The Divided Kingdom

It was in the fifty-second year of 'Azaryah king of Y'hudah that Pekach the son of Remalyah began to reign over Isra'el in Shomron; his reign lasted twenty years.

He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective; he did not turn from the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, who made Isra'el sin.

During the time of Pekach king of Isra'el, Tiglat-Pil'eser king of Ashur came and conquered 'Iyon, Avel-Beit-Ma'akhah, Yanoach, Kedesh, Hatzor, Gil'ad, and the Galil - all the land of Naftali - and took them captive to Ashur.

Hoshea the son of Elah conspired against Pekach the son of Remalyah, struck him, killed him and took his place as king in the twentieth year of Yotam the son of 'Uziyah.

Other activities of Pekach and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.

It was in the second year of Pekach the son of Remalyah, king of Isra'el, that Yotam the son of 'Uziyah king of Y'hudah began his reign.

He was twenty-five years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for sixteen years in Yerushalayim. His mother's name was Yerusha the daughter of Tzadok.

He did what was right from ADONAI's perspective, following the example of everything his father 'Uziyah had done.

However, the high places were not taken away; and the people still sacrificed and offered on the high places. He built the Upper Gate of the house of ADONAI.

Other activities of Yotam and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah.

It was during this period that ADONAI began sending against Y'hudah Retzin the king of Aram and Pekach the son of Remalyah.

Yotam slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David his ancestor. Then Achaz his son took his place as king.

It was in the seventeenth year of Pekach the son of Remalyah that Achaz the son of Yotam king of Y'hudah began his reign.

Achaz was twenty years old when he began to rule, and he reigned sixteen years in Yerushalayim. But he did not do what was right from the perspective of ADONAI his God, as David his ancestor had done.

Rather, he lived in the manner of the kings of Isra'el; he even made his son pass through fire [as a sacrifice], in keeping with the abominable practices of the pagans, whom ADONAI had thrown out ahead of the people of Isra'el.

He also sacrificed and offered on the high places, on the hills and under any green tree.

Then Retzin king of Aram and Pekach son of Remalyah, king of Isra'el, came up to fight against Yerushalayim. They put Achaz under siege, but they could not overcome him.

It was at that time that Retzin king of Aram recovered Eilat for Aram and drove the Judeans from Eilat; whereupon people from Edom came to Eilat to live, as they do to this day.

Then Achaz sent messengers to Tiglat-Pil'eser king of Ashur with this message: "I am your servant and your son. Come up, and save me from the king of Aram and the king of Isra'el, who are attacking me."

Achaz took the silver and gold that was in the house of ADONAI and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a present to the king of Ashur.

The king of Ashur heeded him- the king of Ashur attacked Dammesek and captured it; then he carried its people captive to Kir and killed Retzin.

When King Achaz went to Dammesek to meet Tiglat-Pil'eser king of Ashur and saw the altar that was in Dammesek, he sent a drawing and model of the altar to Uriyah the cohen, with details of its construction and decoration.

Then Uriyah the cohen built an altar exactly according to the design King Achaz had sent from Dammesek; Uriyah the cohen had it ready by the time King Achaz returned from Dammesek.

When the king arrived from Dammesek he saw the altar, and the king approached the altar and offered on it.

He offered his burnt offering and his grain offering, poured out his drink offering and splashed the blood of his peace offerings on the altar.