2 Chronicles 28: Ahaz, the captives of Judah, and the gods of Damascus
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What happens?
Ahaz becomes king at twenty and does not do what is right like David. He makes images for the Baals, burns incense in the valley of Ben Hinnom, burns his sons in the fire, and sacrifices at the high places. Yahweh gives him into the hand of the king of Aram (Syria) and the king of Israel, and Pekah kills 120,000 in Judah in one day. The army of Israel takes 200,000 captives to Samaria. The prophet Oded tells the army to send the captives back, and some leaders of Ephraim stand against those bringing them in. The captives are clothed, fed and taken to Jericho. Ahaz sends to the kings of Assyria for help, sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, shuts the doors of Yahweh's house and makes altars and high places, and when he dies he is buried in Jerusalem, not in the tombs of the kings of Israel.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. The prophet Oded speaks to the army in verses 9 to 11, and the Ephraimite leaders speak in verse 13. In verse 23 Ahaz speaks his own words about the gods of the kings of Aram (Syria). God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn’t do that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, like David his father,
In plain English: Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in Yahweh's eyes, like David his ancestor,
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2but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and also made molten images for the Baals.
In plain English: but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and he also made molten images for the Baals.
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3Moreover he burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
In plain English: He made smoke (burned incense) in the valley of Ben Hinnom and burned his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that Yahweh drove out before the people of Israel.
Good to know: This verse says Ahaz "burned his sons in the fire". says he "made his son to pass through the fire". says of Manasseh that he "made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom". The Hebrew word here for "burned" is ba'ar, which the dictionary gives as "to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by eating)". The text does not explain the differences.
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4He sacrificed and burned incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
In plain English: He sacrificed and burned incense at the high places, on the hills and under every green tree.
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5Therefore Yahweh his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They struck him, and carried away from him a great multitude of captives, and brought them to Damascus. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter.
In plain English: So Yahweh his God gave him into the hand of the king of Aram (this Bible: Syria). They defeated him and took a large group of captives from him and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great defeat.
The Hebrew word: "Syria" is Aram in the Hebrew. The WEB prints "Syria" in 59 of the 118 verses where the word is, and "Aram" in 9. Rezin is not named in this chapter. says Rezin king of Syria and Pekah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war and "could not overcome him". This verse says Yahweh gave him into their hands. The text does not join the two.
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6For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
In plain English: Pekah the son of Remaliah killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all of them men of strength, because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.
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7Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king.
In plain English: Zichri, a warrior of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, Azrikam the officer of the house, and Elkanah, the second after the king.
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8The children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters, and also took away much plunder from them, and brought the plunder to Samaria.
In plain English: The people of Israel took captive two hundred thousand of their relatives: women, sons and daughters. They also plundered much booty from them and brought it to Samaria.
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9But a prophet of Yahweh was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria, and said to them, “Behold, because Yahweh, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage which has reached up to heaven.
In plain English: A prophet of Yahweh was there, whose name was Oded. He went out before the army that was coming to Samaria and said to them, "Look, because of the wrath of Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, towards Judah, he gave them into your hand, and you have killed them in a rage that has reached to the heavens.
Good to know: Oded speaks to the army as a prophet of Yahweh, so his words are not in gold. They say Yahweh was angry with Judah and gave them into the army's hand.
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10Now you intend to degrade the children of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. Aren’t there even with you trespasses of your own against Yahweh your God?
In plain English: And now you are saying that you will subdue the people of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. Are there not, certainly, with you yourselves, guilts against Yahweh your God?
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11Now hear me therefore, and send back the captives that you have taken captive from your brothers, for the fierce wrath of Yahweh is on you.”
In plain English: Now listen to me and send back the captives you have taken from your relatives, for the burning of Yahweh's anger is on you."
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12Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,
In plain English: Then some men of the leaders of the descendants of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Jehohanan, Berekiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum and Amasa the son of Hadlai, rose up against those who were coming from the war,
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13and said to them, “You must not bring in the captives here, for you intend that which will bring on us a trespass against Yahweh, to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.”
In plain English: and said to them, "You must not bring the captives here, for you mean to bring guilt against Yahweh on us, to add to our sins and to our guilt. For our guilt is great, and a burning of anger is on Israel."
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14So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the princes and all the assembly.
In plain English: So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the commanders and all the assembly.
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15The men who have been mentioned by name rose up and took the captives, and with the plunder clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them, gave them sandals, gave them something to eat and to drink, anointed them, carried all the feeble of them on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.
In plain English: The men who had been named rose up and took hold of the captives. From the booty they clothed all of them who were naked. They clothed them and gave them sandals, fed them, gave them drink and anointed them. They led all who stumbled on donkeys and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, beside their relatives. Then they returned to Samaria.
Good to know: "The city of palm trees" is also how names Jericho.
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16At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him.
In plain English: At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him.
Good to know: Here Ahaz sends "to the kings of Assyria", plural. says he sent messengers "to Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria", and gives his message: "I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me."
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17For again the Edomites had come and struck Judah, and carried away captives.
In plain English: For the Edomites had come again and defeated Judah and taken captives.
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18The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and also Gimzo and its villages; and they lived there.
In plain English: The Philistines had also made a raid on the cities of the lowland and of the Negev of Judah. They had captured Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its villages, Timnah and its villages, and Gimzo and its villages, and they lived there.
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19For Yahweh brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, because he acted without restraint in Judah and trespassed severely against Yahweh.
In plain English: For Yahweh had brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel (so the Hebrew says), for he had let Judah go without restraint and had acted very unfaithfully against Yahweh.
Good to know: The Hebrew says "Ahaz the king of Israel", and the WEB prints it so, although he reigned in Jerusalem over Judah. The text does not explain this. also speaks of the "kings of Israel", where Ahaz is not brought to their graves.
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20Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came to him and gave him trouble, but didn’t strengthen him.
In plain English: Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and made trouble for him, and did not strengthen him.
Good to know: The name is spelled "Tilgath-pilneser" here and "Tiglath Pileser" in . Both call him king of Assyria. says the king of Assyria listened to Ahaz and went up against Damascus; this chapter says he came against Ahaz and "didn't strengthen him".
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21For Ahaz took away a portion out of Yahweh’s house, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria; but it didn’t help him.
In plain English: For Ahaz had taken a share from Yahweh's house, from the king's house and from the officials, and given it to the king of Assyria, but it was no help to him.
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22In the time of his distress, he trespassed yet more against Yahweh, this same King Ahaz.
In plain English: In the time of his trouble he increased his unfaithfulness against Yahweh, this same King Ahaz.
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23For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him. He said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them, that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
In plain English: He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which had defeated him, and said, "Because the gods of the kings of Aram (this Bible: Syria) are helping them, I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me." But they became the ruin of him and of all Israel.
The Hebrew word: "Ruin" is word for word "his causing overthrow", the same root, kashal, as "overthrow" in . The dictionary gives it as "to totter or waver ... to falter, stumble, faint or fall".
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24Ahaz gathered together the vessels of God’s house, cut the vessels of God’s house in pieces, and shut up the doors of Yahweh’s house; and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
In plain English: Ahaz gathered the utensils of God's house and cut them in pieces. He shut the doors of Yahweh's house, and he made altars for himself at every corner in Jerusalem.
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25In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked Yahweh, the God of his fathers, to anger.
In plain English: In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and he provoked Yahweh, the God of his ancestors.
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26Now the rest of his acts, and all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
In plain English: The rest of his acts and all his ways, first and last, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
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27Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem, because they didn’t bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: Ahaz lay down with his ancestors, and people buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him to the graves of the kings of Israel. Hezekiah his son became king in his place.
Good to know: This verse says they buried him "in the city, in Jerusalem", and not in "the tombs of the kings of Israel". says he "was buried with his fathers in David's city". The text does not say if these are one place.
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