After a series of generally good kings Judah gets a bad one, Ahaz. He followed the ways of Israel. This included sacrificing his son in the fire. Sometimes we are appalled at the judgement that God puts on nations (both Israel and other nations). Often we do not appreciate just how evil they were, and child sacrifice was not uncommon. You could argue the same about our society with its close to two hundred thousand abortions a year.
Israel and Aram attacked Ahaz but failed to win. Ahaz recognised the danger that Assyria posed and sought to buy off Assyria with riches from the temple. He did not realise that he one who he really needed to make peace with was God.
After seeing Tiglath-Pileser Ahaz had a pagan altar made and offered sacrifices on it, he also desecrated the temple.
This was a sorry time for Judah, but another good king was about to follow.
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