16 *rAt that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away †captives. 18 The sPhilistines also had tinvaded the cities of uthe low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken wBeth-shemesh, and xAjalon, and yGederoth, and zShocho with the avillages thereof, and bTimnah with the avillages thereof, Gimzo also and the avillages thereof: and they dwelt there. 19 For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of cIsrael; for he dmade Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord. 20 *And eTilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. 21 fFor 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.

22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz. 23 For ghe 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, hthat they may help me. But they iwere the ruin of him, and of all cIsrael. 24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and jcut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and kshut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and lhe made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places ||to burn incense unto other gods, and mprovoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.