1 Ahaz son of Jotham became king of Judah during the 17th year that Pekah son of Remaliah was king of Israel.
2 Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king. He ruled 16 years in Jerusalem. Unlike his ancestor David, Ahaz did not do what the Lord said was right.
3 He did the same bad things the kings of Israel had done. He even burned his son as a sacrifice. He copied the terrible sins of the nations that the Lord had forced to leave the country when the Israelites came.
4 Ahaz made sacrifices and burned incense at the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.
5 King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel came to fight against Jerusalem. Rezin and Pekah surrounded Ahaz, but could not defeat him.