2 Chronicles 28:1-8

How does Ahaz’s conduct bring Judah into a new crisis?

Berean Standard Bible

1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD. 2 Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even made cast images of the Baals. 3 Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 4 And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. 5 So the LORD his God delivered Ahaz into the hand of the king of Aram, who attacked him and took many captives to Damascus. Ahaz was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force. 6 For in one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 valiant men in Judah. This happened because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. 7 Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the son of the king, Azrikam the governor of the palace, and Elkanah the second to the king. 8 Then the Israelites took 200,000 captives from their kinsmen—women, sons, and daughters. They also carried off a great deal of plunder and brought it to Samaria.

What is the context?

Unlike David, Ahaz does not do right before the Lord. The account names Baal images, offerings at high places, and the sacrifice of his sons in fire as grave unfaithfulness.

Aram and Israel defeat Judah, killing many and carrying captives and plunder away. The narrator connects the disaster with forsaking the Lord.

The captives include women and children taken by their own kinsmen. The following prophetic confrontation will show that Judah’s guilt does not give Israel unlimited moral permission in victory.

How is this passage commonly understood?

2 Kings 16:1–6 also records Ahaz’s wrong course and the northern threats. Wesley relates Judah’s defeat to the king’s chosen pattern. The account explicitly condemns the child sacrifice; its description should not be softened into a harmless ceremony or used to identify every later disaster as punishment for the same act.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

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