2 Chronicles 28

1 Achaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Yerushalayim: and he didn't do that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, like David his father;

2 but he walked in the ways of the kings of Yisra'el, and made also molten images for the Ba`alim.

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 Yisra'el.

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 Aram; and they struck him, and carried away of his a great multitude of captives, and brought them to Dammesek. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Yisra'el, who struck him with a great slaughter.

6 For Pekach the son of Remalyahu killed in Yehudah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.

7 Zikhri, a mighty man of Efrayim, killed Ma`aseyah the king's son, and `Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkana who was next to the king.

8 The children of Yisra'el carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Shomron.

9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was `Oded: and he went out to meet the host that came to Shomron, and said to them, Behold, because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Yehudah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage which has reached up to heaven.

10 Now you purpose to keep under the children of Yehudah and Yerushalayim for bondservants and bondmaids to you: [but] 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 of your brothers; for the fierce wrath of the LORD is on you.

12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Efrayim, `Azaryah the son of Yochanan, Berekhyah the son of Meshillemot, and Yechizkiyahu 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 shall not bring in the captives here: for you purpose that which will bring on us a trespass against the LORD, to add to our sins and to our trespass; for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Yisra'el.

14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil 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 spoil clothed all who 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 on donkeys, and brought them to Yericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers: then they returned to Shomron.

16 At that time did king Achaz send to the kings of Ashshur to help him.

17 For again the Edom had come and struck Yehudah, and carried away captives.

18 The Pelishtim also had invaded the cities of the lowland, and of the South of Yehudah, and had taken Beit-Shemesh, and Ayalon, and Kederot, and Sokho with the towns of it, and Timnah with the towns of it, Gimzo also and the towns of it: and they lived there.

19 For the LORD brought Yehudah low because of Achaz king of Yisra'el; for he had dealt wantonly in Yehudah, and trespassed severely against the LORD.

20 Tilgat-Pilne'eser king of Ashshur came to him, and distressed him, but didn't strengthen him.

21 For Achaz 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 to the king of Ashshur: but it didn't help him.

22 In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD, this same king Achaz.

23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Dammesek, which struck him; and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, [therefore] will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Yisra'el.

24 Achaz 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 Yerushalayim.

25 In every city of Yehudah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD, the God of his fathers.

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 Yehudah and Yisra'el.

27 Achaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Yerushalayim; for they didn't bring him into the tombs of the kings of Yisra'el: and Hizkiyahu his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 28 Commentary

Chapter 28

The wicked reign of Ahaz in Judah.

- 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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 28

This chapter contains the reign of Ahaz, and gives an account of the idolatry he was guilty of, 2Ch 28:1-4, what calamities came upon him and his people, being delivered up into the hands of the kings of Syria and Israel, who slew many, and carried others captives, 2Ch 28:5-8, though they that were taken captive by Israel, at the admonition of a prophet, were sent back again, 2Ch 28:9-15, how also he was distressed by the Edomites and Philistines, and not helped by the king of Assyria, he sent for and made presents to, 2Ch 28:16-21 and yet went into more and greater idolatries, 2Ch 28:22-25, and the chapter is concluded with his death and burial, 2Ch 28:26,27.

These verses are much the same with 2Ki 16:2-4, only in 2Ch 28:2 it is said,

\\he made also molten images for Baalim\\; the several Baals or idols of the nations round about, as well as served Jeroboam's calves; see Jud 2:11, and he is said in 2Ch 28:3,

\\to burn incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom\\; to Molech, the god of the Ammonites, who was worshipped there. \\See Gill on "2Ki 16:2"\\ \\See Gill on "2Ki 16:3"\\ \\See Gill on "2Ki 16:4"\\ 19724-950128-0841-2Ch28.2