2 Chronicles 28:23

Contextual Overview

¹⁶ At that time did King Ahaz sende vnto the Kings of Asshur, to helpe him. ¹⁶At that time King Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help. ¹⁶ At that time did king Achaz send to the kings of Ashshur to help him. ¹⁶At that same time the people from Edom came again and defeated the people of Judah. The Edomites captured people and took them away as prisoners. So King Ahaz asked the king of Assyria to help him. ¹⁶ At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help. ¹⁶At that time King Ahaz sent word to the king of Assyria [to ask him] for help. ¹⁶ At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. ¹⁶Some time later, the Edomites attacked the eastern part of Judah again and carried away prisoners. And at the same time, the Philistines raided towns in the western foothills and in the Southern Desert. They conquered the towns of Beth-Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo, including the villages around them. Then some of the Philistines went to live in these places. Ahaz sent a message to King Tiglath Pileser of Assyria and begged for help. ¹⁶ It was at that time that King Achaz sent to the kings of Ashur to help him. ¹⁶ At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

For he sacrificed: This passage, says Mr. Hallet, greatly surprised me; for the sacred historian is here represented as saying, "The gods of Damascus had smitten Ahaz." But it is impossible to suppose that an inspired author should say this; for the Scripture every where represents the heathen idols as nothing and vanity, and as incapable of doing either good or hurt. All difficulty is avoided if we follow the old Hebrew copies, from which the Greek translation was made: "And king Ahaz said, I will seek to the gods of Damascus which have smitten me." 2 Chronicles 25:14, 2 Kings 16:12, 2 Kings 16:13

Damascus: Heb. Darmesek

Because the gods: Habakkuk 1:11

sacrifice to them: Jeremiah 10:5, Jeremiah 44:15-18

But they were: Isaiah 1:28, Jeremiah 44:20-28, Hosea 13:9

Reciprocal: Judges 10:6 - Baalim 2 Kings 16:10 - saw an altar 2 Chronicles 21:2 - Israel 2 Chronicles 29:6 - For our fathers Job 35:10 - none Proverbs 13:6 - wickedness Proverbs 27:22 - General Isaiah 2:8 - is full Isaiah 17:1 - Damascus Isaiah 57:10 - There is Ezekiel 16:28 - General Micah 1:5 - they

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him,.... As he foolishly imagined, that they might do him no more hurt; as it is said of the Indians, that they worship the devil, that he may not hurt them; but that a king of Judah should do this is monstrous stupidity; rather therefore the meaning may be, that he worshipped the gods of those that smote him, those of the men or soldiers of Damascus m see 2 Chronicles 28:5 for the Spirit of God would never ascribe the smiting of him to idols, though he himself might;

and he said, because the gods of the kings of Syria help them; which looks as if this was before Damascus was taken by the king of Assyria, and when Rezin king of Syria prevailed over Ahaz:

therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me; against the Edomites and Philistines; wherefore rather to this, his idolatry, respect is had in 2 Chronicles 28:22,

but they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel; the worship of them was the cause of all the calamities that came upon that part of Israel of which he was king.

m So Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

His adoption of the Syrian gods, Hadad, Rimmon, and others, as objects of worship, no doubt preceded the destruction of Damascus by the Assyrians 2 Kings 16:9.

Israel - i. e. “Judah;” so in 2 Chronicles 28:27. Compare 2 Chronicles 28:19.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Chronicles 28:23. He sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him — "This passage," says Mr. Hallet, "greatly surprised me; for the sacred historian himself is here represented as saying, The gods of Damascus had smitten Ahaz. But it is impossible to suppose that an inspired author could say this; for the Scripture everywhere represents the heathen idols as nothing and vanity, and as incapable of doing either good or hurt. All difficulty is avoided if we follow the old Hebrew copies, from which the Greek translation was made, Και ειπεν ὁ βασιλεις Αχαζ, εκζητησω τους Θεους Δαμασκου τους τυπτοντας με, And King Ahaz SAID, I WILL SEEK TO THE GODS OF DAMASCUS WHICH HAVE SMITTEN ME; and then it follows, both in Hebrew and Greek, He said moreover, Because the gods of the king of Syria help them; therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. Both the Syriac and Arabic give it a similar turn; and say that Ahaz sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, and said, Ye are my gods and my lords; you will I worship, and to you will I sacrifice."