Ahaz Reigns in Judah
בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ אָחָ֣ז בְּמָלְכ֔וֹ וְשֵׁשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְלֹא־עָשָׂ֧ה הַיָּשָׁ֛ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה כְּדָוִ֥יד אָבִֽיו׃
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD.
וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ בְּדַרְכֵ֖י מַלְכֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְגַ֧ם מַסֵּכ֛וֹת עָשָׂ֖ה לַבְּעָלִֽים׃
Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even made cast images of the Baals.
וְה֥וּא הִקְטִ֖יר בְּגֵ֣יא בֶן־הִנֹּ֑ם וַיַּבְעֵ֤ר אֶת־בָּנָיו֙ בָּאֵ֔שׁ כְּתֹֽעֲבוֹת֙ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר֙ הֹרִ֣ישׁ יְהוָ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
וַיְזַבֵּ֧חַ וַיְקַטֵּ֛ר בַּבָּמ֖וֹת וְעַל־הַגְּבָע֑וֹת וְתַ֖חַת כָּל־עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָֽן׃
And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.
Aram Defeats Judah
וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֜הוּ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָיו֮ בְּיַ֣ד מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָם֒ וַיַּ֨כּוּ־ב֔וֹ וַיִּשְׁבּ֤וּ מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ שִׁבְיָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה וַיָּבִ֖יאוּ דַּרְמָ֑שֶׂק וְ֠גַם בְּיַד־מֶ֤לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נִתָּ֔ן וַיַּךְ־בּ֖וֹ מַכָּ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃ ס
So the LORD his God delivered Ahaz into the hand of the king of Aram, who attacked him and took many captives to Damascus. Ahaz was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force.
וַיַּהֲרֹג֩ פֶּ֨קַח בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֜הוּ בִּֽיהוּדָ֗ה מֵאָ֨ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד הַכֹּ֣ל בְּנֵי־חָ֑יִל בְּעָזְבָ֕ם אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבוֹתָֽם׃
For in one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 valiant men in Judah. This happened because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.
וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֞ג זִכְרִ֣י׀ גִּבּ֣וֹר אֶפְרַ֗יִם אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאֶת־עַזְרִיקָ֖ם נְגִ֣יד הַבָּ֑יִת וְאֶת־אֶלְקָנָ֖ה מִשְׁנֵ֥ה הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס
Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the son of the king, Azrikam the governor of the palace, and Elkanah the second to the king.
וַיִּשְׁבּוּ֩ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל מֵֽאֲחֵיהֶ֜ם מָאתַ֣יִם אֶ֗לֶף נָשִׁים֙ בָּנִ֣ים וּבָנ֔וֹת וְגַם־שָׁלָ֥ל רָ֖ב בָּזְז֣וּ מֵהֶ֑ם וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ אֶת־הַשָּׁלָ֖ל לְשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ ס
Then the Israelites took 200,000 captives from their kinsmen—women, sons, and daughters. They also carried off a great deal of plunder and brought it to Samaria.
וְ֠שָׁם הָיָ֨ה נָבִ֥יא לַֽיהוָה֮ עֹדֵ֣ד שְׁמוֹ֒ וַיֵּצֵ֗א לִפְנֵ֤י הַצָּבָא֙ הַבָּ֣א לְשֹׁמְר֔וֹן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ם הִ֠נֵּה בַּחֲמַ֨ת יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם עַל־יְהוּדָ֖ה נְתָנָ֣ם בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם וַתַּֽהַרְגוּ־בָ֣ם בְזַ֔עַף עַ֥ד לַשָּׁמַ֖יִם הִגִּֽיעַ׃
But a prophet of the LORD named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army that returned to Samaria. “Look,” he said to them, “because of His wrath against Judah, the LORD, the God of your fathers, has delivered them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.
וְ֠עַתָּה בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֤ה וִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ אַתֶּ֣ם אֹמְרִ֔ים לִכְבֹּ֛שׁ לַעֲבָדִ֥ים וְלִשְׁפָח֖וֹת לָכֶ֑ם הֲלֹ֤א רַק־אַתֶּם֙ עִמָּכֶ֣ם אֲשָׁמ֔וֹת לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
And now you intend to reduce to slavery the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But are you not also guilty before the LORD your God?
וְעַתָּ֣ה שְׁמָע֔וּנִי וְהָשִׁ֙יבוּ֙ הַשִּׁבְיָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שְׁבִיתֶ֖ם מֵאֲחֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֛י חֲר֥וֹן אַף־יְהוָ֖ה עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ ס
Now therefore, listen to me and return the captives you took from your kinsmen, for the fierce anger of the LORD is upon you.”
וַיָּקֻ֨מוּ אֲנָשִׁ֜ים מֵרָאשֵׁ֣י בְנֵֽי־אֶפְרַ֗יִם עֲזַרְיָ֤הוּ בֶן־יְהֽוֹחָנָן֙ בֶּרֶכְיָ֣הוּ בֶן־מְשִׁלֵּמ֔וֹת וִֽיחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־שַׁלֻּ֔ם וַעֲמָשָׂ֖א בֶּן־חַדְלָ֑י עַל־הַבָּאִ֖ים מִן־הַצָּבָֽא׃
Then some of the 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 arriving from the war.
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לָהֶ֗ם לֹא־תָבִ֤יאוּ אֶת־הַשִּׁבְיָה֙ הֵ֔נָּה כִּי֩ לְאַשְׁמַ֨ת יְהוָ֤ה עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ אַתֶּ֣ם אֹמְרִ֔ים לְהֹסִ֥יף עַל־חַטֹּאתֵ֖ינוּ וְעַל־אַשְׁמָתֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־רַבָּ֤ה אַשְׁמָה֙ לָ֔נוּ וַחֲר֥וֹן אָ֖ף עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס
“You must not bring the captives here,” they said, “for you are proposing to bring guilt upon us from the LORD and to add to our sins and our guilt. For our guilt is great, and fierce anger is upon Israel.”
וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב הֶֽחָל֗וּץ אֶת־הַשִּׁבְיָה֙ וְאֶת־הַבִּזָּ֔ה לִפְנֵ֥י הַשָּׂרִ֖ים וְכָל־הַקָּהָֽל׃
So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the leaders and all the assembly.
וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים֩ אֲשֶׁר־נִקְּב֨וּ בְשֵׁמ֜וֹת וַיַּחֲזִ֣יקוּ בַשִּׁבְיָ֗ה וְכָֽל־מַעֲרֻמֵּיהֶם֮ הִלְבִּ֣ישׁוּ מִן־הַשָּׁלָל֒ וַיַּלְבִּשׁ֣וּם וַ֠יַּנְעִלוּם וַיַּאֲכִל֨וּם וַיַּשְׁק֜וּם וַיְסֻכ֗וּם וַיְנַהֲל֤וּם בַּחֲמֹרִים֙ לְכָל־כּוֹשֵׁ֔ל וַיְבִיא֛וּם יְרֵח֥וֹ עִיר־הַתְּמָרִ֖ים אֵ֣צֶל אֲחֵיהֶ֑ם וַיָּשׁ֖וּבוּ שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ פ
Then the men who were designated by name arose, took charge of the captives, and provided from the plunder clothing for the naked. They clothed them, gave them sandals and food and drink, anointed their wounds, and put all the feeble on donkeys. So they brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.
The Idolatry of Ahaz
בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא שָׁלַ֞ח הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ אָחָ֛ז עַל־מַלְכֵ֥י אַשּׁ֖וּר לַעְזֹ֥ר לֽוֹ׃
At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the king of Assyria.
וְע֥וֹד אֲדוֹמִ֖ים בָּ֑אוּ וַיַּכּ֥וּ בִיהוּדָ֖ה וַיִּשְׁבּוּ־שֶֽׁבִי׃
The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away captives.
וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֣ים פָּשְׁט֗וּ בְּעָרֵ֨י הַשְּׁפֵלָ֣ה וְהַנֶּגֶב֮ לִֽיהוּדָה֒ וַֽ֠יִּלְכְּדוּ אֶת־בֵּֽית־שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ וְאֶת־אַיָּל֜וֹן וְאֶת־הַגְּדֵר֗וֹת וְאֶת־שׂוֹכ֤וֹ וּבְנוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ וְאֶת־תִּמְנָ֣ה וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ וְאֶת־גִּמְז֖וֹ וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֶ֑יהָ וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ שָֽׁם׃
The Philistines had also raided the cities of the foothills and the Negev of Judah, capturing and occupying Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their villages.
כִּֽי־הִכְנִ֤יעַ יְהוָה֙ אֶת־יְהוּדָ֔ה בַּעֲב֖וּר אָחָ֣ז מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֤י הִפְרִ֙יעַ֙ בִּֽיהוּדָ֔ה וּמָע֥וֹל מַ֖עַל בַּיהוָֽה׃
For the LORD humbled Judah because Ahaz king of Israel had thrown off restraint in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD.
וַיָּבֹ֣א עָלָ֔יו תִּלְּגַ֥ת פִּלְנְאֶ֖סֶר מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיָּ֥צַר ל֖וֹ וְלֹ֥א חֲזָקֽוֹ׃
Then Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to Ahaz but afflicted him rather than strengthening him.
כִּֽי־חָלַ֤ק אָחָז֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה וְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְהַשָּׂרִ֑ים וַיִּתֵּן֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר וְלֹ֥א לְעֶזְרָ֖ה לֽוֹ׃
Although Ahaz had taken a portion from the house of the LORD, from the royal palace, and from the princes and had presented it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.
וּבְעֵת֙ הָצֵ֣ר ל֔וֹ וַיּ֖וֹסֶף לִמְע֣וֹל בַּיהוָ֑ה ה֖וּא הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אָחָֽז׃
In the time of his distress, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD.
וַיִּזְבַּ֗ח לֵֽאלֹהֵ֣י דַרְמֶשֶׂק֮ הַמַּכִּ֣ים בּוֹ֒ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כִּ֠י אֱלֹהֵ֤י מַלְכֵֽי־אֲרָם֙ הֵ֚ם מַעְזְרִ֣ים אוֹתָ֔ם לָהֶ֥ם אֲזַבֵּ֖חַ וְיַעְזְר֑וּנִי וְהֵ֛ם הָֽיוּ־ל֥וֹ לְהַכְשִׁיל֖וֹ וּלְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him, and he said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But these gods were the downfall of Ahaz and of all Israel.
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֨ף אָחָ֜ז אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י בֵית־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֗ים וַיְקַצֵּץ֙ אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י בֵית־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיִּסְגֹּ֖ר אֶת־דַּלְת֣וֹת בֵּית־יְהוָ֑ה וַיַּ֨עַשׂ ל֧וֹ מִזְבְּח֛וֹת בְּכָל־פִּנָּ֖ה בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
Then Ahaz gathered up the articles of the house of God, cut them into pieces, shut the doors of the house of the LORD, and set up altars of his own on every street corner in Jerusalem.
וּבְכָל־עִ֨יר וָעִ֤יר לִֽיהוּדָה֙ עָשָׂ֣ה בָמ֔וֹת לְקַטֵּ֖ר לֵֽאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וַיַּכְעֵ֕ס אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֹתָֽיו׃
In every city of Judah he built high places to offer incense to other gods, and so he provoked the LORD, the God of his fathers.
וְיֶ֤תֶר דְּבָרָיו֙ וְכָל־דְּרָכָ֔יו הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים וְהָאַחֲרוֹנִ֑ים הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֔ים עַל־סֵ֥פֶר מַלְכֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
As for the rest of the acts of Ahaz and all his ways, from beginning to end, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
וַיִּשְׁכַּ֨ב אָחָ֜ז עִם־אֲבֹתָ֗יו וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֤הוּ בָעִיר֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם כִּ֚י לֹ֣א הֱבִיאֻ֔הוּ לְקִבְרֵ֖י מַלְכֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ יְחִזְקִיָּ֥הֽוּ בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ פ
And Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.