2 Chronicles 28

This chapter belongs to the latter part of 2 Chronicles, which records the reigns of the kings of Judah in succession. Following the account of Jotham in 2 Chronicles 27, it covers the reign of his son Ahaz. Beginning with 2 Chronicles 29, the narrative turns to the reforms of Hezekiah. 2 Kings 16 covers the same period.

Outline

• Verses 1–4 Ahaz becomes king at the age of twenty and reigns sixteen years. He makes molten images for the Baalim and burns his children in the fire in the Valley of Hinnom.
• Verses 5–8 He is defeated by the king of Aram and the king of Israel. Pekah kills 120,000 valiant men of Judah in one day, and 200,000 are carried away captive to Samaria.
• Verses 9–15 After the prophet Oded rebukes the victors and leaders of Ephraim oppose keeping the captives, the northerners clothe and feed the captives and bring them back to Jericho.
• Verses 16–21 When Edom and the Philistines invade, Ahaz appeals to Assyria for help and hands over treasures from the temple, but this brings him no benefit.
• Verses 22–25 Ahaz sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, cuts in pieces the vessels of the temple, and shuts the doors of the temple.
• Verses 26–27 Ahaz is not brought into the sepulchres of the kings, and Hezekiah becomes king.

Key Verses

• 2 Chronicles 28:11 "Deliver the captives again": a prophetic word commanding the victors to release their brethren; this is the central scene of the chapter.
• 2 Chronicles 28:15 "Clothed all that were naked among them … and anointed them": a record of concrete care shown to captives from an enemy nation.
• 2 Chronicles 28:22 "In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD": a summary of the Chronicler's assessment of Ahaz.

People and Places

• Ahaz: King of Judah; son of Jotham and father of Hezekiah.
• Pekah: Son of Remaliah and king of the northern kingdom of Israel.
• Oded: A prophet active in Samaria. He shares his name with Oded the father of Azariah son of Oded, but the two lived far apart in time.
• Tiglath-pileser: King of Assyria.
• Places: Damascus, Samaria, Jericho (the city of palm trees), Edom, Philistia

Points for Reflection

• Second Kings 16 states that the king of Assyria answered Ahaz's request by attacking Damascus. Chronicles, by contrast, concludes that he "distressed him, but strengthened him not." The two accounts also differ regarding Ahaz's burial: Kings says he was buried with his fathers in the city of David, whereas Chronicles says he was not brought into the sepulchres of the kings.
• Verse 19 calls Ahaz, king of Judah, "king of Israel." This is understood as reflecting the Chronicler's practice of referring to Judah as Israel, the people of God.
• In verses 9–15, details such as clothing the captives, anointing them, donkeys, and Jericho parallel the Parable of the Good Samaritan. For this reason, some interpreters regard this passage as background to that parable.
• In Isaiah 7, which deals with the same period, Isaiah delivers the sign of Immanuel to Ahaz.