2 Chronicles 28

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 28

1¶ 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:

2For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.

3Moreover 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.

4He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

5Wherefore 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.

6¶ 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.

7And 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.

8And 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.

9But 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.

10And 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?

11Now 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.

12Then 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,

13And 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.

14So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.

15And 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.

16¶ At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

17For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.

18The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, 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.

19For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.

20And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.

21For 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.

22And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this [is that] king Ahaz.

23For 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.

24And 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.

25And 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.

26Now 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.

27And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Ahaz of Judah reigned wickedly, embracing idolatry and child sacrifice, provoking the LORD. Consequently, Judah suffered severe defeats from Syria, Israel, Edom, and Philistia, losing many lives and captives. Despite seeking help from Assyria and further desecrating the Temple, Ahaz found no relief, as his continued unfaithfulness brought ruin upon himself and Judah.

Medium Summary

King Ahaz of Judah began his reign at twenty, but unlike David, he committed great wickedness in the sight of the LORD, adopting the idolatrous practices of the kings of Israel, including making molten images for Baalim and sacrificing his children in the Valley of Hinnom. As a result of his apostasy, the LORD delivered Judah into the hands of the Syrians and the Israelites, with Pekah of Israel slaying 120,000 valiant men and taking 200,000 captives. However, the prophet Oded rebuked the Israelites for their excessive wrath and enslavement of their brethren, warning them of God's displeasure. Moved by Oded's words, the leaders of Ephraim ensured the captives were cared for and returned to Judah. Despite these calamities, Ahaz persisted in his sin, seeking help from Assyria against further attacks from Edom and Philistia. This alliance proved futile, as the Assyrian king distressed him further, and Ahaz, in his distress, only increased his idolatry by sacrificing to the gods of Damascus, ultimately leading to his ruin. He further desecrated the Temple by cutting up its vessels and shutting its doors, establishing altars to other gods throughout Judah.

Long Summary

King Ahaz, at twenty years old, began a sixteen-year reign in Jerusalem, but he did not follow the righteous path of his ancestor David. Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, creating molten images for Baalim and engaging in the abominable practice of burning his children in the fire in the Valley of Hinnom, mimicking the heathen nations. He also offered sacrifices and burnt incense on high places, hills, and under every green tree, deeply provoking the LORD. Consequently, God delivered Judah into the hands of the king of Syria, who carried away many captives, and then into the hand of the king of Israel, Pekah, who slew 120,000 valiant men in one day. Additionally, Zichri of Ephraim killed key royal figures, and the Israelites took 200,000 women, sons, and daughters captive, along with much spoil. However, the prophet Oded confronted the Israelite army in Samaria, declaring that while God had delivered Judah into their hands due to His wrath, their own rage and intent to enslave their brethren were grievous sins that would bring fierce wrath upon Israel. Prompted by Oded's warning, certain heads of Ephraim, including Azariah, Berechiah, Jehizkiah, and Amasa, stood against the returning soldiers, insisting that the captives not be brought into Samaria to avoid adding to Israel's already great trespass. The armed men complied, leaving the captives and spoil, and the named leaders then took responsibility, clothing, feeding, anointing, and carrying the feeble captives on asses, returning them to their brethren in Jericho before returning to Samaria. Meanwhile, King Ahaz, facing renewed attacks from Edomites and Philistines who had invaded and captured Judahite cities, desperately sent for help from the kings of Assyria. The LORD had brought Judah low because Ahaz had made Judah naked and transgressed severely against Him. Though Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came, he distressed Ahaz rather than strengthening him, despite Ahaz giving him treasures from the Temple, the king's house, and the princes. In his continued distress, Ahaz trespassed even more against the LORD, sacrificing to the gods of Damascus, believing they would help him, but they only proved to be his ruin and the ruin of all Israel. He further desecrated the house of God by gathering and cutting its vessels into pieces, shutting its doors, and erecting altars to other gods in every corner of Jerusalem and in every city of Judah, thus greatly provoking the LORD God of his fathers. Ahaz died and was buried in Jerusalem, though not in the sepulchres of the kings of Israel, and his son Hezekiah succeeded him.

Core Concepts

  • Ahaz's ApostasyKing Ahaz's reign was characterized by profound wickedness and idolatry, including the worship of Baalim, child sacrifice in the Valley of Hinnom, and offerings on high places, directly defying the LORD.
  • Divine JudgmentAs a consequence of Ahaz's sins, the LORD allowed Judah to suffer severe military defeats and loss of life at the hands of Syria and Israel, and later from Edom and Philistia.
  • Prophetic Rebuke and CompassionThe prophet Oded boldly confronted the Israelite army for their excessive cruelty in taking Judahite captives, leading key Ephraimite leaders to show compassion by providing for and returning the captives to their homeland.
  • Futility of Foreign AlliancesAhaz's desperate attempt to secure help from Assyria against his enemies proved fruitless; despite offering tribute from the Temple, the Assyrian king distressed him further rather than providing aid.
  • Increased Transgression in DistressInstead of repenting during his time of distress, Ahaz intensified his idolatry, sacrificing to the gods of Damascus and further desecrating the Temple by destroying its vessels and shutting its doors, thus provoking God even more.
  • Desecration of the TempleAhaz actively defiled the House of the LORD by cutting up its sacred vessels, shutting its doors, and establishing altars to foreign gods throughout Jerusalem and Judah, effectively closing off proper worship.