Oded Speaks Up

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign. He did not do right in Yahweh's eyes. He made images for Baal and burned incense in the high places. So Yahweh let his enemies defeat him.

Israel carried away many people of Judah to Samaria. But Oded, a prophet of Yahweh, met the army. He said Yahweh was angry with Judah. He said Israel had sins of their own. He told them to send back the captives. Some leaders of Ephraim agreed.

The leaders took the captives. They clothed all who had no clothes. They gave them sandals, food, and drink. They carried the weak on donkeys and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees. But Ahaz still did not turn to God.