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;

Achaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord as David his father had done,

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

But walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; moreover also he cast statues for Baalim.

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.

It was he that burnt incense in the valley of Benennom, and consecrated his sons in the fire according to the manner of the nations, which the Lord slew at the coming of the children of Israel.

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

He sacrificed also, and burnt incense in 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.

And the Lord his God delivered him into the hands of the king of Syria, who defeated him, and took a great booty out of his kingdom, and carried it to Damascus: he was also delivered into the hands of the king of Israel, who overthrew him with 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 Phacee the son of Romelia slew of Juda a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, all valiant men: because they had forsaken the Lord the God of their fathers.

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.

At the same time Zechri a powerful man of Ephraim, slew Maasias the king’s son, and Ezricam the governor of his house, and Elcana 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.

And the children of Israel carried away of their brethren two hundred thousand women, boys, and girls, and an immense booty: and they brought it 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.

At that time there was a prophet of the Lord there, whose name was Oded: and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: Behold the Lord the God of your fathers being angry with Juda, hath delivered them into your hands, and you have butchered them cruelly, so that your cruelty hath 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?

Moreover you have a mind to keep under the children of Juda and Jerusalem for your bondmen and bondwomen, which ought not to be done: for you have sinned in this against the Lord 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.

But hear ye my counsel, and release the captives that you have brought of your brethren, because a great indignation of the Lord hangeth over 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 some of the chief men of the sons of Ephraim, Azarias the son of Johanan, Barachias the son of Mosollamoth, Ezechias the son of Sellum, and Amasa the son of Adali, stood up against them that came 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.

And they said to them: You shall not bring in the captives hither, lest we sin against the Lord. Why will you add to our sins, and heap up upon our former offences? for the sin is great, and the fierce anger of the Lord hangeth over Israel.

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

So the soldiers left the spoils, and all that they had taken, before the princes and all the multitude.

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.

And the men, whom we mentioned above, rose up and took the captives, and with the spoils clothed all them that were naked: and when they had clothed and shed them, and refreshed them with meat and drink, and anointed them because of their labour, and had taken care of them, they set such of them as could not walk, and were feeble, upon beasts, and brought them to Jericho the city of palm trees to their brethren, and they returned to Samaria.

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

At that time king Achaz sent to the king of the Assyrians asking help.

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

And the Edomites came and slew many of Juda, and took a great booty.

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 spread themselves among the cities of the plains, and to the south of Juda: and they took Bethsames, and Aialon, and Gaderoth, and Socho, and Thamnan, and Gamzo, with their villages, and they dwelt in them.

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 the Lord had humbled Juda because of Achaz the king of Juda, for he had stripped it of help, and had contemned the Lord.

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

And he brought, against him Thelgathphalnasar king of the Assyrians, who also afflicted him, and plundered him without any resistance.

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.

And Achaz stripped the house of the Lord, and the house of the kings, and of the princes, and gave gifts to the king of the Assyrians, and yet it availed him nothing.

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

Moreover also in the time of his distress he increased contempt against the Lord: king Achaz himself by himself,

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.

Sacrificed victims to the gods of Damascus that struck him, and he said: The gods of the kings of Syria help them, and I will appease them with victims, and they will help me; whereas on the contrary 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;

Then Achaz having taken away all the vessels of the house of God, and broken them, shut up the doors of the temple of God, and made himself altars in all the corners 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.

And in all the cities of Juda he built altars to burn frankincense, and he provoked the Lord the God of his fathers to wrath.

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.

But the rest of his acts, and all his works first and last are written in the book of the kings of Juda 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.

And Achaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of Jerusalem: for they received him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel. And Ezechias his son reigned in his stead.