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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)