Ahaz became king at twenty and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, walking in the ways of the kings of Israel, making molten images for the Baals, burning incense in the Valley of Hinnom, and even burning his children in fire according to the abominations of the nations the Lord had driven out before Israel. Because of this apostasy, the Lord delivered him to Syria, which took captives to Damascus, and to Pekah of Israel, who killed 120,000 Judean warriors in one day including the king's son, the palace commander, and the king's second-in-command, with 200,000 women and children taken captive. The prophet Oded met the returning Israelite army and demanded the captives' release because of divine wrath, and certain Ephraimite leaders clothed, fed, and returned the captives to Jericho; meanwhile Ahaz sought help from Assyria against Edom and Philistia but Tiglath-pileser afflicted rather than strengthened him, and in his distress Ahaz became more faithless, sacrificing to the gods of Damascus, cutting up the temple vessels, shutting the temple doors, and making altars on every corner in Jerusalem; he was buried in the city but not in the royal tombs.
Read 2 Chronicles Chapter 28 Summary
Characters in This Chapter
Builder of the temple and Israel's most glorious king
Reforming king who restored temple worship and trusted God against Assyria
Young king who led the greatest revival, rediscovered the Law
Godly king known for his prayer and trust in God during battle
King of Israel
Son of Jacob, Ancestor of David and Christ
Places in This Chapter
Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and plays a significant role in biblical history. It was on the road to Damascus that Saul of Tarsus had his dramatic encounter with the risen Christ and was converted, becoming the apostle Paul. The prophet Elijah was told to anoint Hazael as king of Syria in Damascus. The city is mentioned throughout both the Old and New Testaments.
Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel and later became the name for the entire region between Judea and Galilee. After the Assyrian conquest, the population became mixed, and the Samaritans developed their own form of worship. Jews and Samaritans had deep hostility. Jesus broke social barriers by speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well and telling the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world, was the first Canaanite city conquered by the Israelites after crossing the Jordan River. Its walls famously fell after the Israelites marched around it for seven days as commanded by God through Joshua. Jesus later passed through Jericho, healing blind Bartimaeus and dining with the tax collector Zacchaeus.
Position in Book
Alternating faithful and unfaithful kings, with special attention to reformers like Hezekiah and Josiah.