# the gods of Damascus

The Syrians believed Damascus to be the city where their gods dwelt, much like Yahweh dwelt in Jerusalem. AT: "the gods whom the Syrians worshiped in Damascus" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# gods that had defeated him

This expresses Ahaz's opinion. Because the Syrians had defeated him and his army, Ahaz attributed his defeat to the gods whom the Syrians worshiped. AT: "gods whom he believed had enabled the Syrian army to defeat him" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# they were the ruin of him and of all Israel

The word "ruin" can be translated with a verb. AT: "those gods ruined him and all Israel" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])

# all Israel

Here "Israel" represents the southern kingdom of Judah.

