So Ahazsentmessengersto Tiglath-pileserkingof Assyria,saying,"I am your servantand your son;comeup and deliverme from the handof the kingof Aramand from the handof the kingof Israel,who are risingup againstme."
The kingof Israelreplied,"It is according to your word,my lord,O king;I am yours, and allthat I have."
In the daysof Pekahkingof Israel,Tiglath-pileserkingof Assyriacameand capturedIjonand Abel-beth-maacahand Janoahand Kedeshand Hazorand Gileadand Galilee,allthe landof Naphtali;and he carriedthem captiveto Assyria.
And the LORDwas with him; whereverhe wenthe prospered.And he rebelledagainst the kingof Assyriaand did not servehim.
So the Godof Israelstirredup the spiritof Pul,kingof Assyria,even the spiritof Tilgath-pilneserkingof Assyria,and he carriedthem awayinto exile,namely the Reubenites,the Gaditesand the half-tribeof Manasseh,and broughtthem to Halah,Habor,Haraand to the riverof Gozan,to thisday.
At that timeKingAhazsentto the kingsof Assyriafor help.
So Tilgath-pilneserkingof Assyriacameagainsthim and afflictedhim insteadof strengtheninghim.
For You have abandonedYour people,the houseof Jacob,Becausethey are filled[with influences] from the east,And [they are] soothsayerslike the Philistines,And they strike[bargains] with the childrenof foreigners.
"Whatwill you saywhenHe appointsoveryou-- And you yourselfhad taughtthem-- Former companionsto be headoveryou? Will not pangstakeholdof you Likea womanin childbirth?
Thussaysthe LORD,"Cursedis the manwhotrustsin mankindAnd makesfleshhis strength,And whose heartturnsawayfrom the LORD.
Yetour eyesfailed,[Looking] for helpwas useless;In our watchingwe have watchedFor a nationthat could not save.
"Moreover, you playedthe harlotwith the Assyriansbecauseyou were not satisfied;you playedthe harlotwith them and stillwere not satisfied.
"She lustedafterthe Assyrians,governorsand officials,the onesnear,magnificentlydressed,horsemenridingon horses,allof them desirableyoungmen.
"Oholahplayedthe harlotwhileshe was Mine;and she lustedafterher lovers,afterthe Assyrians,[her] neighbors,
"Assyriawill not saveus, We will not rideon horses;Norwill we sayagain,Our god,'To the workof our hands;For in You the orphanfindsmercy."
So Ephraimhas becomelike a sillydove,withoutsense;They callto Egypt,they goto Assyria.
