| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index
|
2
Chronicles Chapter Twenty-eight
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 28
This
chapter contains the reign of Ahaz
and gives an account of the idolatry he was
guilty of
2 Chronicles 28:1
what calamities came upon him and his people
being delivered up into the hands
of the kings of Syria and Israel
who slew many
and carried others captives
2 Chronicles 28:5
though they that were taken captive by Israel
at the admonition of a prophet
were sent back again
2 Chronicles 28:9
how also he was distressed by the Edomites and Philistines
and not helped by
the king of Assyria
he sent for and made presents to
2 Chronicles 28:16
and yet went into more and greater idolatries
2 Chronicles 28:22
and the chapter is concluded with his death and burial
2 Chronicles 28:28.
2 Chronicles
28:1 Ahaz was
twenty years old when he became king
and he reigned sixteen years in
Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord
as his father
David had done.
YLT
1A son of twenty years [is]
Ahaz in his reigning
and sixteen years he hath reigned in Jerusalem
and he
hath not done that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah
as David his father
Verses 1-4
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign
.... These
verses are much the same with 2 Kings 16:2
only
in 2 Chronicles 28:2
it is said
he made also molten images for Baalim; the several
Baals or idols of the nations round about
as well as served Jeroboam's calves;
see Judges 2:11
and he
is said in 2 Chronicles 28:3
to burn incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom; to Molech
the god of the Ammonites
who was worshipped there. See Gill on 2 Kings 16:2
2 Kings 16:3
2 Kings 16:4.
2 Chronicles
28:2 2 For
he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel
and made molded images for the
Baals.
YLT
2and walketh in the ways of
the kings of Israel
and also
molten images hath made for Baalim
2 Chronicles
28:3 3 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 the Lord had cast out
before the children of Israel.
YLT
3and himself hath made
perfume in the valley of the son of Hinnom
and burneth his sons with fire
according to the abominations of the nations that Jehovah dispossessed from the
presence of the sons of Israel
2 Chronicles
28:4 4 And
he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places
on the hills
and under
every green tree.
YLT
4and sacrificeth and maketh
perfume in high places
and on the heights
and under every green tree.
2 Chronicles 28:5 5 Therefore the Lord his God
delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him
and
carried away a great multitude of them as captives
and brought them to
Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel
who
defeated him with a great slaughter.
YLT
5And Jehovah his God giveth
him into the hand of the king of Aram
and they smite him
and take captive
from him a great captivity
and bring [them] in to Damascus
and also into the
hand of the king of Israel he hath been given
and he smiteth him -- a great
smiting.
Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king
of Syria
.... Whose name was Rezin
2 Kings 16:5
though that is an after expedition to this
which is there related. The Lord is
called the God of Ahaz
because he was so of right; he had dominion over him
and ought to have been worshipped by him; and
besides
he was so by virtue of
the national covenant between God and the people Ahaz was king of; and
moreover
Ahaz professed he was his God
though in an hypocritical manner
and
he forsook the true worship of him:
and they smote him
and carried away a great multitude of them
captives
and brought them to Damascus; whereas in a later
expedition
related in 2 Kings 16:5
they
did not succeed:
and he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel; whose name
was Pekah:
who smote him with a great slaughter; as is next
related.
2 Chronicles 28:6 6 For Pekah the son of
Remaliah killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day
all
valiant men
because they had forsaken the Lord God of their
fathers.
YLT
6And Pekah son of Remaliah
slayeth in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day (the whole [are] sons
of valour)
because of their forsaking Jehovah
God of their fathers.
For Pekah son of Remaliah
.... Who was at this time
king of Israel:
slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day
which were
all
valiant men; a great slaughter to be made at one time
and of valiant men
but not so great as that in 2 Chronicles 13:17
because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers; this was not
a reason with Pekah for slaying them
he himself being an idolater
but why the
Lord suffered them to be slain by him.
2 Chronicles 28:7 7 Zichri
a mighty man of
Ephraim
killed Maaseiah the king’s son
Azrikam the officer over the house
and Elkanah who was second to the king.
YLT
7And Zichri
a mighty one of
Ephraim
slayeth Maaseiah son of the king
and Azrikam leader of the house
and
Elkanah second to the king.
And Zichri
a mighty man of Ephraim
slew Maaseiah the king's son
.... Who
therefore must have escaped being burnt in the valley of Hinnom
or only was
caused to pass through the fire there
2 Chronicles 28:3
and Azrikam the governor of the house; steward or
treasurer in the king's house
in the same office as Sheban was
Isaiah 22:15.
and Elkanah that was next to the king: prime
minister of state.
2 Chronicles 28:8 8 And the children of Israel
carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women
sons
and
daughters; and they also took away much spoil from them
and brought the spoil
to Samaria.
YLT
8And the sons of Israel take
captive of their brethren
two hundred thousand
wives
sons and daughters
and
also much spoil they have seized from them
and they bring in the spoil to
Samaria.
And the children of Israel carried captive of their brethren two
hundred thousand women
sons and daughters
.... Which was a very
large and unusual number to be carried captive; but having made such a
slaughter of the men
and the rest being intimidated thereby
it was the more
easily done:
and took away also much spoil from them; wealth and
riches out of their cities
and even from Jerusalem; for by the preceding verse
it seems as if they came thither:
and brought the spoils to Samaria; or rather "towards
Samaria"F11לשמרון "versus
Samariam"
Piscator
Rambachius.
as some render the word; for they were
not as yet come to it
nor did they bring it and their captives thither
see 2 Chronicles 9:15.
2 Chronicles 28:9 9 But a prophet of the Lord was there
whose name was Oded; and he went out before the army that came to
Samaria
and said to them: “Look
because the Lord God of your
fathers was angry with Judah
He has delivered them into your hand; but you
have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.
YLT
9And there hath been there a
prophet of Jehovah (Oded [is] his name)
and he goeth out before the host that
hath come in to Samaria
and saith to them
`Lo
in the fury of Jehovah God of
your fathers against Judah
He hath given them into your hand
and ye slay
among them in rage -- unto the heavens it hath come;
But a prophet of the Lord was there
whose name was Oded
.... Not the
same that was in the time of Asa
2 Chronicles 15:1
and he went out before the host that came to Samaria; that was
coming thither; he went out of Samaria to meet them:
and said unto them
behold
because the Lord God of your fathers
was wroth with Judah
he hath delivered them into your hand; he let them
know it was not owing to their wisdom and conduct
their prowess and courage
that they had got the victory over them
but because the Lord was displeased
with them for their sins
and therefore gave them up into their hands:
and ye have slain them in a rage that reaches up unto heaven; that is
with
an exceeding great rage and fury
and the cry of which reached to heaven also
and was displeasing to God; he suggests to them
that they had exceeded all
bounds
and had not shown that compassion to their brethren
when fallen into
their hands
they ought to have done
and which therefore was resented by the
God of heaven
see Zechariah 1:15.
2 Chronicles 28:10 10 And now you propose to
force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be your male and female slaves; but
are you not also guilty before the Lord your God?
YLT
10and now
sons of Judah and
Jerusalem ye are saying to subdue for men-servants and for maid-servants to
you; but are there not with you causes of guilt before Jehovah your God?
And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and
Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you
.... As seemed by taking
and bringing captive such a number of them
contrary to the law
Leviticus 25:39.
but are there not with you
even with you
sins against the Lord
your God? for which they deserved to be chastised as well as their
brethren the men of Judah
and might expect it
and especially if they used
them in a barbarous manner
and contrary to the will of God.
2 Chronicles 28:11 11 Now hear me
therefore
and return the captives
whom you have taken captive from your brethren
for
the fierce wrath of the Lord
is upon you.”
YLT
11and now
hear me
and send
back the captives whom ye have taken captive of your brethren
for the heat of
the anger of Jehovah [is] upon you.'
Now hear me therefore
.... And not only hear
but be obedient:
and deliver the captives again
which ye have taken of your
brethren; their women
sons and daughters
even all of them
the whole
200
000:
for the fierce wrath of God is upon you; hangs over
your heads
and will fall upon you
unless you do this.
2 Chronicles 28:12 12 Then 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
YLT
12And certain of the heads of
the sons of Ephraim (Azariah son of Johanan
Berechiah son of Meshillemoth
and
Jehizkiah son of Shallum
and Amasa son of Hadlai)
rise up against those
coming in from the host
Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim
.... Of the
principal men of the ten tribes
whose names follow:
Azariah the son of Johanan
Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth
and
Jehizkiah the son of Shallum
and Amasa the son of Hadlai
stood up against
them that came from the war; who were bringing the captives and spoils
to Samaria; but these princes
being influenced by what the prophet said
hindered their proceeding any further.
2 Chronicles 28:13 13 and said to them
“You
shall not bring the captives here
for we already have offended the Lord. You intend to
add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great
and there is
fierce wrath against Israel.”
YLT
13and say to them
`Ye do not
bring in the captives hither
for
to guilt against Jehovah on us
ye are
saying to add unto our sin and unto our guilt? for abundant [is] the guilt we
have
and the fierceness of anger on Israel.'
And said unto them
ye shall not bring in the captives hither
.... That is
into Samaria
near which it seems they now were:
for whereas we have offended against the Lord already; by exceeding
in their cruelty against their brethren of Judah
as well as by worshipping the
calves:
ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: by making
slaves of those they had taken captives
which was against the express law of
God:
for your trespass is great; which they had committed
already
by their idolatrous practices:
and there is fierce wrath against Israel; which they
perceived by what the prophet had said.
2 Chronicles 28:14 14 So the armed men left the
captives and the spoil before the leaders and all the assembly.
YLT
14And the armed men leave the
captives and the prey before the heads and all the assembly;
So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the
princes and the congregation. Which were come out of Samaria to meet them;
such an effect had the word's of the prophet
and the princes
upon them
that
they not only left the captives with them
but the spoil
to dispose of
as
they thought fit.
2 Chronicles 28:15 15 Then the men who were
designated by name rose up and took the captives
and from the spoil they
clothed all who were naked among them
dressed them and gave them sandals
gave
them food and drink
and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride
on donkeys. So they brought them to their brethren at Jericho
the city of palm
trees. Then they returned to Samaria.
YLT
15and the men who have been
expressed by name rise and take hold on the captives
and all their naked ones
they have clothed from the spoil
yea
they clothe them
and shoe them
and
cause them to eat and drink
and anoint them
and lead them on asses
even every
feeble one
and bring them in to Jericho
the city of palms
near their
brethren
and turn back to Samaria.
And the men that were expressed by name rose up
.... Either
those before named
2 Chronicles 28:12
as Jarchi
and so the Vulgate Latin version; or such as they pitched upon
nominated
and appointed:
and took the captives
and with the spoil clothed all that were
naked among them
and arrayed them
and shod them; put clothes
on their backs
and shoes on their feet
who either were taken or carried away
before they could put on their garments
or had been stripped of them:
and gave them to eat
and drink
and anointed them; not only fed
them
being hungry and thirsty
but anointed them for refreshment after
travelling; the Targum is
"washed them"
from dirt and filth
contracted by travelling:
and carried all the feeble of them on asses; women and
children that were not able to walk afoot so far back again:
and brought them to Jericho
the city of palm trees
to their
brethren; a city on the borders both of Judah and Israel
and famous for
the number of palm trees near it
see Judges 1:16 in all
which these inhabitants of Samaria acted the part of the good Samaritan
Luke 10:33
then they returned to Samaria: the prophet
with the
princes
and the army
and the whole congregation.
2 Chronicles 28:16 16 At the same time King Ahaz
sent to the kings[a] of Assyria
to help him.
YLT
16At that time hath king Ahaz
sent unto the king of Asshur to give help to him;
At that time did King Ahaz send to the kings of Assyria to help
him. To Tiglathpileser
and his son
see 2 Kings 16:7
and
the Septuagint
Vulgate Latin
Syriac
and Arabic versions
read in the
singular
and so the Targum.
2 Chronicles 28:17 17 For again the Edomites had
come
attacked Judah
and carried away captives.
YLT
17and again the Edomites have
come
and smite in Judah
and take captive a captivity.
For again the Edomites had come
.... As in the days of
Jehoshaphat
2 Chronicles 20:10
and smitten Judah
and carried away captives; taking the
advantage of the weak and low condition Ahaz was in
and which was the reason
of his sending to the king of Assyria.
2 Chronicles 28:18 18 The Philistines also had
invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah
and had taken Beth
Shemesh
Aijalon
Gederoth
Sochoh with its villages
Timnah with its villages
and Gimzo with its villages; and they dwelt there.
YLT
18And the Philistines have
rushed against the cities of the low country
and of the south of Judah
and
capture Beth-Shemesh
and Aijalon
and Gederoth
and Shocho and its villages
and Timnah and its villages
and Gimzo and its villages
and dwell there
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country
.... Which lay
nearest to them
as Sharon
Lydda
Joppa
&c. in revenge of what Uzziah had
done to them
2 Chronicles 26:6
and of the south of Judah; they penetrated as far as that
from the west to the
south of the land:
and had taken Bethshemesh
and Ajalon
and Gederoth
and Shocho
with the villages thereof and Timnah with the villages thereof; of which see Joshua 15:10.
and Gimzo also
and the villages thereof; which though
nowhere else mentioned in Scripture
yet we frequently read in Jewish writingsF12T.
Bab. Taanith
fol. 21. 1. Sanhedrin
fol. 108. 2
&c. of Nahum
a man of
Ganizu
which perhaps is the same place with this:
and they dwelt there; kept them in their
hands
and inhabited them.
2 Chronicles 28:19 19 For the Lord brought Judah low
because of Ahaz king of Israel
for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah
and had been continually unfaithful to the Lord.
YLT
19for Jehovah hath humbled
Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel
for he made free with Judah
even to
commit a trespass against Jehovah.
For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel
.... Because
of his impieties and idolatries
which the people by his example went into; he
is called king of Israel
because he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel
and because he ruled over two of the tribes of Israel
and of right was king
over all Israel
as David and Solomon his ancestors were; though the Vulgate
Latin
Septuagint
and Syriac versions
read
king of Judah; and so the Targum:
"for he made Judah naked"; stripped them of their religion
and the
worship of God
and so of the divine protection
whereby they were exposed to
their enemies
see Exodus 32:25 the
Targum is
"for the house of Judah ceased from the worship of the
Lord;"
transgressed sore against the Lord; by committing gross
idolatry the same Targum is
"they dealt falsely with the Word of the
Lord.'
2 Chronicles 28:20 20 Also Tiglath-Pileser[b] king of
Assyria came to him and distressed him
and did not assist him.
YLT
20And Tilgath-Pilneser king
of Asshur cometh in unto him
and doth distress him
and hath not strengthened
him
And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him
.... Not to
Jerusalem
but to Damascus
where he made a diversion in his favour
and took
that city
and where Ahaz met him
2 Kings 16:9.
and distressed him
but strengthened him not; exhausted his
treasures
and laid a tribute upon him
but did not help him against the
Edomites and Philistines
or recover for him the cities they had taken from
him; and
in taking Damascus
he served himself more than Ahaz
and paved the
way for seizing upon the ten tribes.
2 Chronicles 28:21 21 For Ahaz took part of
the treasures from the house of the Lord
from the house of the
king
and from the leaders
and he gave it to the king of Assyria; but
he did not help him.
YLT
21though Ahaz hath taken a
portion [out] of the house of Jehovah
and [out] of the house of the king
and
of the princes
and giveth to the king of Asshur
yet it is no help to him.
For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord
and out
of the house of the king
and of the princes
.... A part out of the
treasures of the temple
and a part out of his own treasures
and another which
he levied upon his nobles:
and gave it unto the king of Assyria; sent it to
him as a present
to engage him on his side
and assist him against his
enemies
2 Kings 16:10.
but he helped him not; See Gill on 2 Chronicles 28:20.
2 Chronicles 28:22 22 Now in the time of his
distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord. This is
that King Ahaz.
YLT
22And in the time of his
distress -- he addeth to trespass against Jehovah
(this king Ahaz)
And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against
the Lord
.... By increasing his idolatries
as appears by what he did
in
imitation of what he saw at Damascus
where he had an interview with the king
of Assyria
2 Kings 16:10
this is that King Ahaz; that monster of
iniquity
than whom there was none worse
nor any so bad
of all the kings of
Judah.
2 Chronicles 28:23 23 For he sacrificed to the
gods of Damascus which had defeated him
saying
“Because the gods of the kings
of Syria help them
I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they
were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
YLT
23and he sacrificeth to the
gods of Damascus -- those smiting him
and saith
`Because the gods of the
kings of Aram are helping them
to them I sacrifice
and they help me
' and
they have been to him to cause him to stumble
and to all Israel.
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 DamascusF13So Junius & Tremellius
Piscator. 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.
2 Chronicles 28:24 24 So Ahaz gathered the
articles of the house of God
cut in pieces the articles of the house of God
shut up the doors of the house of the Lord
and made for himself
altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
YLT
24And Ahaz gathereth the
vessels of the house of God
and cutteth in pieces the vessels of the house of
God
and shutteth the doors of the house of Jehovah
and maketh to himself
altars in every corner in Jerusalem.
And gathered together the vessels of the house of God
and cut in
pieces the vessels of the house of God
.... And converted them
to his own use
sold them
or melted the gold and silver
of which they were
and made money of them
his treasures being exhausted:
and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord: that the
people might not come and worship there
but on the high places he made:
and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem; that the
priests might sacrifice there
and not in the temple.
2 Chronicles 28:25 25 And in every single city
of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods
and provoked to
anger the Lord
God of his fathers.
YLT
25And in every city and city
of Judah he hath made high places to make perfume to other gods
and provoketh
Jehovah
God of his fathers.
And in every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense
unto the gods
.... The gods of Damascus
and other idols; this he did to
prevent their coming to Jerusalem to worship.
2 Chronicles 28:26 26 Now the rest of his acts
and all his ways
from first to last
indeed they are written in the
book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
YLT
26And the rest of his
matters
and all his ways
the first and the last
lo
they are written on the
book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
Verse 26-27
Now the rest of his acts
.... Of these two verses;
see Gill on 2 Kings 16:19; see
Gill on 2 Kings 16:20.
2 Chronicles 28:27 27 So Ahaz rested with his
fathers
and they buried him in the city
in Jerusalem; but they did not bring
him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. Then Hezekiah his son reigned in his
place.
YLT
27And Ahaz lieth with his
fathers
and they bury him in the city
in Jerusalem
but have not brought him
in to the graves of the kings of Israel
and reign doth Hezekiah his son in his
stead.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)