16
At the same time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him.
17
For again the Edomites had come, attacked Judah, and carried away captives.
18
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Sochoh with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages; and they dwelt there.
19
For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the Lord.
20
Also Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, and did not assist him.
21
For Ahaz took part of the treasures from the house of the Lord, from the house of the king, and from the leaders, and he gave it to the king of Assyria; but he did not help him.
22
Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord. This is that King Ahaz.
23
For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me." But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
24
So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
25
And in every single city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.
26
Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.