1. 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 the Lord’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 the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.
4. He sacrificed and burned incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
5. Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They struck him, and carried away from him a great multitude of captives, and brought them to Damascus. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter.
6. For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers.
7. Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king.
8. The children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much plunder from them, and brought the plunder to Samaria.
9. But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria, and said to them, “Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage which has reached up to heaven.
10. Now you intend to degrade the children of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. Aren’t there even with you trespasses of your own against the Lord your God?
11. Now hear me therefore, and send back the captives that you have taken captive from your brothers, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is on you.”
12. Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Yochanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,
13. and said to them, “You must not bring in the captives here, for you intend that which will bring on us a trespass against the Lord, to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.”