¹⁴ He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.

Ahaz King of Judah^(A)

16 In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz^(B) son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. ² Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right^(C) in the eyes of the Lord his God. ³ He followed the ways of the kings of Israel^(D) and even sacrificed his son^(E) in the fire, engaging in the detestable^(F) practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. ⁴ He offered sacrifices and burned incense^(G) at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.^(H)

⁴ “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me^(A) from my whole family^(B) to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah^(C) as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.^(D)

⁵ Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many^(A)—he has chosen my son Solomon^(B) to sit on the throne^(C) of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.

²⁵ The Lord highly exalted^(A) Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor^(B) such as no king over Israel ever had before.^(C)