The Second Book of the Chronicles
2 Chronicles 28
Chapter XXVIII · Vol. II, pp. 876–878
1 Ahaz reigning very wickedly is greatly afflicted by the Syrians. 8 Judah being captivated by the Israelites is sent home by the counsel of Oded the prophet. 16 Ahaz sending for aid to Assyria is not helped thereby. 22 In his distress he becometh still more idolatrous. 26 He dying, Hezekiah succeedeth him.
1 Ahaz was atwenty years old1 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:2
B.C. 742.
a 2 Ki.16.1,2,&c.
1 See note on 2 Ki.18.2.—C.
2 Either David was a second name of Jotham (see examples of pluralities of names, 2 Ki. 14. 21, comp. 2 Ch. 26.1, also 2 Ch. 21. 17; 22. 1, 6, where one king has two, the other three names), or else the word father is used for predecessor.—C.
2 For he bwalked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
b 2 Ki.16.2. ch.21.6.
3 Moreover he cburnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire,3 after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
c Or, offered sacrifice, Je.7.31. Le.18.21. Ps.106.37,38. ch.33.2-6.
3 It is difficult for Christians to conceive what a cruel system is idolatry. This burning still remains in the suttees of India, and the exposure or drowning of children is legalized.—Note, Let Christians beware, lest in their horror of heathenism they forget there are other idols as cruel and destructive as Molech.—C.
4 He dsacrificed also and burnt incense in the high-places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
d 2 Ki.16.4; 17.9-11. 1 Ki.14.23, with Le.26.30. De.12.2.
5 Wherefore the LORD ehis God4 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:5 and he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
A.M. 3262. B.C. 742.
e 1 Ki.18.21. Mi.3.11. Ju.2.14. 2 Ki.16.5. Is.7.1,6.
4 Jehovah was his God by the Abrahamic covenant as well as by creation, and God's claim and title were not voidable by Ahaz' idolatrous apostasy.—C.
5 Heb. Darmesek.
6 For fPekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day,6 which were all valiant men;7 becauseg they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.
f 2 Ki.15.37. Is.9.21. Mi.8.9?.
6 This number is so great, and so utterly inconsistent with modern ideas of warfare, that the usual solution of a supposed error has been freely employed. There seems, however, no reason to question the account: the cruelty that could desolate the land by carrying off '200,000, women, sons, and daughters,' to sell them, or hold them for domestic, field, or colonial slaves, would feel little compunction for such a cruel and wholesale butchery of the 'sons of valour,' whose total extirpation would be the best safeguard of their conquerors. See ver.9. C.——It is possible there is a mistake in the number, though all the MSS. and versions agree. The whole people seem to have been given up into the hands of their enemies.—I.
7 Heb. sons of valour.
g ch.15.2. Je.2.19. 1 Ki.15.29,30. Is.24.5,6.
7 And 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.8
8 Heb. the second to the king.
8 And the children of Israel hcarried 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.
h Mi.2.10. De.28.25,41.
9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and ihe went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, kbecause 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 lup unto heaven.
10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for mbond-men and bond-women unto you: but are there not nwith you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?
m Le.25.39,42.
n Je.25.29. 1 Pe.4.17,18.
11 Now hear me therefore, and odeliver the captives9 again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: pfor the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.
9 He reminds them of their own sins. It ill becomes sinners to be oppressors. Could they hope for mercy from God if they showed none to their brethren? Every man is our neighbour, every man is our brother. Slavery in every form stands opposed to the law of love and the golden rule of equity.—I.
12 Then certain of the qheads 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, rstood up against them that came from the war,
13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend sto add more to our sins and to our trespass; for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.1
s Nu.32.14. Jos.22.17,18. Mat.23.32. Da.ix. 2 Ki.17.7-23. Ho.iv.-xiii. Is.i.-iii.v.ix.
1 There are always some who, in the time of national defections, can discover the signs of approaching judgments; who 'sigh and who cry for all the abominations that are done in the land;' who do what they may to stem the 'iniquity that cometh in like a flood;' who sometimes, by grace, by the enforcement of repentance, succeed in averting national calamities; but who, if their country or church will not hear, are yet privileged to 'deliver their own souls.'—C.
14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
15 And the men which twere expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil uclothed 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 wJericho, the city of palm-trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.1
A.M. 3263. B.C. 741.
t ver.12.
u Ja.2.16. Mat.25.34-45. Job 31.15-23. 2 Ki.6.22.
w De.34.3. 1 Ki.16.34.
1 One of the most beautiful narratives upon record, and a glorious lesson to Christian nations—a lesson which some in a degree have learned, but which others are still in vain called to consider and obey. The picture of the undaunted prophet, the noble-hearted princes, the generous army in the foreground, and the returning captives gently escorted in the distance, form a picture which the heart can draw, but boundlessly beyond the utmost effort of the pencil.—C.
16 At that time did king Ahaz xsend unto the kings of Assyria to help him.
x 2 Ki.16.5,7. Is.7.1-7. Je.17.5.
17 For yagain the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.2
y Le.26.18. ch.25.11,12.
2 Heb. a captivity.
18 The zPhilistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken aBeth-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.
a ch.25.21; 11.7,10. Jos.15.41,48,57.
19 For the LORD bbrought Judah low, because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked,3 and transgressed sore against the LORD.
b Ps.106.41-43. Is.1.5-9. Ex.32.25.
3 Nakedness, either partial or entire, was a part of idolatrous worship, as appears from Ex.32.25. And with this idolatry had Ahaz infected his kingdom, disrobed her of her beautiful garment of righteousness, and left her exposed to the scorn of her enemies, and the storm of divine displeasure. See Ho.2.3.—C.
20 Andc Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.4
21 For Ahaz took daway 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.
d ch.12.9. 2 Ki.18.15,16. Pr.20.25.
22 And ein the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.
23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him;5 and he said, fBecause 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.6
5 The Septuagint translates it: 'And king Ahaz said, I will seek to the gods of Damascus which have smitten me.' This view is preferred by many, as our translation seems to ascribe the power of smiting to idols. But there is no necessity, nor is there any good authority, for departing from the Hebrew or the authorized version. Who smote Job? Satan, Job i. And who is he? The very god of this world. And who were the gods of Damascus to whom Ahaz sacrificed? Devils, 1 Co.10.20. The very gods that smote him, as ever is their wont, Le.17.7. 1 Ch.21.1. Ps.106.37. Ac.13.10. Ep.6.11. 1 Ti.3.7. 1 Jn.3.8. Re.9.20; 12.9.—C.
f 2 Ki.16.12. Ps.115.4-7. Hab.1.11. Je.2.19. ch.25.14,15. Is.44.9-20; 46.1,2; 45.21. De.32.15-22.
6 The reason of this strange act is explained in 2 Ki.16.10, where the account of Ahaz' visit to Damascus is given.—P.
24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and gcut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and hshut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he imade him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn7 incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.
7 Or, to offer.
Notes
[Ver. 21. We read in the parallel passage, 2 Ki. 16, 9, that the King of Assyria hearkened unto' Ahaz. How is that statement reconciled with this verse? In this way: the assistance rendered to Ahaz was of no real service, though he hearkened to him in so far as Syria was concerned. The king of Assyria did not aid him against the Philistines, did not recover for him the captured cities of Judah, did not defend him from the invasions of the Edomites; while, at the same time, the treasures of the kingdom were exhausted by the bribes to the rapacious eastern monarch. P.]
Reflections.—How amazing is the strength of men's inward corruption, that can so trample upon a pious education and pattern! But fearful are the punishments which remain in store for such enormous transgressors: and miserable are the nations who have such monsters of impiety for their sovereigns. God makes the nations around concur to punish the apostasy of his professing people. Often the very persons or nations whom we have made our pattern in wickedness, are made the instruments of our punishment. And dreadfully are the mightiest numbered to the slaughter when the Lord fighteth against them. But how tender his compassion towards his offending people, even while he smites them! He observes and is provoked with those who inhumanly murder or abuse them, especially if they be brethren, or act from principles of hatred or revenge. And he constantly seeks by his word and spirit to render their most outrageous enemies kind and generous to them. They who are made sensible of their own sins will sympathize with their brethren's sufferings. It is better to take warning late than never: and the victory of self-denial is more glorious than the necks of vanquished enemies. It is the greatest honour to the mighty to be merciful. But when God lays aside one instrument of correction, he often takes another in his hand; and turns the helps which we sinfully secure into ruinous plagues. When we forsake God, we must needs be disappointed in every other confidence. And desperately hardened must men be when both mercies and judgments render them worse and worse. Happy is that nation where their tyrannical monsters of wickedness are quickly cut off by death, to make way for better princes.