Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 28

Introduction

REIGN OF AHAZ.

Compare parallel history in 2 Kings 16:0, and notes there. Many important incidents narrated there are omitted here, but most that the chronicler records is omitted in Kings, so that the writers largely supplement each other, and give us so much the fuller history of Ahaz. The chronicler especially makes prominent the fact that notwithstanding all his reverses in war with the various nations, he sinned more and more unto the last.

In Kings we learn that Jerusalem was besieged by Rezin and Pekah, but not taken. Here, however, we learn how great were Judah’s losses in this war. The numbers of the slain and of the captives seem very large, and are regarded as corrupt by many critics. But we must remember that the purpose of this war was to annihilate the kingdom of Judah, and therefore there is no sufficient reason to reject the numbers here given as incredible.

In 2 Chronicles 28:7 we are informed that an heroic Ephraimite, named Zichri, “slew Maaseiah the king’s son.” This could hardly have been a son of Ahaz, who was only twenty years old at the beginning of his reign, (2 Chronicles 28:1,) and could not have had a son old enough to go to war at this time. It was, perhaps, a son of Jotham, or some officer of the royal court who commonly bore this title. Comp. 2 Chronicles 18:25. It is not said, however, that he was slain in battle; and it is possible that a youthful son of Ahaz might have been captured among the two hundred thousand women and children who were taken at this time, and slain because he was the king’s son. This Ephraimite seems to have been ambitious to destroy any members of the royal house, for he also slew “Azrikam the governor of the house,” probably the king’s chamberlain, like Ahishar in 1 Kings 4:6, “and Elkanah that was next to the king,” his prime minister, or chief counsellor.

The account of the release and return of the Jewish captives, (2 Chronicles 28:9-15,) is of peculiar interest. It shows that among multitudes of the northern kingdom there were not altogether wanting a reverence for the prophets, and a sympathy for the house of Judah. Why the captives were returned to Jericho, (2 Chronicles 28:15,) does not appear. Perhaps most of them had their homes in this part of the land.

The chronicler also informs us that, taking advantage of the reverses of Ahaz, the Edomites and Philistines invaded Judah from the south and southwest, carried off captives, and took possession of a number of cities in the Shephelah, or low country. 2 Chronicles 28:17-18.

Verse 23

23. He sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus This occurred during the progress of the Syrian wars, and before the fall of Damascus. Compare note on 2 Kings 16:10. Among the gods of Damascus which Ahaz worshipped were Rimmon (2 Kings 5:18) and Hadad.

Verse 24

24. Shut up… doors of the house of the Lord This, of course, suspended the temple service, and so matters remained till the first year of Hezekiah, Comp. 2 Chronicles 29:3; 2 Chronicles 29:7. Ahaz seems to have acted on the thought that the erection of altars in every corner of Jerusalem rendered the service of the temple superfluous, and so he closed its doors, put out the sacred lamps, and brought its daily service to an end. So in wickedness and idolatry Ahaz surpassed all his predecessors in Jerusalem. On account of his great wickedness he was not buried in the royal sepulchre.