2 Chronicles Chapter 28
1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn't do that which was right in the LORD's eyes, like David his father,
2 but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and also made molten images for the Baals.
3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
4 He sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
5 Therefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They struck him, and carried away from him a great multitude of captives, and brought them to Damascus. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter.
6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred and twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.
7 Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king.
8 The children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters, and also took away much plunder from them, and brought the plunder to Samaria.
9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria, and said to them, "Behold, because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage which has reached up to heaven.
10 Now you intend to degrade the children of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. Aren't there even with you trespasses of your own against the LORD your God?
11 Now hear me therefore, and send back the captives that you have taken captive from your brothers, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is on you."
12 Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,
13 and said to them, "You must not bring in the captives here, for you intend that which will bring on us a trespass against the LORD, to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel."
14 So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the princes and all the assembly.
15 The men who have been mentioned by name rose up and took the captives, and with the plunder clothed all who were naked amongst them, dressed them, gave them sandals, and gave them something to eat and to drink, anointed them, carried all the feeble of them on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.
16 At that time king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him.
17 For again the Edomites had come and struck Judah, and carried away captives.
18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland, and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and also Gimzo and its villages; and they lived there.
19 For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, because he acted without restraint in Judah and trespassed severely against the LORD.
20 Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and gave him trouble, but didn't strengthen him.
21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the LORD's house, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria; but it didn't help him.
22 In the time of his distress, he trespassed yet more against the LORD, this same king Ahaz.
23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which struck him. He said, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, so I will sacrifice to them, that they may help me." But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
24 Ahaz gathered together the vessels of God's house, and cut the vessels of God's house in pieces, and shut up the doors of the LORD's house; and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
25 In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked the LORD, the God of his fathers, to anger.
26 Now the rest of his acts, and all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
27 Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem, because they didn't bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.
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2 Chronicles Chapter 28 Guide
The whole reign of Ahaz was a period of terrible and rapid degeneracy. With appalling fearlessness the king restored all the evils of idolatry, even including the terrible offering of children to Moloch. In all probability his own son was a victim. As dif6culties gathered around, he turned to the king of Assyria for aid, attempting to procure help from him by giving him treasure out of the house of God. The evil of his character is supremely demonstrated in that calamities seemed not to have the effect, as they so often had had among his predecessors, of rousing him to consciousness of his sin. Indeed it is distinctly stated, "In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord, this same king Ahaz."
During this period Isaiah was exercising his ministry, and the king was persistently rebellious, absolutely refusing to listen to Isaiah's voice or obey its call. Ahaz was evil by choice, persistent in evil in spite of calamity, blasphemously rebellious notwithstanding the direct warnings of the prophet of God. This attitude of the king made the darkness all the denser.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Chronicles Chapter 28 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The wicked reign of Ahaz in Judah.
Verses 1-27
Israel gained this victory because God was wroth with Judah, and made them the rod of his indignation. He reminds them of their own sins. It ill becomes sinners to be cruel. Could they hope for the mercy of God, if they neither showed mercy nor justice to their brethren? Let it be remembered, that every man is our neighbour, our brother, our fellow man, if not our fellow Christian. And no man who is acquainted with the word of God, need fear to maintain that slavery is against the law of love and the gospel of grace. Who can hold his brother in bondage, without breaking the rule of doing to others as he would they should do unto him? But when sinners are left to their own heart's lusts, they grow more desperate in wickedness. God commands them to release the prisoners, and they obeyed. The Lord brought Judah low. Those who will not humble themselves under the word of God, will justly be humbled by his judgments. It is often found, that wicked men themselves have no real affection for those that revolt to them, nor do they care to do them a kindness. This is that king Ahaz! that wretched man! Those are wicked and vile indeed, that are made worse by their afflictions, instead of being made better by them; who, in their distress, trespass yet more, and have their hearts more fully set in them to do evil. But no marvel that men's affections and devotions are misplaced, when they mistake the author of their trouble and of their help. The progress of wickedness and misery is often rapid; and it is awful to reflect upon a sinner's being driven away in his wickedness into the eternal world.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.