Ahaz and the Assyrian Alliance

2 Kings 16

Ahaz of Judah engages in idolatrous practices, including causing his son to pass through the fire, and is attacked by the allied kings of Syria and Israel. He appeals to the king of Assyria for help, sending him temple treasure, and after seeing an altar in Damascus has a similar altar built in the temple at Jerusalem, altering the temple's arrangements to please the Assyrian king.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonIN the seventeenth year of Phakee, son of Romelias, Achaz son of Joatham king of Juda, began to reign.

BrentonIn the seventeenth year of Phakee son of Romelias began Achaz the son of Joatham king of Juda to reign.

GreekἘν ἔτει ἑπτακαιδεκάτῳ Φακεὲ υἱοῦ Ῥομελίου ἐβασίλευσεν Ἄχαζ υἱὸς Ἰωάθαμ βασιλέως Ἰούδα.

KJVIn the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.

JPSIn the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.

ThomsonAchaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, but he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God with fidelity like David his father.

BrentonTwenty years old was Achaz when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not that which was right in the eyes of the Lord his God faithfully, as David his father had done.

GreekΥἱὸς εἴκοσι ἐτῶν ἦν Ἄχαζ ἐν τῷ βασιλεύειν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἑκκαίδεκα ἔτη ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ· καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησε τὸ εὐθὲς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ πιστῶς, ὡς Δαυὶδ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ.

KJVTwenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.

JPSTwenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not that which was right in the eyes of the LORD his God, like David his father.

ThomsonHe indeed walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made his son pass through fire according to the abominable acts of the nations which the Lord had removed from before the Israelites.

BrentonAnd he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, he made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύθη ἐν ὁδῷ βασιλέων Ἰσραὴλ, καί γε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ διῆγεν ἐν πυρὶ, κατὰ τὰ βδελύγματα τῶν ἐθνῶν ὧν ἐξῇρε Κύριος ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ.

KJVBut he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.

JPSBut he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.

ThomsonHe sacrificed also and burned incense on the high places, and on the mounts and under every shady tree.

BrentonAnd he sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places, and upon the hills, and under every shady tree.

GreekΚαὶ ἐθυσίαζε καὶ ἐθυμία ἐν τοῖς ὑψηλοῖς, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν βουνῶν, καὶ ὑποκάτω παντὸς ξύλου ἀλσώδους.

KJVAnd he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

JPSAnd he sacrificed and offered in the high places, and on the hills, and under every leafy tree.

ThomsonThen came up Raasson, king of Syria, and Phakee son of Romelias king of Israel, against Jerusalem for war, and besieged Achaz but could not bring him to battle.

BrentonThen went up Raasson king of Syria and Phakee son of Romelias king of Israel against Jerusalem to war, and besieged Achaz, but could not prevail against him.

GreekΤότε ἀνέβη Ῥαασσὼν βασιλεὺς Συρίας καὶ Φακεὲ υἱὸς Ῥομελίου βασιλεὺς Ἰσραὴλ εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ εἰς πόλεμον, καὶ ἐπολιόρκουν ἐπὶ Ἄχαζ, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύναντο πολεμεῖν.

KJVThen Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.

JPSThen Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war; and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.

ThomsonAt that time Raasson, king of Syria, recovered Ailath for Syria; and when he had driven the Jews out of Ailath the Idumeans went to Ailath, and have dwelt there to this day.

BrentonAt that time Raasson king of Syria recovered Ælath to Syria, and drove out the Jews from Ælath, and the Idumeans came to Ælath, and dwelt there until this day.

GreekἘν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἐπέστρεψε Ῥαασσὼν βασιλεὺς Συρίας τὴν Αἰλὰθ τῇ Συρίᾳ, καὶ ἐξέβαλε τοὺς Ἰουδαίους ἐξ Αἰλὰθ, καὶ Ἰδουμαῖοι ἦλθον εἰς Αἰλὰθ, καὶ κατῴκησαν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.

KJVAt that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.

JPSAt that time Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath to Aram, and drove the Jews from Elath; and the Edomites came to Elath, and dwelt there, unto this day.

ThomsonThen Achaz sent messengers to Thalgathphellasar, king of the Assyrians, saying, I am thy servant and thy son. Come up: Save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who are risen up against me.

BrentonAnd Achaz sent messengers to Thalgath-phellasar king of the Assyrians, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, deliver me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who are rising up against me.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ἄχαζ ἀγγέλους πρὸς Θαλγαθφελλασὰρ βασιλέα Ἀσσυρίων, λέγων, δοῦλός σου καὶ υἱός σου ἐγὼ, ἀνάβηθι, σῶσόν με ἐκ χειρὸς βασιλέως Συρίας, καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς βασιλέως Ἰσραὴλ, τῶν ἐπανισταμένων ἐπʼ ἐμέ.

KJVSo Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.

JPSSo Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying: ‘I am thy servant and thy son; come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me.’

ThomsonAnd Achaz took the silver and the gold which was found in the treasures of the house of the Lord and the king’s house, and sent gifts to the king.

BrentonAnd Achaz took the silver and the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and of the king's house, and sent gifts to the king.

GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβεν Ἄχαζ ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον τὸ εὑρεθὲν ἐν θησαυροῖς οἴκου Κυρίου καὶ οἴκου τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ἀπέστειλε τῷ βασιλεῖ δῶρα.

KJVAnd Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.

JPSAnd Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.

ThomsonWhereupon the king of the Assyrians hearkened to him and came up against Damascus and took it, and having removed the inhabitants thereof he put king Raasson to death.

BrentonAnd the king of the Assyrians hearkened to him: and the king of the Assyrians went up to Damascus and took it, and removed the inhabitants, and slew king Raasson.

GreekΚαὶ ἤκουσεν αὐτοῦ βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων· καὶ ἀνέβη βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων εἰς Δαμασκὸν, καὶ συνέλαβεν αὐτὴν, καὶ ἀπῴκισεν αὐτὴν, καὶ τὸν Ῥαασσὼν βασιλέα ἐθανάτωσε.

KJVAnd the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.

JPSAnd the king of Assyria hearkened unto him; and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.

ThomsonThen Achaz went up to Damascus to meet Thalgathphellasar king of the Assyrians, at that place. And having taken a view of the altar at Damascus, king Achaz sent a model of it with its proportions and workmanship to Ourias the priest.

BrentonAnd king Achaz went to Damascus to meet Thalgath-phellasar king of the Assyrians at Damascus; and he saw an altar at Damascus. And king Achaz sent to Urias the priest the pattern of the altar, and its proportions, and all its workmanship.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύθη βασιλεὺς Ἄχαζ εἰς Δαμασκὸν εἰς ἀπαντὴν Θαλγαθφελλασὰρ βασιλεῖ Ἀσσυρίων εἰς Δαμασκόν· καὶ εἶδε τὸ θυσιαστήριον ἐν Δαμασκῷ· καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἄχαζ πρὸς Οὐρίαν τὸν ἱερέα τὸ ὁμοίωμα τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου καὶ τὸν ῥυθμὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶσαν ποίησιν αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

JPSAnd king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

ThomsonAnd Ourias the priest built an altar according to all that king Achaz sent from Damascus.

BrentonAnd Urias the priest built the altar, according to all the directions which king Achaz sent from Damascus.

GreekΚαὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν Οὐρίας ὁ ἱερεὺς τὸ θυσιαστήριον, κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἄχαζ ἐκ Δαμασκοῦ.

KJVAnd Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.

JPSAnd Urijah the priest built an altar; according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so did Urijah the priest make it against the coming of king Ahaz from Damascus.

ThomsonAnd when the king saw the altar he went up to it

BrentonAnd the king saw the altar, and went up to it,

GreekΚαὶ εἶδεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸ θυσιαστήριον, καὶ ἀνέβη ἐπʼ αὐτὸ,

KJVAnd when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.

JPSAnd when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar; and the king drew near unto the altar, and offered thereon.

Thomsonand offered thereon his whole burnt offering, and his sacrifice and his libation, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offering upon that altar. As for the brazen altar which was before the Lord

Brentonand offered his whole-burnt-offering, and his meat-offering, and his drink-offering, and poured out the blood of his peace-offerings on the brazen altar that was before the Lord.

Greekκαὶ ἐθυμίασε τὴν ὁλοκαύτωσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὴν θυσίαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὴν σπονδὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ προσέχεε τὸ αἷμα τῶν εἰρηνικῶν τῶν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ χαλκοῦν

KJVAnd he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.

JPSAnd he offered his burnt-offering and his meal-offering, and poured his drink-offering, and dashed the blood of his peace-offerings against the altar.

Thomsonhe brought it forward towards the front of the house of the Lord, from between this altar and the house of the Lord and put it upon the north side of this altar.

BrentonAnd he brought forward the one before the house of the Lord from between the altar and the house of the Lord, and he set it openly by the side of the altar northwards.

Greekτὸ ἀπέναντι Κυρίου· καὶ προσήγαγε τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ οἴκου Κυρίου, ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀναμέσον τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀναμέσον τοῦ οἴκου Κυρίου· καὶ ἔδειξεν αὐτὸ ἐπὶ μηρὸν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου κατὰ βοῤῥᾶν.

KJVAnd he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.

JPSAnd the brazen altar, which was before the LORD, he brought from the forefront of the house, from between his altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of his altar.

ThomsonAnd king Achaz commanded Ourias the priest saying, Offer the morning and evening whole burnt offering with its sacrifice, and the whole burnt offering of the king with his sacrifice, and the whole burnt offering of the whole people with their sacrifice and their libation on this great altar, and pour out on it all the blood of the whole burnt offering and all the blood of the sacrifice. And the brazen altar shall be for me for the morning.

BrentonAnd king Achaz charged Urias the priest, saying, Offer upon the great altar the whole-burnt-offering in the morning and the meat-offering in the evening, and the whole-burnt-offering of the king, and his meat-offering, and the whole-burnt-offering of all the people, and their meat-offering, and their drink-offering; and thou shalt pour all the blood of the whole-burnt-offering, and all the blood of any other sacrifice upon it: and the brazen altar shall be for me in the morning.

GreekΚαὶ ἐνετείλατο ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἄχαζ τῷ Οὐρίᾳ τῷ ἱερεῖ, λέγων, ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ μέγα πρόσφερε τὴν ὁλοκαύτωσιν τὴν πρωϊνὴν καὶ τὴν θυσίαν τὴν ἑσπερινήν, καὶ τὴν ὁλοκαύτωσιν τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τὴν θυσίαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὴν ὁλοκαύτωσιν παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ τὴν θυσίαν αὐτῶν καὶ τὴν σπονδὴν αὐτῶν, καὶ πᾶν αἷμα ὁλοκαυτώσεως, καὶ πᾶν αἷμα θυσίας ἐπʼ αὐτῶ ἐκχεεῖς· καὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ χαλκοῦν ἔσται μοι εἰς τοπρωΐ.

KJVAnd king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.

JPSAnd king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying: ‘Upon the great altar offer the morning burnt-offering, and the evening meal-offering, and the king’s burnt-offering, and his meal-offering, with the burnt-offering of all the people of the land, and their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings; and dash against it all the blood of the burnt-offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice; but the brazen altar shall be for me to look to.’

ThomsonSo Ourias the priest did according to all that king Achaz commanded him.

BrentonAnd Urias the priest did according to all that king Achaz commanded him.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησεν Οὐρίας ὁ ἱερεὺς κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἐνετείλατο αὐτῷ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἄχαζ.

KJVThus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.

JPSThus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.

ThomsonAnd king Achaz cut off the embossments of the cisterns and took away from them the lavers, and took down the brazen sea from the oxen of brass that were under it, and set it on a base of stone.

BrentonAnd king Achaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them, and took down the sea from the brazen oxen that were under it, and set it upon a base of stone.

GreekΚαὶ συνέκοψεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἄχαζ τὰ συνκλείσματα τῶν μεχωνὼθ, καὶ μετῇρεν ἀπʼ αὐτῶν τὸν λουτῆρα, καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν καθεῖλεν ἀπὸ τῶν βοῶν τῶν χαλκῶν τῶν ὑποκάτω αὐτῆς, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν ἐπὶ βάσιν λιθίνην.

KJVAnd king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.

JPSAnd king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stone.

ThomsonHe built also the foundation of the seat in the house of the Lord, and altered the way of the king’s coming into the house of the Lord on account of the king of the Assyrians.

BrentonAnd he made a base for the throne in the house of the Lord, and he turned the king's entrance without in the house of the Lord because of the king of the Assyrians.

GreekΚαὶ τὸν θεμέλιον τῆς καθέδρας ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου, καὶ τὴν εἴσοδον τοῦ βασιλέως τὴν ἔξω ἐπέστρεψεν ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου ἀπὸ προσώπου βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων.

KJVAnd the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.

JPSAnd the covered place for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s entry without, turned he unto the house of the LORD, because of the king of Assyria.

ThomsonNow the rest of the acts of Achaz and all that he did, are they not written in the journal of the kings of Juda?

BrentonAnd the rest of the acts of Achaz, even all that he did, are not these written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Juda?

GreekΚαὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν λόγων Ἄχαζ ὅσα ἐποίησεν, οὐχὶ ταῦτα γεγραμμένα ἐπὶ βιβλίῳ λόγων τῶν ἡμερῶν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν Ἰούδα;

KJVNow the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

JPSNow the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

ThomsonAnd when Achaz slept with his fathers he was buried in the city of David, and Ezekias his son reigned in his stead.

BrentonAnd Achaz slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Ezekias his son reigned in his stead.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκοιμήθη Ἄχαζ μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐτάφη ἐν πόλει Δαυὶδ, καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν Ἐζεκίας υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

JPSAnd Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.