Bible Glide

2 Chronicles 28

2 Chronicles 28 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

2 Chronicles 28 follows King Ahaz as his rule leads Judah into deep unfaithfulness and public distress. The chapter shows both the cost of turning from the Lord and an unexpected act of mercy from Israel toward their captives. It ends with Ahaz still hardened, while Hezekiah is named as the next king.

Read in ReaderShare Passage

What happens in 2 Chronicles 28?

Ahaz becomes king of Judah but follows idols, practices cruel worship, and leads the nation away from the Lord. Judah is then defeated by Aram and by Israel, and many are killed or taken captive. The prophet Oded rebukes Israel for their violence, and the captives are treated with compassion and returned home. Ahaz later seeks help from Assyria, but it brings him no relief. In his distress, he grows more unfaithful, shuts the house of the Lord, and fills Judah with more false worship. The chapter closes with his death and Hezekiah's rise.

This chapter is part of the account of Judah's kings in 2 Chronicles. It contrasts the unfaithfulness of Ahaz with the earlier reign of Jotham and sets up the hopeful change that comes under Hezekiah in the next chapter. The writer highlights how a king's spiritual choices affect the whole nation.

Themes to notice

  • Unfaithful leadershipAhaz's choices show how a king can lead a nation into idolatry, harm, and spiritual decline.
  • Judgment and mercyJudah faces discipline for turning from the Lord, yet the captives are spared and cared for.
  • False helpAhaz turns to idols and Assyria, but neither can give the deliverance he needs.

Questions for 2 Chronicles 28

  • What does Ahaz's reign show about the effects of leadership on a whole people?
  • Why is the response of the prophet Oded and the Ephraimite leaders important in this chapter?
  • What does Ahaz's failure to find help from Assyria teach about where real trust belongs?

Read the full text of 2 Chronicles 28 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

2 Chronicles 28

Ahaz Reigns in Judah

1Ahaz 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.2Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even made cast images of the Baals.3Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.4And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Aram Defeats Judah

5So 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.6For 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.7Zichri, 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.8Then 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.9But a prophet of the LORD named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army that returned to Samaria. “Look,” he said to them, “because of His wrath against Judah, the LORD, the God of your fathers, has delivered them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.10And now you intend to reduce to slavery the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But are you not also guilty before the LORD your God?11Now therefore, listen to me and return the captives you took from your kinsmen, for the fierce anger of the LORD is upon you.”12Then some of the leaders of the Ephraimites —Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—stood in opposition to those arriving from the war.13“You must not bring the captives here,” they said, “for you are proposing to bring guilt upon us from the LORD and to add to our sins and our guilt. For our guilt is great, and fierce anger is upon Israel.”

14So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the leaders and all the assembly.15Then the men who were designated by name arose, took charge of the captives, and provided from the plunder clothing for the naked. They clothed them, gave them sandals and food and drink, anointed their wounds, and put all the feeble on donkeys. So they brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

The Idolatry of Ahaz

16At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the king of Assyria.17The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away captives.18The Philistines had also raided the cities of the foothills and the Negev of Judah, capturing and occupying Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their villages.19For the LORD humbled Judah because Ahaz king of Israel had thrown off restraint in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD.20Then Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to Ahaz but afflicted him rather than strengthening him.21Although Ahaz had taken a portion from the house of the LORD, from the royal palace, and from the princes and had presented it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

22In the time of his distress, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD.23Since Damascus had defeated him, he sacrificed to their gods and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But these gods were the downfall of Ahaz and of all Israel.24Then Ahaz gathered up the articles of the house of God, cut them into pieces, shut the doors of the house of the LORD, and set up altars of his own on every street corner in Jerusalem.25In every city of Judah he built high places to offer incense to other gods, and so he provoked the LORD, the God of his fathers.

26As for the rest of the acts of Ahaz and all his ways, from beginning to end, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.27And Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.

Keep studying

Save notes and ask about 2 Chronicles 28

Create a free account to keep highlights and notes across devices, or open Bible Glide Chat with this passage already attached.

Create Free AccountAsk About This Passage