Ahaz

1Pekah son of Remaliah was king of Israel. In Pekah's seventeenth year, Ahaz became king of Judah. Ahaz was the son of Jotham.

In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.

NoteIsrael and Judah were two small kingdoms next to each other. Long ago they were one country. Each had its own king. Years were counted by how long a king had ruled.

2Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king. He ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right to the LORD his God. His ancestor David had done right, but Ahaz did not.

Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.

NoteThe King James calls David the "father" of Ahaz. It means David was his great-great-grandfather from long ago. All the kings of Judah came from David's family.

3Ahaz lived the way the kings of Israel lived. He even made his own son pass through the fire. Other nations did such terrible things. The LORD had driven those nations out to make room for Israel.

But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.

NoteAn offering is a gift given to God. Often it was an animal killed and burned on a stone table. Some nations burned a child this way to please their gods. Israel was told never to do that. Making a child pass through the fire was a terrible thing the other nations did.

4He killed animals as offerings and burned sweet-smelling incense at the high places. He did this on the hills and under every green tree.

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

NoteA high place was a spot on a hill with an altar on it. People went there to worship. Incense is dried plant sap that smells sweet when it burns.

5Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah king of Israel came to fight Jerusalem. They surrounded the city where Ahaz was. But they could not beat him.

Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.

NoteArmies would surround a city and let nobody in or out. No new food could get inside. They waited for the people to give up. The King James word for this is "besieged".

6At that time Rezin took back the town of Elath for Syria. He drove the men of Judah out of it. Then people from Syria moved into Elath. They still live there today.

At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.

NoteElath was a town down by the sea. Trading ships stopped there, so it was worth fighting over. Syria was the country just north of Israel.

7So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser, the king of Assyria. He said, "I am your servant and your son. Please come and save me. The king of Syria and the king of Israel are attacking me."

So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.

NoteAssyria was a huge, powerful empire far to the east. Calling himself "servant" and "son" was a promise. It meant Ahaz would obey that king and pay him money.

8Ahaz took the silver and gold from the LORD's house. He took more from the treasure rooms of his own palace. He sent it all as a gift to the king of Assyria.

And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.

NoteThe LORD's house means the temple in Jerusalem. It was a special building where people worshiped God. Gold and silver gifts were kept safe inside it.

9The king of Assyria listened to him. He marched to the city of Damascus and captured it. He carried its people away to a place called Kir. And he killed Rezin.

And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.

NoteDamascus was the biggest city in Syria. Kir was very far away. Kings who won a war often marched the losing people far from home. That way they could not fight back.

10King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser. There he saw an altar, a table where offerings were burned. Ahaz sent a model of it to Urijah the priest, the man who led worship at God's house. He sent full plans showing how it was built.

And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

NoteAn altar is a stone table where offerings were burned. A priest was a man whose job was leading worship at God's house.

11So Urijah the priest built an altar just like the plans. He finished the work before King Ahaz came home from Damascus.

And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.

12When the king came back, he saw the new altar. He walked up to it and gave offerings on it.

And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.

13He burned his burnt offering and his grain offering there. He poured out his drink offering. He sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings on the altar.

And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.

NoteThese were four ways of giving a gift to God. A burnt offering was an animal burned up completely. A grain offering was flour and oil. A drink offering was wine poured out on the ground. A peace offering was a shared meal, part burned and part eaten.

14The bronze altar for the LORD stood in front of the temple. It sat between the new altar and the LORD's house. Ahaz moved it away and set it on the north side of the new altar.

And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.

NoteBronze is a hard brown metal. The spot right in front of the temple door was the most honored spot of all. That is where the LORD's own altar had always stood.

15King Ahaz gave an order to Urijah the priest. He said, "Use the big new altar for the offerings. Burn the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering there. Burn my own offerings there too. Burn all the offerings of the people and pour out their drink offerings. Sprinkle all the blood from the offerings on that altar. I will use the bronze altar to ask God questions."

And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.

NoteKings wanted to know what God wanted them to do. A priest would help them ask at the altar. That is what "enquire by" means in the King James.

16Urijah the priest did everything that King Ahaz told him to do.

Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.

17King Ahaz cut the side panels off the rolling stands in the temple. He took the washing bowls off those stands. He lifted the huge bowl called the Sea off the bronze oxen holding it. He set the Sea on a floor of stones.

And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.

NoteThe temple yard held big bowls of water for washing. Small bowls sat on carts with wheels so they could be rolled about. The biggest bowl was so huge it was called the Sea. Twelve metal bulls stood underneath and held it up.

18There was a covered place in the temple built for the Sabbath, the weekly rest day. Ahaz took it away. He also closed the king's outside doorway into the LORD's house. He did these things because of the king of Assyria.

And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.

NoteThe Sabbath was the seventh day of the week. Nobody worked on it. People rested and worshiped instead. Ahaz was likely giving the metal and the room to Assyria to keep that king happy.

19The other things Ahaz did were written down. You can read them in the history book about the kings of Judah.

Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

NoteKings kept record books about everything they did. That book is lost now. It is not the same as the Bible book called Chronicles.

20Ahaz died and was buried with his family in the City of David. His son Hezekiah became king after him.

And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

NoteThe King James says Ahaz "slept with his fathers". That is a gentle old way of saying he died. The City of David was the oldest part of Jerusalem. Kings were buried there.

1Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for sixteen years. His ancestor David did what was right. Ahaz did not.

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:

NoteDavid lived long before Ahaz. He was Ahaz's great-great-grandfather, not his dad.

2He lived the way the kings of Israel lived. He melted metal and made statues of the gods called Baals.

For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.

NoteGod's people had split into two lands. The north was called Israel. The south, where Ahaz ruled, was called Judah. Baal was the name of a god that other nations prayed to. People made statues of him out of metal.

3Ahaz burned incense, a sweet-smelling smoke, in the Valley of Hinnom. He even burned his own sons in the fire. That is what the nations did before God drove them out for Israel.

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.

NoteThe Valley of Hinnom was a low, empty place just outside Jerusalem. Some nations burned children there as a gift to their gods. Israel had been told never to do this.

4He offered gifts and burned incense at worship spots on hills. He did it under every green tree too.

He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

NoteA high place was an outdoor spot on a hill for worship. People built them for other gods, not for the LORD.

5So the LORD his God let the king of Aram beat him. That army took many people away to Damascus. The king of Israel beat Ahaz too, and many died.

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.

NoteAram was a country north of Judah. Some Bibles call it Syria. Damascus was its main city.

6Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 brave men of Judah in one day. This happened because Judah had turned away from the LORD, the God of their fathers.

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.

7Zichri was a strong soldier from Ephraim. He killed the king's son Maaseiah. He also killed Azrikam, who ran the palace, and Elkanah, the king's second in command.

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.

NoteEphraim was one of the big family groups in Israel. The palace was the king's house, and someone had to run it.

8The army of Israel took 200,000 of their own relatives as prisoners. They took women, boys, and girls. They also took many goods and carried them to Samaria.

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.

NoteSamaria was the capital city of Israel, the northern land. The people of Israel and Judah came from the same family long ago. That is why the story calls them relatives.

9A prophet of the LORD named Oded was there. He met the army coming to Samaria. He said, "The LORD was angry with Judah, so he let you win. But you killed them in a rage that heaven can see."

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.

NoteA prophet was someone who told people what God said. Oded stopped the army before it reached the city.

10"Now you plan to make the people of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves. But you have sinned against the LORD your God too."

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?

NoteSlaves were people who were owned by others. They had to work and could not go home.

11"So listen to me. Send these prisoners back home. They are your own relatives. The LORD is very angry with you."

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.

12Then some leaders of Ephraim stood in the way of the soldiers coming home. They were Azariah son of Johanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai.

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,

13They said, "Do not bring the prisoners here. We have already sinned against the LORD. You would only make our guilt bigger. Our guilt is already great, and God is very angry with Israel."

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.

14So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and the goods. They handed them over to the leaders and the whole crowd.

So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.

15The men who had been named stood up and took care of the prisoners. From the goods they gave clothes to those who had none. They gave them sandals, food, and drink. They rubbed oil on them. They put the weak ones on donkeys. Then they took them home to Jericho, the city of palm trees. After that they went back to Samaria.

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.

NotePeople rubbed olive oil on cuts and sores, like medicine. Jericho was a warm town where tall palm trees grew.

16About that time King Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help.

At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

NoteAssyria was a huge, strong country far to the northeast. Its army scared everyone nearby.

17The Edomites had come and attacked Judah again. They had taken people away as prisoners.

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

NoteThe Edomites lived in the dry land southeast of Judah. Their family and Israel's family were related long ago.

18The Philistines had also raided towns in the low hills and the dry south of Judah. They captured Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth. They took Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with the villages near them. Then they moved in and lived there.

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.

NoteThe Philistines lived by the sea, west of Judah. They and Israel had fought each other for many years.

19The LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz, the king. Ahaz threw off every rule and let the people run wild. He was very unfaithful to the LORD.

For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.

NoteTo be unfaithful means to break a promise to someone. Ahaz had promised to follow the LORD.

20Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, came to Ahaz. He gave him trouble instead of help.

And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.

NoteTiglath-pileser is a long name from Assyria. You can say it Tig-lath-pi-lee-zer.

21Ahaz took treasure from the LORD's temple, from the palace, and from the leaders. He gave it all to the king of Assyria. It did not help him at all.

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.

NoteThe temple was God's special house in Jerusalem. Gold and silver things were kept there.

22Even while he was in trouble, King Ahaz turned further from the LORD. That is the kind of king Ahaz was.

And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.

23The gods of Damascus had not saved him, but he made offerings to them. He said, "The gods of Aram help their kings. So I will give gifts to them, and they will help me." Instead, those gods ruined him and all Israel.

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.

NoteAhaz thought the gods of Damascus had helped that army win. So he gave them gifts, hoping they would help him too.

24Ahaz gathered the special dishes and tools from God's temple. He cut them into pieces. He shut the temple doors. Then he set up his own altars on every street corner in Jerusalem.

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.

NoteThe bowls, cups, and tools in the temple were used for worship. An altar is a table made of stone for giving gifts to a god.

25In every town in Judah he built places to burn incense to other gods. This made the LORD, the God of his fathers, very angry.

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.

26The rest of the things Ahaz did, from start to finish, are written down. You can find them in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

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.

NoteThis was a record book that kept track of what kings did. Nobody has that book today.

27Ahaz died and was buried in the city of Jerusalem. But they did not put him in the tombs of the kings. His son Hezekiah became king after him.

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.

NoteKings were usually buried together in special stone rooms called tombs. Leaving Ahaz out showed people were not proud of him.