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2 Chronicles 28 King Hezekiah's reign and last days

1 Ahaz King of Judah
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

2 He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and also made cast idols for worshiping the Baals.

3 He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.

4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.

5 Therefore the Lord his God handed him over to the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him and took many of his people as prisoners and brought them to Damascus.
He was also given into the hands of the king of Israel, who inflicted heavy casualties on him.

6 In one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers in Judah—because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers.

7 Zicri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, second to the king.

8 The Israelites took captive from their kinsmen two hundred thousand wives, sons and daughters. They also took a great deal of plunder, which they carried back to Samaria.

9 But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army when it returned to Samaria. He said to them, “Because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches to heaven.

10 And now you intend to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves. But aren’t you also guilty of sins against the Lord your God?

11 Now listen to me! Send back your fellow countrymen you have taken as prisoners, for the Lord’s fierce anger rests on you.”

12 Then some of the leaders in Ephraim—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—confronted those who were arriving from the war.

13 “You must not bring those prisoners here,” they said, “or we will be guilty before the Lord. Do you intend to add to our sin and guilt? For our guilt is already great, and his fierce anger rests on Israel.”

14 So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and plunder in the presence of the officials and all the assembly.

15 The men designated by name took the prisoners, and from the plunder they clothed all who were naked. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink, and healing balm. All those who were weak they put on donkeys. So they took them back to their fellow countrymen at Jericho, the City of Palms, and returned to Samaria.

16 At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help.

17 The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away prisoners,

18 while the Philistines had raided towns in the foothills and in the Negev of Judah. They captured and occupied Beth Shemesh, Aijalon and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah and Gimzo, with their surrounding villages.

19 The Lord had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the Lord.

20 Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help.

21 Ahaz took some of the things from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace and from the princes and presented them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help him.

22 In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord.

23 He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me.” But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel.

24 Ahaz gathered together the furnishings from the temple of God and took them away. He shut the doors of the Lord’s temple and set up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem.

25 In every town in Judah he built high places to burn sacrifices to other gods and provoked the Lord, the God of his fathers, to anger.

26 The other events of his reign and all his ways, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

27 Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king.

Previous Chapter 2 Chronicles 27 Next Chapter 2 Chronicles 29

Analysis of 2 Chronicles Chapter 28

In 2 Chronicles Chapter 28, we observe the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, who is depicted as a notoriously wicked king. This chapter serves as a detailed account of his reign, emphasizing his departure from the ways of his righteous predecessors and the resulting consequences for him and the kingdom of Judah. The text covers various aspects of Ahaz’s rule, from his idolatrous practices to the regional conflicts that ensue, and ultimately serves as a moral and theological lesson on the importance of fidelity to God.

Verses 1-4: Introduction and Early Reign of Ahaz

These opening verses provide a succinct summary of Ahaz’s background and the early years of his reign:

“Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not do 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.” (2 Chronicles 28:1-3)

Ahaz’s reign is immediately contrasted with that of David, setting a clear expectation of moral and spiritual failure. Unlike his forefather, Ahaz’s actions are characterized by idolatry and practices detested by God. The molten images for Baalim and child sacrifices in the valley of Hinnom are indicators of his severe spiritual decline, aligning more with the Canaanites whom God had expelled rather than with the righteous standard set for Israel and Judah.

Key Observations:

  • Age and Duration of Reign: Ahaz became king at the young age of twenty and reigned for sixteen tumultuous years.
  • Religious Apostasy: Unlike David’s righteousness, Ahaz embraced paganism, making him a negative archetype in Judean history.
  • Child Sacrifice: The mention of child sacrifice highlights the extremity of Ahaz’s departure from God’s laws, marking a significant moral decline.

Verses 5-15: Consequences and Military Defeats

The consequences of Ahaz’s apostasy manifest in Judah’s military struggles. These verses describe the invasions and defeats faced by Judah under Ahaz’s leadership:

“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.” (2 Chronicles 28:5)

The text details the devastating losses Judah incurred, including significant captives taken to Damascus and a massacre orchestrated by the king of Israel.

Key Observations:

  • Divine Retribution: The defeats are portrayed as divine retribution. The Lord “delivered” Judah into the hands of their enemies as a consequence of Ahaz’s sins.
  • Regional Dynamics: The chapter sheds light on the political and military volatility of the period, with Judah caught in conflicts against Syria and Israel. These dynamics are crucial for understanding the historical and prophetic significance of Ahaz’s reign.
  • Human Suffering: The mention of a large number of captives and the widespread violence emphasizes the human cost of Ahaz’s idolatry, underscoring the collective suffering of the people due to the king’s unfaithfulness.

Verses 8-15: Intervention and Prophetic Rebuke

In a surprising turn of events, the captives taken by Israel are treated with an unexpected degree of compassion, influenced by a prophetic intervention:

“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.’” (2 Chronicles 28:8-11)

Oded, the prophet, boldly confronts the returning Israelite forces, reminding them of their own sins and urging them to release their captives. Remarkably, the leaders of Israel heed this call, providing aid and restitution to the captives before sending them home.

Key Observations:

  • Prophetic Role: The intervention of the prophet Oded highlights the enduring presence and influence of God’s messengers, even in times of widespread apostasy. Prophets served as moral and spiritual arbitrators, guiding the people back to righteousness.
  • Moral Integrity: The compliance of the Israelite leaders with the prophet’s rebuke indicates a recognition of shared guilt and a willingness to correct their actions, suggesting a complex moral landscape where even adversaries can display righteousness.
  • Unity and Brotherhood: The narrative underscores the essential unity and kinship between Israel and Judah, despite political conflicts. The release and care for the captives affirm this fraternal bond and the expectation of ethical treatment even in warfare.

Verses 16-21: Seeking Foreign Assistance

Persistently struggling, Ahaz seeks help from Assyria, a dominant regional power. However, this act of desperation does not yield the hoped-for results:

“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.” (2 Chronicles 28:16-20)

Despite his appeal, Ahaz finds little support and instead suffers further oppression from the Assyrians. The chronicler notes that Judah’s continued suffering is due to Ahaz’s extensive transgressions.

Key Observations:

  • Foreign Alliances: Ahaz’s recourse to Assyria symbolizes a reliance on human power rather than trusting in God. This dependence on foreign alliances is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, often leading to further complications and divine displeasure.
  • Continued Suffering: Judah’s persistent threats from Edomites and Philistines, and the failure of the Assyrian alliance, underscore the futility of seeking security outside of divine provision.
  • Divine Judgment: The chronicler reiterates that these adversities are divinely ordained as responses to Ahaz’s severe transgressions, linking political instability directly to spiritual disloyalty.

Verses 22-25: Increasing Apostasy and Idolatry

Instead of realigning his ways, Ahaz dives deeper into idolatry and further alienates himself from God:

“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.” (2 Chronicles 28:22-25)

Amazingly, in his desperation and distress, Ahaz intensifies his idolatrous activities, believing that the gods of his adversaries might provide the help Jehovah has denied. This misguided logic only hastens his downfall and exacerbates the suffering of Judah.

Key Observations:

  • Misplaced Trust: Ahaz’s decision to honor the gods of Damascus, believing they contributed to Syria’s success, underlines his spiritual blindness and abandonment of Yahweh.
  • Destruction of the Temple: His desecration of the temple, including shutting its doors and creating altars to other gods, marks a total repudiation of Judah’s covenant with God. This act symbolizes a profound national and spiritual betrayal.
  • Decentralization of Worship: Ahaz’s establishment of altars and high places across Judah further undermines centralized worship in Jerusalem, fostering widespread idolatry and provoking divine anger.

Verses 26-27: Conclusion and Legacy

The chapter concludes with a brief account of Ahaz’s death and his ignominious legacy:

“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.” (2 Chronicles 28:26-27)

Ahaz’s burial outside the revered sepulchers of the kings signals a recognition of his flawed legacy. The mention of Hezekiah succeeding him sets the stage for potential redemption and reformation under a more faithful ruler.

Key Observations:

  • Historical Record: The chronicler references external records, indicating a broader historical corroboration of Ahaz’s reign’s events.
  • Burial and Legacy: Ahaz’s exclusion from the royal tombs reflects a communal disapproval of his reign, emphasizing the profound impact of his spiritual failures on his legacy.
  • Hope for Renewal: The transition to Hezekiah hints at a forthcoming revival, offering a glimmer of hope after an era of intense apostasy.

Conclusion

2 Chronicles Chapter 28 presents a comprehensive portrayal of King Ahaz’s reign, offering critical insights into the spiritual and political dynamics of Judah. It underscores the catastrophic consequences of departing from God’s ways and highlights the intricate relationship between faithfulness and national stability. Ahaz’s story serves as a somber reminder of the costs of idolatry and the importance of steadfastness to divine commandments. Despite the bleakness of his reign, the narrative arc points to a possibility of redemption and renewal under future leadership, reinforcing the resilience of God’s covenant with His people.