18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country and towards the Negev of Judah and had taken Bethshemesh and Ajalon and Gederoth and Shocho with its villages and Timnah with its villages, Gimzo also and its villages, and they dwelt in them.
19 For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had made Judah naked and had completely rebelled against the Lord.
20 And Tilgathpilneser, king of Assyria, came unto him, and distressed him but did not strengthen him.
21 For even though 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, he did not help him.
22 Furthermore, king Ahaz in the time of his distress trespassed even more against the Lord,
23 for he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, who had smitten him, and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them; therefore, I will also sacrifice to them that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.