2 Kings 16:1-7

Expanded Bible

Ahaz King of Judah^(A)

16 Ahaz was the son of Jotham king of Judah. Ahaz became king of Judah in the seventeenth year Pekah son of Remaliah was king of Israel. ² Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he ·ruled [reigned] sixteen years in Jerusalem. Unlike his ·ancestor [father] David, he did not do ·what the Lord his God said was right [right in the eyes/sight of the Lord his God]. ³ Ahaz ·did the same things the kings of Israel had done [^Lwalked in the way/path of the kings of Israel]. He even ·made his son pass through fire [sacrificed his son in the fire; ^Ca reference to human sacrifice]. He did the same ·hateful sins [detestable/abominable practices] as the nations had done whom the Lord had ·forced [driven] out of the land ahead of the ·Israelites [^Lsons/^Tchildren of Israel]. ⁴ Ahaz offered sacrifices and burned incense at the ·places where gods were worshiped [^Lhigh places: 12:3], on the hills, and under every ·green [spreading] tree.

⁵ Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, came up to attack Jerusalem. They ·surrounded [besieged] Ahaz but could not ·defeat [conquer; overpower] him. ⁶ At that time Rezin king of Aram ·took back [recovered] the city of Elath for Aram, and he forced out all the people of Judah. Then ·Edomites [Arameans] moved into Elath, and they still live there today.

⁷ Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your ·friend [vassal; ^Lson]. Come and ·save [rescue; ^Tdeliver] me from the hand of the king of Aram and the king of Israel, who are attacking me.”