5So the Lord his God handed Ahaz over28:5 2Ch 24:24 to the king of Aram. He attacked him and took many captives to Damascus.

6Pekah 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.

7An Ephraimite warrior named Zichri killed the king’s son Maaseiah, Azrikam governor of the palace, and Elkanah who was second to the king.

8Then the Israelites took two hundred thousand captives from their brothers — women, sons, and daughters.28:8 2Ch 11:4 They also took a great deal of plunder from them and brought it to Samaria.

9A 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,28:9 Is 47:6 but you slaughtered them in a rage that has reached heaven.28:9 Ezr 9:6; Rv 18:5

10Now 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?

11Listen to me and return the captives you took from your brothers,28:11 2Ch 28:8 for the Lord’s burning anger is on you.”

12So 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.

13They 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.”

14The army left the captives and the plunder in the presence of the officers and the congregation.

15Then the men who were designated by name28:15 2Ch 28:12 took charge of the captives and provided clothes for their naked ones from the plunder. They clothed them, gave them sandals, food and drink,28:15 2Kg 6:22; Pr 25:21–22 dressed their wounds, and provided donkeys for all the feeble. The Israelites brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms,28:15 Dt 34:3 among their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

16At that time King Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help.28:16 2Kg 16:7

17The Edomites came again, attacked Judah, and took captives.28:17 Ob 10–14

18The Philistines also raided the cities of the Judean foothills28:18 Or the Shephelah and the Negev of Judah.28:18 Ezk 16:57 They captured and occupied Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their surrounding villages.

19For the Lord humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah,28:19 Some Hb mss; other Hb mss read Israel who threw off restraint in Judah and was unfaithful to the Lord.

20Then King Tiglath-pileser28:20 Text emended; MT reads Tilgath-pilneser; 1Ch 5:6,2628:20 1Ch 5:26 of Assyria came against Ahaz; he oppressed him and did not give him support.28:20 2Ch 28:16

21Although 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.

22At the time of his distress, King Ahaz himself became more unfaithful to the Lord.

23He 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.”28:23 Jr 44:17–18 But they were the downfall of him and of all Israel.

24Then Ahaz gathered up the utensils of God’s temple, cut them into pieces,28:24 2Kg 16:17 shut the doors of the Lord’s temple,28:24 2Ch 29:7 and made himself altars on every street corner in Jerusalem.28:24 2Ch 30:14; 33:3–5

25He made high places in every city of Judah to offer incense to other gods, and he angered the Lord, the God of his ancestors.