2 Chronicles 28

2 Chronicles 28:16-27

We have here, 1. Ahae’s wickedness, ver. 1—4. His distress from the kings of Syria and Israel, ver. 5—8. 3. The army of Israel expressed for suffering Judah, ver. 9—11. and the imposition it made upon them, ver. 12—15. 4. Ahae’s sufferings from the Edomian, ver. 16, 17. the Philippians, ver. 18, 19. and the Africans, ver. 20, 21. 5. The continuance of his idolatry notwithstanding, ver. 22—25. 40. His death and burial, ver. 26, 27.

1. Ahae was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the fight of the LORD, like David his father. 2. For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. 3. Moreover, he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 4. He sacrificed also, and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5. Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria, and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus: and he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.

2. AHAZ was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the fight of the LORD, like David his father. 2. For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. 3. Moreover, he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 4. He sacrificed also, and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5. Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria, and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus: and he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.

3. 1—5. Ahae, the degenerate son of a pious father, no sooner came to the crown, than he sunk into every abomination, following the ways of wicked Israel, and serving Baalim as the heathens around him: yes, so mad was he upon his idols, that he spared not his own children, but burnt them in honour of Maloch. Swift vengeance overtook him. The heirs of Syria defeated his army, plundered his country, and captivated his people; and Israel seconded the blow with a very great slaughter. Nate, They who fell themselves to work with-

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edness, shall surely receive the wages of their sin in consign suffering.

Before Christ No. 1. 6. 1 Kings 11. 12. 2. Heb. Son of a God. 3. Chap. 20.

6. 1 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. 7. And Zichri a mighty man of Ephraim slew Maaziah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king. 8. And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren, two hundred thousand women, sons and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9. But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Obed: and he went out before the hoft that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. 10. And now ye purpofe to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bond-men, and bond-women unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? 11. Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you. 12. Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Mofshillemoh, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallam, and Amafa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war: 13. And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. 14. So the armed men left the captives and the spoil, before the princes and all the congregation. 15. And the men which were expressed by name, rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and stood them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon ashes, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palms trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

7. 6—15. Wicked instruments are often made the scourges of righteous vengeance.

8. Triumphant Israel tramples down the strength of treacherous Judah. One hundred and twenty thousand men fell by the sword, and double that number of women and children are led away captive. The king’s son and his principal officers fell in the battle, and the country is ravaged and plundered. When God is departed, all our defence is gone.

9. The Lord sends a prophet to the people of Israel to rebuke the severity with which they had stained their victory. He met them on their return to Samaria, and warns them from God. The victory they had obtained was not the effect of their valour or goodness, but God’s wrath against Judah. Cruel was the slaughter they had made, and which cried to God for vengeance against them; and hard the bondage, which as an iron yoke they would lay on their brethren: but let them consider their own sins, and be confounded, and justly fear a return of greater severity on themselves. To avert which, he enjoins them instantly to rebuke their captives, else the fierce wrath of God would quickly overtake them. Nate, (1.) Cruelty to an enemy is a great crime: even in a just war much blood-guiltiness may lie at our door. (2.) They who are sensible of their own sins, will be most compassionate to the sufferings of others. (3.) Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

10. The princes struck with this divine admonition, immediately interposed with the men of war, insisted the captives should be brought no farther, warned them of the anger of God against their cruelty, and confiding how much sin already lay upon them, resolved not to add this to the measure of it, the enslaving their brethren. Overcome by the remonstrance, the men of war nobly yielded up both prisoners and spoils; and with tender care and liberal provision, the princes took care safely to carry them to Jericho, that they might thence return to their own homes. Nate, (1.) It is better to take warning long than never. (2.) The victory of self-denial, is greater than the needs of vanquished foes. (3.) They who are mighty should be merciful; this is their greatest honour.

11. At that time did king Ahae send unto the kings of Asfyria to help him. 17. For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away

Captives. 18. The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low-country, and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth-Shemeth, and Ajalon, and Gederoch, and Shocles, with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof; and they dwelt there. 19. For the LORD brought Judah low, because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed fore against the LORD. 20. And Tilgath-pilnefer king of Affyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. 21. 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, and gave it unto the king of Affyria: but he helped him not. 22. And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. 23. For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will sacrifice to them, that they may help me: but they were the ruin of him and of all Israel. 24. And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25. And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers. 26. Now the rest of his acts, and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27. And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

When a state is weakened and sinking, the means for spurns at it. Sin had left the land naked, exposed to every broader, and unable to resist. Edom and Philsus joined Syria and Israel in their ravages; the cities are taken, the inhabitants feel captive, and Ahaz reduced to deep distress. We have here:

1. The unsuccessful attempt he made to extricate himself from his difficulties. By impoverishing himself, and emperors his treasures, as well as robbing the house of God, and fencing the princes, he engaged the king of Affyria, to make a diversion in his favour, but he received no benefit from him, for his auxiliaries distressed him as much as his enemies. Note, They who forsake God, must needs be disappointed in every other confidence.

2. The aggravated wickedness of this infatuated king. Unmoved by all God’s judgments, he hardened his heart in idolatry; grew worse under these reproofs, and instead of repenting of his sins, he added to his strange gods; shut up the temple, defaced and destroyed the vessels; and instead of one altar, set up mouloses in every corner of Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the idols of Syria, as if the success of the Syrians were owing to their influence, and he hoped to be helped by them: but alas! found to his coft, that he only halted his own and his people’s ruin. This is that Ahaz, a monster of iniquity, and branded in the book of God with everlasting infancy. Note, When judgments harden, instead of humbling, the case seems very desperate.

3. God was graciously pleased to rid the kingdom of this heavy plague, and in the midst of his days cut down this wicked king. Nor would the men of Judah suffer him to lie among his godly progenitors, but cast him into a common grave, an intimation of that awful and eternal separation, that after death shall he made between the righteous and the wicked.