2 Chronicles 28

Ahaz's Wicked Reign

¹Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn’t do that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, like David his father,

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

³Moreover he burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

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

⁵Therefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They struck him, and carried away from him a great multitude of captives, and brought them to Damascus. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter.

⁶For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.

⁷Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king.

⁸The children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters, and also took away much plunder from them, and brought the plunder to Samaria.

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

¹⁰Now you intend to degrade the children of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. Aren’t there even with you trespasses of your own against the LORD your God?

¹¹Now hear me therefore, and send back the captives that you have taken captive from your brothers, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is on you.”

¹²Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,

¹³and said to them, “You must not bring in the captives here, for you intend that which will bring on us a trespass against the LORD, to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.”

¹⁴So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the princes and all the assembly.

¹⁵The men who have been mentioned by name rose up and took the captives, and with the plunder clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them, gave them sandals, gave them something to eat and to drink, anointed them, carried all the feeble of them on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

¹⁶At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him.

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

¹⁸The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and also Gimzo and its villages; and they lived there.

¹⁹For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, because he acted without restraint in Judah and trespassed severely against the LORD.

²⁰Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came to him and gave him trouble, but didn’t strengthen him.

²¹For Ahaz took away a portion out of the LORD’s house, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria; but it didn’t help him.

²²In the time of his distress, he trespassed yet more against the LORD, this same King Ahaz.

²³For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him. He said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them, that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.

²⁴Ahaz gathered together the vessels of God’s house, cut the vessels of God’s house in pieces, and shut up the doors of the LORD’s house; and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

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

²⁶Now the rest of his acts, and all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

²⁷Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem, because they didn’t bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

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King Ahaz of Judah reigns wickedly for sixteen years, practicing idolatry and even sacrificing his children to foreign gods. As divine judgment, God allows Syria and Israel to devastate Judah, with Israel taking 200,000 captives. However, the prophet Oded and Ephraimite leaders intervene, compelling Israel to treat the captives with compassion and return them to Judah, demonstrating God's mercy even amid judgment.

Context

This chapter contrasts sharply with the previous faithful reign of Jotham and sets up the dramatic religious reforms that will come under Hezekiah.

Key Themes

Outline

1-4
Ahaz's Idolatrous Practices The king follows Israel's evil ways, worships Baals, and sacrifices his children in pagan rituals.
5-8
Divine Judgment Through Enemy Attacks God delivers Judah to Syria and Israel, resulting in massive casualties and captives taken.
9-11
Prophet Oded's Intervention A prophet confronts Israel's army, warning them against enslaving their Judahite brothers.
12-15
Compassionate Treatment of Captives Ephraimite leaders heed the prophet's words, caring for and returning the captives to Judah.
16-27
Ahaz's Continued Apostasy and Death Despite ongoing troubles, Ahaz persists in idolatry until his death and burial.

Ahaz's Wicked Reign

28:1–28:27

narrative narration mournful

King Ahaz's wickedness and idolatry bring devastating military defeats and captivity upon Judah. The prophet Oded's intervention leads to the merciful release of Judean captives, showing God's compassion even amid judgment.

person_contrast

Ahaz becomes the only Judean king explicitly said to "walk in the ways of the kings of Israel," marking his unprecedented adoption of northern kingdom practices including Baal worship.

Insight Character Study

Ahaz becomes the only Judean king explicitly said to "walk in the ways of the kings of Israel," marking his unprecedented adoption of northern kingdom practices including Baal worship.