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 sight of the LORD, like David his father:
For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
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.
burnt incense. or, offered sacrifice
the valley
2 Kings 23:10 And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom…
Jeremiah 7:31,32 And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley …
Jeremiah 19:2-6,13 And go forth to the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the …
burnt
2 Chronicles 33:6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley …
Leviticus 18:21 And you shall not let any of your seed pass through the fire to Molech, …
2 Kings 16:3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yes, and made his …
Psalm 106:37,38 Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to devils…
Jeremiah 2:34 Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: …
Jeremiah 32:35 And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of …
Ezekiel 16:20,21 Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have …
Micah 6:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands …
after the abominations
2 Chronicles 33:2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like to the …
Deuteronomy 12:31 You shall not do so to the LORD your God: for every abomination to …
He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
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.
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.
Pekah
2 Kings 15:27,37 In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son …
Isaiah 7:4,5,9 And say to him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted …
Isaiah 9:21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall …
an hundred
2 Chronicles 13:17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there …
valiant men [heb] sons of valour
because
2 Chronicles 15:2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, Hear you me, Asa, and …
Deuteronomy 6:14,15 You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which …
Deuteronomy 28:15,25 But it shall come to pass, if you will not listen to the voice of …
Deuteronomy 29:24-26 Even all nations shall say, Why has the LORD done thus to this land? …
Deuteronomy 31:16,17 And the LORD said to Moses, Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers; …
Deuteronomy 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their …
Joshua 23:16 When you have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which …
Joshua 24:20 If you forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn …
Isaiah 1:28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall …
Isaiah 24:5,6 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because …
Jeremiah 2:19 Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backslidings shall …
Jeremiah 15:6 You have forsaken me, said the LORD, you are gone backward: therefore …
And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
next to the king [heb] the second to the king
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.
But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host 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.
he went out
2 Chronicles 19:1,2 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem…
2 Chronicles 25:15,16 Why the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent …
1 Kings 20:13,22,42 And, behold, there came a prophet to Ahab king of Israel, saying, …
2 Kings 20:14,15 Then came Isaiah the prophet to king Hezekiah, and said to him, What …
Behold To this beautiful speech nothing can be added by the best comment: it is simple, humane, pious, and overwhelmingly convincing; and it is no wonder that it produced the effect here described. That there was much humanity, as well as firmness, in the heads of the children of Ephraim, who joined with the prophet of Jehovah on this occasion, their subsequent conduct, as detailed in the fifteenth verse, sufficiently proves. They did not barely dismiss these most unfortunate captives, but they took that very spoil which their victorious army had taken, and with clothed, shod, fed, and anointed these distressed people, set the feeblest of them upon asses, and escorted them safely to jericho! We can scarcely find a parallel to this in the universal history of the wars which savage man has carried on against his fellows from the foundation of the world. The compliance also of the whole army, in leaving both the captives and spoil to the disposal of the princes, was really wonderful, and perhaps unparalleled in history. Both the princes and army are worthy to be held up to the admiration and imitation of mankind.
because the Lord God
2 Chronicles 28:5 Why the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; …
Judges 3:8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold …
Psalm 69:26 For they persecute him whom you have smitten; and they talk to the …
Isaiah 10:5-7 O Assyrian, the rod of my anger, and the staff in their hand is my …
Isaiah 47:6 I was wroth with my people, I have polluted my inheritance, and given …
Jeremiah 15:17,18 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone …
Ezekiel 25:12-17 Thus said the Lord GOD; Because that Edom has dealt against the house …
Ezekiel 26:2,3 Son of man, because that Tyrus has said against Jerusalem, Aha, she …
Obadiah 1:10-16 For your violence against your brother Jacob shame shall cover you, …
Zechariah 1:15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: …
reacheth
Genesis 4:10 And he said, What have you done? the voice of your brother's blood …
Genesis 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top …
Ezra 9:6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to …
Revelation 18:5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?
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.
Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, 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,
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.
So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
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 shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
expressed by name
2 Chronicles 28:12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the …
clothed
Job 31:15-23 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion …
Isaiah 58:7 Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the …
Matthew 25:35-45 For I was an hungered, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you …
Acts 9:39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought …
1 Timothy 5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, …
James 2:15,16 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food…
1 John 3:17,18 But whoever has this world's good, and sees his brother have need, …
gave them
2 Kings 6:22 And he answered, You shall not smite them: would you smite those …
Proverbs 25:21,22 If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, …
Luke 6:27 But I say to you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Luke 8:27,35 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain …
Romans 12:20,21 Therefore if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him …
carried
Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, …
the city
Deuteronomy 34:3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of …
Judges 1:16 And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law…
At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.
did king
2 Kings 16:5-7 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel …
Isaiah 7:1-9,17 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son …
the kings Instead of malchey, `kings,' the Chaldee, Syriac, Arabic, and Vulgate, one MS., and the parallel place, have {mailech}, `king.'
For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
Philistines
Ezekiel 16:27,57 Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over you, and have …
Beth-shemesh
Joshua 15:10 And the border compassed from Baalah westward to mount Seir, and …
1 Samuel 6:9 And see, if it goes up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, …
Ajalon
2 Chronicles 11:10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin …
Aijalon
Gederoth
Joshua 15:41 And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities …
Socoh
Timnah
Judges 14:1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the …
Timnath
For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.
the Lord
Deuteronomy 28:43 The stranger that is within you shall get up above you very high; …
1 Samuel 2:7 The LORD makes poor, and makes rich: he brings low, and lifts up.
Job 40:12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down …
Psalm 106:41-43 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated …
Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.
because of Ahaz
Hosea 5:11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly …
Micah 6:16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house …
Israel
2 Chronicles 21:2 And he had brothers the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, …
made judah
Genesis 3:7,11 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were …
Exodus 32:25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made …
Revelation 3:17,18 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need …
Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps …
And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
A.M.
2 Kings 15:29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, …
2 Kings 16:7-10 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, …
Tiglath-pilsesr
1 Chronicles 5:26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, …
Hosea 5:13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went …
distressed him
2 Kings 17:5 Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went …
Isaiah 7:20 In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, …
Isaiah 30:3,16 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust …
Jeremiah 2:37 Yes, you shall go forth from him, and your hands on your head: for …
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 Assyria: but he helped him not.
And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.
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 I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
For he sacrificed This passage, says Mr. Hallet, greatly surprised me; for the sacred historian is here represented as saying, `The gods of Damascus had smitten Ahaz.' But it is impossible to suppose that an inspired author should say this for the Scripture every where represents the heathen idols as nothing and vanity, and as incapable of doing either good or hurt. All difficulty is avoided if we follow the old Hebrew copies, from which the Greek translation was made: `And king Ahaz said, I will seek to the gods of Damascus which have smitten me.'
2 Chronicles 25:14 Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter …
2 Kings 16:12,13 And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: …
Damascus [heb] Darmesek
Because the gods
Habakkuk 1:11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing …
sacrifice to them
Jeremiah 10:5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs …
Jeremiah 44:15-18 Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense to …
But they were
Isaiah 1:28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall …
Jeremiah 44:20-28 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men, and to the women, …
Hosea 13:9 O Israel, you have destroyed yourself; but in me is your help.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A.M.
2 Chronicles 21:20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned …
2 Chronicles 26:23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers …
2 Chronicles 33:20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own …
1 Samuel 2:30 Why the LORD God of Israel said, I said indeed that your house, and …
Proverbs 10:7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
the kings of Israel. Or, `the kings of Judah;' the name Israel being sometimes applied by the writer of this book, in a general way, to judah. The Hebrews were accustomed to honour the memory of those kings who had reigned well, by depositing their remains in the royal cemetery. On the contrary, those who died under the the disapprobation of the people, as a mark of posthumous disgrace, were denied interment with their predecessors, and were buried in some other place in Jerusalem. So it was with Ahaz, who, though brought into the city, was not buried in the sepulchres of the kings of Judah. It was doubtless with a design to make a suitable impression on the minds of their kings while living, that such distinctions were observed. They might thus restrain them from evil, or excite them to good, according as they were fearful of being execrated, or desirous of being honoured, when dead.
