II Chronicles 28 Commentary
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father:
For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.
And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.
And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God?
Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.
Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,
And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the Lord already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.
For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth–shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord.
And Tilgath–pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.
And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz.
For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.
Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
II Chronicles 28 details the reign of Ahaz, a king of Judah who tragically departed from the ways of the Lord, leading his kingdom into deep idolatry and suffering severe consequences. This chapter serves as a stark warning about the dangers of turning away from God and the devastating impact of idolatry on both personal and national levels. The reign of Ahaz stands in stark contrast to the godly kings who preceded him, demonstrating the rapid decline that can occur when leadership abandons its spiritual foundation.
Ahaz's Idolatry and Its Consequences (II Chronicles 28:1-4)
Ahaz did not follow the righteous path of his father, instead, he plunged Judah into deep idolatry. He embraced the detestable practices of the nations around him, even going so far as to sacrifice his own children by burning them (II Chronicles 28:3). This horrific act underscores the depravity to which idolatry can lead. The chronicler emphasizes the link between the worship of false gods and a life of wickedness, treachery, and violence. Ahaz’s actions serve as a chilling example of idolatry at its worst, resulting in the murder of innocent children. It serves as a dark illustration of where straying from God can ultimately lead.
Ahaz's reign is also noteworthy because it occurred around the time the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC. God had allowed Israel to persist in its sin until His judgment finally fell upon them. Ominously, Ahaz was indicted for walking in the ways of the kings of Israel (II Chronicles 28:2). Israel's punishment for idolatry was conquest and exile—a lesson Ahaz should have heeded, but tragically did not.
Defeat and Humiliation (II Chronicles 28:5-8)
The chronicler focuses on Judah, Jerusalem, and the Davidic kings. He highlights how the Lord used other nations to punish Ahaz for his sin. Because Ahaz committed himself to idol worship, God handed him over to the king of Aram. The Arameans inflicted a crushing defeat on Ahaz and took hostages back to their capital of Damascus (II Chronicles 28:5). Furthermore, Israel attacked Ahaz, resulting in the death of the king's son and the capture of two hundred thousand people from Judah (II Chronicles 28:7-8). This military setback underscores the vulnerability that comes with spiritual apostasy. When a nation turns away from God, it loses its divine protection and becomes susceptible to its enemies.
An Unexpected Act of Mercy (II Chronicles 28:9-15)
In a surprising turn of events, not everyone in the northern kingdom had abandoned the Lord. A prophet named Oded confronted the Israelite army returning from its victory over Ahaz (II Chronicles 28:9). Seeing the captives, Oded passionately pleaded against enslaving the people of Judah and Jerusalem (II Chronicles 28:10). He warned them to release the captives to avoid the Lord's burning anger (II Chronicles 28:11).
Oded's warning resonated with a group of leaders who insisted that the army release the captives (II Chronicles 28:12-13). The soldiers obeyed, even using their plunder to clothe, feed, and care for the captives. Designated soldiers then took them to Jericho to be reunited with their families (II Chronicles 28:14-15). This act of mercy within unfaithful Israel, who listened to the voice of the Lord, stands in stark contrast to Judah, whose king, despite being in the line of faithful David, did not. It highlights that God's grace can be found even in unexpected places, and that obedience is always more important than lineage.
Seeking Help from Assyria (II Chronicles 28:16-21)
Ahaz remained unmoved by these events. Instead of turning to the Lord when attacked by the Philistines and Edomites, he sought help from Assyria (II Chronicles 28:16-18). This decision proved disastrous. The Lord brought havoc on Judah because Ahaz was unfaithful (II Chronicles 28:19). The Assyrians oppressed Ahaz rather than offering assistance (II Chronicles 28:20). Desperate, Ahaz stripped the temple and palace of their treasures to pay off the Assyrian king, but even this, the chronicler notes, was futile (II Chronicles 28:21). This illustrates the futility of relying on worldly solutions when spiritual problems persist. True deliverance comes from God alone, not from political alliances or material wealth.
Further Descent into Idolatry (II Chronicles 28:22-23)
Ahaz's idolatry only deepened with his troubles. The more he was plagued with difficulties, the more unfaithful he became. He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, believing they would help him because they had helped the Arameans (II Chronicles 28:22-23). He failed to recognize that his catastrophes were punishment from God for his disobedience. The idols he sought for deliverance became his downfall (II Chronicles 28:23). This highlights the blinding nature of idolatry. It distorts one's perception of reality, leading to irrational decisions and a further departure from God.
The Final Judgment on Ahaz (II Chronicles 28:24-27)
In a final act of defiance, Ahaz locked up the temple and established idol worship stations on every street corner in Jerusalem (II Chronicles 28:24). This blatant rejection of God stoked the Lord's anger against him (II Chronicles 28:25). Ultimately, Ahaz was refused burial with the other kings, a final statement of his unworthiness to be associated with the Davidic line (II Chronicles 28:27). This ignominious end serves as a powerful warning about the consequences of persistent rebellion against God. Ahaz's reign stands as a tragic example of how idolatry and disobedience can lead to personal and national ruin.
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father:
For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.
And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.
And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God?
Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.
Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,
And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the Lord already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.
For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth–shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord.
And Tilgath–pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.
And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz.
For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.
Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
II Chronicles 28 details the reign of Ahaz, a king of Judah who tragically departed from the ways of the Lord, leading his kingdom into deep idolatry and suffering severe consequences. This chapter serves as a stark warning about the dangers of turning away from God and the devastating impact of idolatry on both personal and national levels. The reign of Ahaz stands in stark contrast to the godly kings who preceded him, demonstrating the rapid decline that can occur when leadership abandons its spiritual foundation.
Ahaz's Idolatry and Its Consequences (II Chronicles 28:1-4)
Ahaz did not follow the righteous path of his father, instead, he plunged Judah into deep idolatry. He embraced the detestable practices of the nations around him, even going so far as to sacrifice his own children by burning them (II Chronicles 28:3). This horrific act underscores the depravity to which idolatry can lead. The chronicler emphasizes the link between the worship of false gods and a life of wickedness, treachery, and violence. Ahaz’s actions serve as a chilling example of idolatry at its worst, resulting in the murder of innocent children. It serves as a dark illustration of where straying from God can ultimately lead.
Ahaz's reign is also noteworthy because it occurred around the time the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC. God had allowed Israel to persist in its sin until His judgment finally fell upon them. Ominously, Ahaz was indicted for walking in the ways of the kings of Israel (II Chronicles 28:2). Israel's punishment for idolatry was conquest and exile—a lesson Ahaz should have heeded, but tragically did not.
Defeat and Humiliation (II Chronicles 28:5-8)
The chronicler focuses on Judah, Jerusalem, and the Davidic kings. He highlights how the Lord used other nations to punish Ahaz for his sin. Because Ahaz committed himself to idol worship, God handed him over to the king of Aram. The Arameans inflicted a crushing defeat on Ahaz and took hostages back to their capital of Damascus (II Chronicles 28:5). Furthermore, Israel attacked Ahaz, resulting in the death of the king's son and the capture of two hundred thousand people from Judah (II Chronicles 28:7-8). This military setback underscores the vulnerability that comes with spiritual apostasy. When a nation turns away from God, it loses its divine protection and becomes susceptible to its enemies.
An Unexpected Act of Mercy (II Chronicles 28:9-15)
In a surprising turn of events, not everyone in the northern kingdom had abandoned the Lord. A prophet named Oded confronted the Israelite army returning from its victory over Ahaz (II Chronicles 28:9). Seeing the captives, Oded passionately pleaded against enslaving the people of Judah and Jerusalem (II Chronicles 28:10). He warned them to release the captives to avoid the Lord's burning anger (II Chronicles 28:11).
Oded's warning resonated with a group of leaders who insisted that the army release the captives (II Chronicles 28:12-13). The soldiers obeyed, even using their plunder to clothe, feed, and care for the captives. Designated soldiers then took them to Jericho to be reunited with their families (II Chronicles 28:14-15). This act of mercy within unfaithful Israel, who listened to the voice of the Lord, stands in stark contrast to Judah, whose king, despite being in the line of faithful David, did not. It highlights that God's grace can be found even in unexpected places, and that obedience is always more important than lineage.
Seeking Help from Assyria (II Chronicles 28:16-21)
Ahaz remained unmoved by these events. Instead of turning to the Lord when attacked by the Philistines and Edomites, he sought help from Assyria (II Chronicles 28:16-18). This decision proved disastrous. The Lord brought havoc on Judah because Ahaz was unfaithful (II Chronicles 28:19). The Assyrians oppressed Ahaz rather than offering assistance (II Chronicles 28:20). Desperate, Ahaz stripped the temple and palace of their treasures to pay off the Assyrian king, but even this, the chronicler notes, was futile (II Chronicles 28:21). This illustrates the futility of relying on worldly solutions when spiritual problems persist. True deliverance comes from God alone, not from political alliances or material wealth.
Further Descent into Idolatry (II Chronicles 28:22-23)
Ahaz's idolatry only deepened with his troubles. The more he was plagued with difficulties, the more unfaithful he became. He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, believing they would help him because they had helped the Arameans (II Chronicles 28:22-23). He failed to recognize that his catastrophes were punishment from God for his disobedience. The idols he sought for deliverance became his downfall (II Chronicles 28:23). This highlights the blinding nature of idolatry. It distorts one's perception of reality, leading to irrational decisions and a further departure from God.
The Final Judgment on Ahaz (II Chronicles 28:24-27)
In a final act of defiance, Ahaz locked up the temple and established idol worship stations on every street corner in Jerusalem (II Chronicles 28:24). This blatant rejection of God stoked the Lord's anger against him (II Chronicles 28:25). Ultimately, Ahaz was refused burial with the other kings, a final statement of his unworthiness to be associated with the Davidic line (II Chronicles 28:27). This ignominious end serves as a powerful warning about the consequences of persistent rebellion against God. Ahaz's reign stands as a tragic example of how idolatry and disobedience can lead to personal and national ruin.