1. Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for sixteen years.Ahaz was nothing like his ancestor David. Ahaz disobeyed the Lord
2. and was as sinful as the kings of Israel. He made idols of the god Baal,
3. and he offered sacrifices in Hinnom Valley. Worst of all, Ahaz sacrificed his own sons, which was a disgusting custom of the nations that the Lord had forced out of Israel.
16-18. Some time later, the Edomites attacked the eastern part of Judah again and carried away prisoners. And at the same time, the Philistines raided towns in the western foothills and in the Southern Desert. They conquered the towns of Beth-Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo, including the villages around them. Then some of the Philistines went to live in these places.Ahaz sent a message to King Tiglath Pileser of Assyria and begged for help.