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Chapter 28 |
| 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 Baalim. |
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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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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? |
| 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 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, |
| 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. |
| 14 | So the armed men left the captives and the
spoil before the princes and all the congregation. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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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. |
| 20 | And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came
unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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, 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. |
