samaria.

15 Then (S)the men who were designated by name arose, took the captives, and they clothed all their naked ones from the spoil; and 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.

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.

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.

15 After this, some men who were chosen by name took charge of the captives, clothed those who were naked with clothes appropriated from the war booty, gave them clothes and sandals, fed them, gave them something to drink, anointed them with oil, provided those who weren't able to walk with donkeys to ride on, and took them back to their relatives at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time King Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help.

16 (V)At that time King Ahaz sent to the (d)kings of Assyria for help.

16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

16 At that time King Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help.(Q)

16 Right about then, King Ahaz sent for help from the kings of Assyria

17 The Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah and carried off captives.

17 (W)For again the Edomites had come and attacked Judah and carried away captives.

17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.

17 The Edomites came again, attacked Judah, and took captives.(R)

17 because the Edomites had invaded, attacked Judah, and carried off some captives.

18 The Philistines had raided the cities of Judah in the lowlands and the Negev. They captured and settled in Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its surrounding villages, Timnah and its surrounding villages, and Gimzo and its surrounding villages.

18 (X)The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the (e)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 settled there.

18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, 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.

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.

18 The Philistines also invaded some of the cities in the Shephelah and in the Negev of Judah. They captured Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco, and their surrounding villages, Timnah and its villages, and Gimzo and its villages. Then the Philistines settled there,

Ahaz Asks The King Of Assyria For Help

19 The Lord humiliated Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel, for he encouraged Judah to sin and was very unfaithful to the Lord.

19 For the Lord 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.

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

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.

19 because the LORD was humiliating Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel, since Ahaz had brought about a lack of restraint within Judah and had remained unfaithful to the LORD.

20 King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria came, but he gave him more trouble than support.

20 So (Z)Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him.

20 And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.

20 Then Tiglath-pileser(d)(T) king of Assyria came against Ahaz; he oppressed him and did not give him support.(U)

20 King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria attacked Ahaz and, instead of helping him, attacked him.

21 Ahaz gathered riches from the Lord's temple, the royal palace, and the officials and gave them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help.

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.

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.

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.

21 Even though Ahaz took some of the assets belonging to the LORD's Temple from the royal palace, and from the palaces belonging to the princes, and gave them to the king of Assyria, none of his gifts did any good.

Ahaz's Idolatry

22 During his time of trouble King Ahaz was even more unfaithful to the Lord.

22 Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz (AB)became yet more unfaithful to the Lord.

22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.

22 At the time of his distress, King Ahaz himself became more unfaithful to the Lord.

22 In the midst of his troubles, King Ahaz became more and more unfaithful to the LORD.

23 He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus whom he thought had defeated him. He reasoned, "Since the gods of the kings of Damascus helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me." But they caused him and all Israel to stumble.

23 (AC)For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had (f)defeated him, and said, “(AD)Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they became the (g)downfall of him and all Israel.

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.

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.

23 He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him, reasoning, "The gods of the kings of Aram helped them, so I'll sacrifice to them so they will help me!" But those gods brought about his downfall, and the downfall of all of Israel, too.

24 Ahaz gathered the items in God's temple and removed them. He shut the doors of the Lord's temple and erected altars on every street corner in Jerusalem.

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.

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.

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)

24 Ahaz also collected the utensils of God's Temple, cut them all into pieces, and closed the doors of the LORD's Temple. Then he made altars to himself on every corner in Jerusalem

25 In every city throughout Judah he set up high places to offer sacrifices to other gods. He angered the Lord God of his ancestors.

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.

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.

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.

25 and established high places in every city of Judah where incense was burned to other gods, thus provoking the LORD God of his ancestors to anger.

26 The rest of the events of Ahaz's reign, including his accomplishments from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

26 (AH)Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

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.

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.

26 The rest of his accomplishments, and records of everything he did from first to last are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

27 Ahaz passed away and was buried in the City of David; they did not bring him to the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah replaced him as king.

27 (AI)So Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of (AJ)Israel; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

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.

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.

27 So Ahaz died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but they didn't bury him among the tombs of the kings of Israel. Ahaz's son Hezekiah reigned in his place.

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