2 Chronicles 28
The Reign of
Ahaz |
2 Kgs. 16.1-20 |
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:
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2 |
for he walked in the ways of the kings of
Israel, and made also molten images for Ba'alim.
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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.
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4 |
He sacrificed also and burnt incense in
the high places, and on the hills, and under every green
tree.
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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.
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6 |
For Pekah the son of Remali'ah slew in
Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. 2 Kgs. 16.5 · Is. 7.1
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7 |
And Zichri, a mighty man of E'phra-im,
slew Ma-asei'ah the king's son, and Az'rikam the governor of the
house, and Elka'nah that was next to the king.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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12 |
Then certain of the heads of the children
of E'phra-im, Azari'ah the son of Jo'hanan, Berechi'ah the son of
Meshil'lemoth, and Jehizki'ah the son of Shallum, and Ama'sa the son
of Had'lai, stood up against them that came from the war,
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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.
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14 |
So the armed men left the captives and
the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
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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.
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16 |
At that time did king Ahaz send unto
the kings of Assyria to help him.
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17 |
For again the Edomites had come and
smitten Judah, and carried away captives.
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18 |
The Philistines also had invaded the
cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken
Beth-she'mesh, and Aj'alon, and Ged'eroth, and Shocho with the
villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also
and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
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19 |
For the LORD brought
Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked,
and transgressed sore against the LORD.
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20 |
And Til'gath-pilne'ser king of Assyria
came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him
not.
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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.
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22 |
And in the time of his distress did he
trespass yet more against the LORD: this is
that king Ahaz.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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27 |
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, Is.
14.28 and they buried him in the city, even in
Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings
of Israel: and Hezeki'ah his son reigned in his
stead.
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