²¹ Ahaz^(A) took some of the things from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace and from the officials and presented them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help him.^(B)

²² In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful^(C) to the Lord. ²³ He offered sacrifices to the gods^(D) of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me.”^(E) But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel.^(F)