2 Chronicles 28 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Judah’s King Ahaz

28 Ahaz was twenty years old(A) when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the Lord’s sight(B) like his ancestor David, 2 for he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel(C) and made cast images of the Baals.(D) 3 He burned incense in Ben Hinnom Valley(E) and burned his children in[a](F) the fire, imitating the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.(G) 4 He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places,(H) on the hills, and under every green tree.

5 So the Lord his God handed Ahaz over(I) to the king of Aram. He attacked him and took many captives to Damascus.

Ahaz was also handed over to the king of Israel, who struck him with great force: 6 Pekah son of Remaliah killed one hundred twenty thousand in Judah in one day—all brave men—because they had abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors. 7 An Ephraimite warrior named Zichri killed the king’s son Maaseiah, Azrikam governor of the palace, and Elkanah who was second to the king. 8 Then the Israelites took two hundred thousand captives from their brothers—women, sons, and daughters.(J) They also took a great deal of plunder from them and brought it to Samaria.

9 A prophet of the Lord named Oded was there. He went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Look, the Lord God of your ancestors handed them over to you because of his wrath against Judah,(K) but you slaughtered them in a rage that has reached heaven.(L) 10 Now you plan to reduce the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, to slavery. Are you not also guilty before the Lord your God? 11 Listen to me and return the captives you took from your brothers,(M) for the Lord’s burning anger is on you.”

12 So some men who were 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 coming from the war. 13 They said to them, “You must not bring the captives here, for you plan to bring guilt on us from the Lord to add to our sins and our guilt. For we have much guilt, and burning anger is on Israel.”

14 The army left the captives and the plunder in the presence of the officers and the congregation. 15 Then the men who were designated by name(N) took charge of the captives and provided clothes for their naked ones from the plunder. They clothed them, gave them sandals, food and drink,(O) dressed their wounds, and provided donkeys for all the feeble. The Israelites brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms,(P) among their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time King Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help.(Q) 17 The Edomites came again, attacked Judah, and took captives.(R) 18 The Philistines also raided the cities of the Judean foothills[b] and the Negev of Judah.(S) They captured and occupied Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their surrounding villages. 19 For the Lord humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah,[c] who threw off restraint in Judah and was unfaithful to the Lord. 20 Then King Tiglath-pileser[d](T) of Assyria came against Ahaz; he oppressed him and did not give him support.(U) 21 Although Ahaz plundered the Lord’s temple and the palace of the king and of the rulers and gave the plunder to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

22 At the time of his distress, King Ahaz himself became more unfaithful to the Lord. 23 He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him; he said, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram are helping them, I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me.”(V) But they were the downfall of him and of all Israel.

24 Then Ahaz gathered up the utensils of God’s temple, cut them into pieces,(W) shut the doors of the Lord’s temple,(X) and made himself altars on every street corner in Jerusalem.(Y) 25 He made high places in every city of Judah to offer incense to other gods, and he angered the Lord, the God of his ancestors.

Ahaz’s Death

26 As for the rest of his deeds(Z) and all his ways, from beginning to end, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 Ahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city, in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah became king in his place.

Footnotes

  1. 28:3 LXX, Syr, Tg read and passed his children through
  2. 28:18 Or the Shephelah
  3. 28:19 Some Hb mss; other Hb mss read Israel
  4. 28:20 Text emended; MT reads Tilgath-pilneser; 1Ch 5:6,26

Cross references

  1. 28:1–6 : 2Kg 16:2–4
  2. 28:1 : 2Ch 27:2
  3. 28:2 : 2Ch 22:3
  4. 28:2 : Ex 34:17
  5. 28:3 : Jos 15:8; 18:16; 2Kg 23:10; Jr 7:29–34; 19:2–6
  6. 28:3 : Lv 18:21; 2Kg 16:3; 2Ch 33:6
  7. 28:3 : 2Ch 33:2
  8. 28:4 : 2Ch 28:25
  9. 28:5 : 2Ch 24:24
  10. 28:8 : 2Ch 11:4
  11. 28:9 : Is 47:6
  12. 28:9 : Ezr 9:6; Rv 18:5
  13. 28:11 : 2Ch 28:8
  14. 28:15 : 2Ch 28:12
  15. 28:15 : 2Kg 6:22; Pr 25:21–22
  16. 28:15 : Dt 34:3
  17. 28:16 : 2Kg 16:7
  18. 28:17 : Ob 10–14
  19. 28:18 : Ezk 16:57
  20. 28:20 : 1Ch 5:26
  21. 28:20 : 2Ch 28:16
  22. 28:23 : Jr 44:17–18
  23. 28:24 : 2Kg 16:17
  24. 28:24 : 2Ch 29:7
  25. 28:24 : 2Ch 30:14; 33:3–5
  26. 28:26–27 : 2Kg 16:19–20

You Might Also Like:

2 Chronicles 28 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

28 A son of twenty years [is] Ahaz in his reigning, and sixteen years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and he hath not done that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah, as David his father, 2 and walketh in the ways of the kings of Israel, and also, molten images hath made for Baalim, 3 and himself hath...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

28 Ahaz was of twenty years, when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; he did not rightfulness in the sight of the Lord, as David, his father, did (he did not go rightfully before the Lord, like his forefather David did); 2 but he went in the ways of the kings of Israel. Fur...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - World English Bible (WEB)

28 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn’t do that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, like David his father, 2 but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and also made molten images for the Baals. 3 Moreover he burned incense in ...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - The Voice (VOICE)

Jotham is a welcomed relief for Israel. Finally they have a king who is faithful to God and who credits Him with the Southern Kingdom’s prosperity. Unfortunately his righteousness does not make an impression on his son. Ahaz will prove to be one of the worst kings in the history of the Southern King...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Ahaz’s Sin in the Valley of Ben-hinnom28 Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king, and he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. But he did not do what was right in the eyes of Adonai as his father David had done, 2 but followed the ways of the kings of Israel, and even made molten images for the Baalim. ...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Reign of Ahaz28 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, like his father David, 2 but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made molten images for the Ba′als; 3 and he burned ...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Reign of Ahaz28 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, as his ancestor David had done,(A)2 but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made cast images for the Baals,(B)3 and he mad...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Ahaz Rules in Judah28 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, as his ancestor David had done. 2 Instead, he followed the example of the kings of Israel. He cast metal images for the worship of...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - New Life Version (NLV)

Ahaz Rules Judah28 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king. And he ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done. 2 But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He also made objects to look like the false gods of ...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Ahaz Reigns in Judah(A)28 Ahaz (B)was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, as his father David had done. 2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made (C)molded images for (D)the Ba...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Ahaz king of Judah28 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 2 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshipping the Baals. 3 He burned...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - New International Version (NIV)

Ahaz King of Judah(A)28 Ahaz(B) was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 2 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols(C) for worshiping the Baals. 3 He burn...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Ahaz King of Judah28 Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 16 years. He didn’t do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He didn’t do what King David had done. 2 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel. He also made statues of gods that were named Baal. 3 He bur...
Read More

2 Chronicles 28 - New English Translation (NET)

Ahaz’s Reign28 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what pleased the Lord, in contrast to his ancestor David.[a] 2 He followed in the footsteps of[b] the kings of Israel; he also made images of the Baals. 3 He offered sacrif...
Read More