1 AHAZ WAS twenty years old when he began his sixteen-year reign in Jerusalem. He did not do right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father [forefather]. 2 But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even made molten images for the Baals. 3 And he burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom [son of Hinnom] and burned his sons as an offering, after the abominable customs of the [heathen] nations whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites. 4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.