2 Chronicles
Chapter 28
Ahaz of Judah (734-727)
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king and reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what pleased the Lord, as his ancestor David had done.
He followed the example of the kings of Israel and even had Baal’s idols made of metal.
He offered incense in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom and even sacrificed his sons as burnt offerings to disgusting idols, copying the shameful practice of the people whom the Lord had driven out of the land he would give to the Israelites.
He offered sacrifices and incense at the high places, on the hills, and under every spreading tree.
The Lord his God let the king of the Aramaeans defeat him and take significant numbers of his people captive, carrying them off to Damascus. He was also delivered into the power of the king of Israel, who defeated him.
In a single day, Pekah, son of Remaliah, killed a hundred and twenty thousand in Judah, all brave fighting men. This was because they had abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
Zichri, an Ephraimite champion, killed Maaseiah, the king’s son, Azrikam, the controller of the palace, and Elkanah, the king’s second-in-command.
Of their brothers, the Israelites took two hundred thousand captives, including wives, sons, and daughters. They also took quantities of loot, carrying everything off to Samaria.
A prophet of the Lord, named Oded, was there, and he went out to meet the troops returning to Samaria and said: “The Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah, and so he delivered them into your power, but you have slaughtered with such fury as reaches to heaven.
And you intended to make the men and women of Jerusalem and Judah your slaves. But you are guilty before the Lord your God.
Now listen to me: release the prisoners you have taken of your brothers, or the Lord will punish you in his anger.”
Some of the Ephraimite chieftains then stood up in opposition to those who returned from the war: Azariah, son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai.
They said: “You must not bring the captives in here, for we are guilty enough before the Lord. Will you add to our sins and our guilt? But our guilt is already heavy, and the fierce anger of the Lord is hanging over Israel.”
So, in the presence of the officials and the whole assembly, the army gave up the captives and the loot.
Four men were appointed to provide the prisoners with clothing. From the loot, they clothed all those who were naked. They gave them clothing and sandals, provided them with food and drink, and washed them. Those who were too weak to walk put on donkeys and returned them to their relatives at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then, they returned to Samaria.
It was then that King Ahaz asked the kings of Assyria to come to his assistance,
for the Edomites once again invaded and defeated Judah and carried off prisoners.
The Philistines raided the towns in the lowlands and the Negeb of Judah. They took Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco with their outlying villages, Timnah with their outlying villages, and Gimzo with its outlying villages, and they settled in them.
The Lord humbled Judah because Ahaz, king of Israel, let Judah go its way and was not faithful to the Lord.
Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria attacked and besieged him but could not defeat him.
Ahaz, however, had to take part of the goods in the Lord’s house and in the palaces of the king and princes to hand over to the king of Assyria. Yet, he received no help from him.
When Jerusalem was under siege, King Ahaz sinned against the Lord more than ever
by offering sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him. He said, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram have been of help to them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me.” But they proved to be his downfall and that of Israel.
Ahaz then took implements of the house and broke them in pieces; he closed the doors of the Lord’s house and put up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem.
He set up high places in every town of Judah to offer incense to other gods and so brought on himself the anger of the Lord, the God of his ancestors.
The rest of his history, his whole policy, from first to last, is recorded in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
Then Ahaz rested with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of Jerusalem, though he was not taken into the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son, Hezekiah, succeeded him.
Commentaries
The Kings of Judah Until the Exile.
The final section of the Chronicler’s work focuses on the history of the kingdom of Judah, covering from Solomon to the exile, with little mention of the Northern Kingdom. For the Chronicler, the kingdom of Judah represents the entire nation of Israel. The primary standard for judging each king is their loyalty to God. Four notable figures stand out as models of this loyalty: Asa, Jehoshaphat, Josiah, and especially Hezekiah. The prophets are also depicted alongside the kings, delivering messages that include warnings and sincere calls to stay loyal to the Lord. Ultimately, the Chronicler encourages the post-exilic community to seek God and remain faithful to the One who has remained true to his people despite their difficulties.
Ahaz of Judah.
The author presents negative details about Ahaz’s reign, contrasting them with those of Hezekiah’s. He references 2 Kings 16:1-20 and Isaiah 7, as well as other passages. Historically, these were tough times for both Judah and Israel. Judah faces attacks from the Edomites in the south (17), the Philistines in the west (18), and a strong enemy in the north—the sister kingdom of Israel (7)—which is allied with and supported by Syria (6). Ahaz seeks help from the dominant power of the day, Assyria (16). This harmful request causes both religious and economic problems. The act of forgiveness that Israel shows to its brother Judah, thanks to the prophet Oded’s words (9-15), demonstrates that those freed from slavery in Egypt can’t be enslaved again. The tribute paid by the Israelites just before their national disaster is especially noteworthy.