2 Chronicles 28:23

23 immolavit diis Damasci victimas percussoribus suis et dixit dii regum Syriae auxiliantur eis quos ego placabo hostiis et aderunt mihi cum e contrario ipsi fuerint ruina eius et universo Israhel

2 Chronicles 28:23 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 28:23

For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him,
&c.] As he foolishly imagined, that they might do him no more hurt; as it is said of the Indians, that they worship the devil, that he may not hurt them; but that a king of Judah should do this is monstrous stupidity; rather therefore the meaning may be, that he worshipped the gods of those that smote him, those of the men or soldiers of Damascus

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 see ( 2 Chronicles 28:5 ) for the Spirit of God would never ascribe the smiting of him to idols, though he himself might;

and he said, because the gods of the kings of Syria help them;
which looks as if this was before Damascus was taken by the king of Assyria, and when Rezin king of Syria prevailed over Ahaz:

therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me;
against the Edomites and Philistines; wherefore rather to this, his idolatry, respect is had in ( 2 Chronicles 28:22 ) ,

but they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel;
the worship of them was the cause of all the calamities that came upon that part of Israel of which he was king.

F13 So Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

2 Chronicles 28:23 In-Context

21 igitur Achaz spoliata domo Domini et domo regum et principum dedit regi Assyriorum munera et tamen nihil ei profuit

22 insuper et in tempore angustiae suae auxit contemptum in Dominum ipse per se rex Achaz

23 immolavit diis Damasci victimas percussoribus suis et dixit dii regum Syriae auxiliantur eis quos ego placabo hostiis et aderunt mihi cum e contrario ipsi fuerint ruina eius et universo Israhel

24 direptis itaque Achaz omnibus vasis domus Dei atque confractis clusit ianuas templi Dei et fecit sibi altaria in universis angulis Hierusalem

25 in omnibus quoque urbibus Iuda extruxit aras ad cremandum tus atque ad iracundiam provocavit Dominum Deum patrum suorum