Read 2 Chronicles 28
Ahaz King of Judah
28 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 followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshiping the Baals. 3 He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices 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 delivered him into the hands of 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 ancestors. 7 Zikri, 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 men of Israel took captive from their fellow Israelites who were from Judah 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 ancestors, 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 Israelites 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 Israelites at Jericho, the City of Palms, and returned to Samaria.
16 At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings 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 Soko, 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 troubleinstead of help. 21 Ahaz took some of the things from the temple of the Lordand from the royal palace and from the officials 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 cut them in pieces. 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 aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of his ancestors.
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 ancestors 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.
Go Deeper
In this chapter the Chronicler introduces us to King Ahaz. Right up front, it is abundantly clear that Ahaz was not a God-fearing king. While some of Judah’s other kings might have had some redemptive qualities while also falling short along the way, it is clear that Ahaz quite simply didn’t “do what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (v. 1). Pastor David Guzik, the author of the Enduring Word commentary, even goes as far as to say that Ahaz was the worst of Judah’s kings. There is no record of repentance–we just see a further hardening of Ahaz’s heart.
Reading about Ahaz in this chapter, you can draw comparisons to King Saul. Ahaz was a chaotic and frenetic leader. It seems as if he was resolved to do the opposite of what God wanted him to. He built idols of his own and offered sacrifices to them. He not only sanctioned but participated in the worship of Molech, a detestable pagan god whose worship involved the sacrificing of children. Ahaz didn’t just reject the faith of some of his godly predecessors; he actively opposed and worked against it.
We ultimately see Ahaz’s downfall in this chapter, as external armies and threats placed more and more pressure on Ahaz. In Isaiah 7, we see the prophet Isaiah offer Ahaz a sign of God’s protection, which Ahaz ultimately refused under the guise of not wanting to test God. Instead, Ahaz doubled down on his lack of faith and instead sent a request to the king of Assyria asking for further assistance. He even took furniture out of the temple and offered it as a gift to the king of Assyria, only to end up a subject of Assyria. All of his attempts had fallen flat.
As troublesome as Ahaz’s reign was, there was a message of hope that came in the midst of it. Isaiah, while Ahaz was on the throne, spoke of someone who would ultimately come from the line of David who would be a better king. A virgin would give birth to a son, Immanuel, who would lead God’s people and whose kingdom would never fail.
Questions
- What stuck out to you as you read through this chapter for the first time? Why?
- If you were to summarize Ahaz’s reign in one word or phrase, what would you say? Why?
- Ahaz did everything but submit to the Lord. Can you think of a time you have tried to grip the wheel and handle everything on your own like Ahaz did?
By the Way
To learn more about King Ahaz and his wicked reign, check out the account of his life from 2 Kings 16.
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3 thoughts on “2 Chronicles 28”
King Ahaz ushered in a whole new level of evil and degradation in Judah as scripture shows “he offered sacrifices in the valley of the son of Hinnom, even sacrificing his own sons in the fire” (v3). Notice the word “sons” is plural indicating he did this multiple times. Imagine living in a kingdom where this act was widely accepted. But wait! Is not our present day culture guilty of the same heinous practice? A commentary I read explained it this way, “The sacrifice of children to the harsh gods of convenience, economy, and whim continues in sterile medical facilities in numbers that would astound the wicked Ahaz.” May God awaken us to what we have become and drive us to repentance.
How far can you fall from God? Beyond all we can imagine is how far if we are not soooooo very careful. This chapter shows a deep pit that was fallen into. All comes back to obedience. One little compromise makes the difference. We think it really does not matter in the grand scheme of things, just this once or tomorrow, then no more. Then we don’t do that “thing” and wonder why God is not blessing us? We are tithing, going to church, serving in some ministry but feel like God is not listening, blessing or loving us? Why? Unrepented sin of just doing that “thing” even though God said no. Disobedience is big. (If you have kids think about disobedience in them and your response). BUT GOD is so amazing with His Grace!!!! His love!!! He never stops wooing us, wanting us to be His. He will give punishment for the disobedience but He will also forgive and give grace with love lavishly upon you when you turn back to Him with that contrite heart.
God thank You for loving me so much that You made this very detailed plan, even with these bad kings in play, to make a way for Jesus to come. God thank You for my heart desire to burn deeper and brighter for You. That every time I have a compromising thought I can turn back to You for the answer and then make right choices. God sometimes I feel as though my heart will burst with the love I feel for You! Thank You for that growing bigger and stronger!! in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!
Gosh how my heart ached in reading this. Oh, but my repentant heart, how I too have ached God’s heart. Thank You for Your grace, Father. As I read these chronicles, may I learn the lessons laid out to always look to You and Your direction as I journey home to You. It is in Your son Jesus I pray, Amen!