2 Chronicles 28

1 Twenty years old, was Ahaz when he began to reign, and, sixteen years, reigned he in Jerusalem, —but he did not that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, like David his father;

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, as David his ancestor had done.

2 but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, —yea, even molten images, made he to the Baalim;

Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made cast metal figures for the Baals.

3 and, he, burned incense, in the valley of the son of Hinnom, -and burnt his sons, in the fire, according to the abominable ways of the nations, whom Yahweh dispossessed from before the sons of Israel.

In addition, he burned incense in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and he caused his children to pass through the fire, according to the idolatrous practices of the people that Yahweh forced out of their land before the people of Israel.

4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and upon the hills, —and under every green tree.

He sacrificed and burned incense at the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

5 Wherefore Yahweh his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria, who smote him, and carried away captive from him a large body of captives, and brought them into Damascus, —yea, even into the hand of the king of Israel, was he delivered, who smote him with a great smiting.

Therefore Yahweh the God of Ahaz gave him into the hand of the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him and carried away from him a great crowd of prisoners, bringing them to Damascus. Ahaz was also given into the hand of the king of Israel who defeated him in a great slaughter.

6 And Pekah son of Remaliah slew, in Judah, a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, all, sons of valour, -because they had forsaken Yahweh, God of their fathers.

For Pekah son of Remaliah in one day killed 120,000 soldiers in Judah and all of them were powerful men, because they had forsaken Yahweh the God of their ancestors.

7 And Zichri a hero of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah son of the king, and Azrikam, chief ruler of the house, —and Elkanah, that was next unto the king.

Zicri, a powerful man from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, Azrikam, the official over the palace, and Elkanah, who was next to the king.

8 And the sons of Israel, carried away captive, from among their brethren two hundred thousand, wives, sons and daughters, moreover also, of much spoil, did they plunder them, —and brought the spoil to Samaria.

The army of Israel took captive from their relatives 200,000 wives, sons, and daughters. They also took much plunder, which they carried back to Samaria.

9 But, in that place, was a prophet unto Yahweh, Oded his name, so he went out to meet the host that was coming unto Samaria, and said unto them, Lo! in the wrath of Yahweh, God of your fathers, against Judah, hath he delivered them into your hand, —and ye have slain them in a rage, until, to the heavens, it hath reached.

But a prophet of Yahweh was there, his name was Oded. He went out to meet the army coming into Samaria. He said to them, “Because Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reached up to heaven.

10 Now, therefore, ye, are thinking to tread down, the children of Judah and Jerusalem, as servants and as handmaids for yourselves. But is it not so—that, ye yourselves, are altogether guilty against Yahweh your God?

Now you intend to keep the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem as your slaves. But are you not guilty of sins of your own against Yahweh your God?

11 Now, therefore, hearken unto me, and restore the captives whom ye have taken captive from among your brethren, —for, the glow of the anger of Yahweh, is over you.

Now then, listen to me: Send the prisoners back, those whom you have taken of your own brothers, for Yahweh's fierce wrath is on you.”

12 Then rose up certain of the chiefs of the sons of Ephraim—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai, —against them who were coming in from the army;

Then certain leaders of the people of Ephraim—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came back from the war.

13 and said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither, for, with guilt against Yahweh already upon us, ye, are thinking to add unto our sins, and unto our guilt, —for great is the guilt we have, and fierce is the anger over Israel.

They said to them, “You must not bring the prisoners here, for you intend something that will bring on us sin against Yahweh, to add to our sins and trespasses, for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.”

14 So the armed men left the captives, and tile plunder, before the rulers, and all the convocation.

So the armed men left the prisoners and the plunder before the leaders and all the assembly.

15 Then rose up the men who have been expressed by name—and took the captives, and, all who were naked among them, clothed they out of the spoil, and arrayed them and sandalled them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and conducted them with asses for every one that was exhausted, and brought them to Jericho the city of palm-trees, near unto their brethren, —and then returned to Samaria.

The men who were assigned by name got up and took the prisoners, and clothed all who were naked among them with the plunder. They clothed them and gave them sandals. They gave them food to eat and drink. They treated their wounds and put the weak ones on donkeys. They took them back to their families in Jericho, (called the City of Palms). Then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time, sent King Ahaz unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

At that time King Ahaz sent messengers to the kings of Assyria to ask them to help him.

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

For once again the Edomites had come and attacked Judah, carrying prisoners away.

18 and, the Philistines, had spread themselves out against the cities of the lowland and of the south, pertaining to Judah, and had captured Beth-shemesh and Aijalon and Gederoth, and Soco with its villages, and Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo, with its villages, —and dwelt there.

The Philistines also invaded the cities of the lowlands and of the Negev of Judah. They took Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soko with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and also Gimzo with its villages. They went to live in those places.

19 For Yahweh had brought Judah low, because of Ahaz king of Israel, —for he had given the rein in Judah, and, been grievously unfaithful, with Yahweh.

For Yahweh brought Judah low because of Ahaz, king of Israel; for he had acted wickedly in Judah and had sinned against Yahweh very heavily.

20 And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, came against him, —and distressed him, but strengthened him not.

Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, came to him and troubled him instead of strengthening him.

21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of Yahweh, and out of the house of the king, and the rulers, —and gave unto the king of Assyria, but he helped him not.

For Ahaz plundered the house of Yahweh and the houses of the king and the leaders, to give the valuable things to the kings of Assyria. But doing this did not benefit him.

22 And, in the time of his distress, he yet further acted unfaithfully with Yahweh, —he, King Ahaz!

This same King Ahaz sinned even more against Yahweh in his time of suffering.

23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus who had smitten him, and said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria are helping them, unto them, will I sacrifice, that they may help me. But, they, served to seduce him and all Israel.

For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, gods that had defeated him. He said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them, so that they might help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.

24 And Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of God, and brake away the fittings of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of Yahweh, —and made for himself altars at every corner in Jerusalem;

Ahaz gathered together the furnishings of the house of God and cut them to pieces. He shut the doors of the house of Yahweh and he made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

25 and, in every several city of Judah, made he high places, for burning incense unto other gods, —and provoked Yahweh, God of his fathers.

In every city of Judah he made high places to burn sacrifices to other gods. He provoked Yahweh, the God of his ancestors, to anger.

26 But, the rest of his story, and all his ways, first and last, there they are, written the book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

Now the rest of his deeds, and all his ways, first and last, see, 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, in Jerusalem, but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel, —and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

Ahaz slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. Hezekiah, his son, became king in his place.