2 Chronicles 28:23 ASV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Chronicles 28:23

2 Chronicles 28:23. He sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus that smote him Or, which had smitten him formerly; that is, had enabled their worshippers, the Syrians, as he foolishly imagined, to smite him. He sacrificed to them, therefore, not because he loved them, but because he feared them, thinking they had helped his enemies, and hoping, if he could bring them over to his interest, they would help him. “O blind superstition!” exclaims Bishop Hall, “how did the gods of Syria help their... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 28:1-27

Prosperity followed by disaster (25:1-28:27)Succeeding kings of Israel are passed over in silence (2 Kings 13:1-25). Judah was to have nothing to do with the northern kingdom, not even to the hiring of Israelite soldiers. Amaziah took the advice, and was rewarded with victory in a battle against Edom. But the victory, instead of increasing his dependence on God, gave him a feeling of independence. He turned from God and worshipped idols. The ungodly northern kingdom then became God’s instrument... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Chronicles 28:23

which smote him: i.e. which [as he believed] smote him. help them. So he falsely reasoned. the ruin of him. As the idolatry of the Edomites ruined Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:14 , 2 Chronicles 25:15 ). read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Chronicles 28:23

2 Chronicles 28:23. Because the gods of the kings of Syria, &c.— "O blind superstition!" exclaims Bishop Hall upon this folly of Ahaz. "How did the gods of Syria help their kings, when both those kings and their gods were vanquished and taken by the king of Assyria? Even this Damascus, and this altar, were the spoil of a foreign enemy. How then did the gods of Syria help their kings, otherwise than to their ruin? What dotage is this, to make choice of a foiled protection! But had the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Chronicles 28:1-27

L. Ahaz ch. 28With the reign of Ahaz the Chronicler introduced a new interest, namely, the prospect of captivity for Judah, which he again called "Israel"-the true Israel-twice in this chapter (2 Chronicles 28:19; 2 Chronicles 28:23).Why did Israel go into captivity? Why did the perfectly obedient Davidic King not appear? Ahaz’s behavior helps explain the reason. The writer selected three major events from Ahaz’s reign: the king’s idolatry (2 Chronicles 28:2-15), his appeal for help to Assyria... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 28:1-27

The Reign of AhazThis chapter recounts how the idolatry of Ahaz was punished by the attacks of Syria and Israel; how the captives taken by the Israelites were restored; and how Ahaz in his distress appealed to Assyria.This chapter corresponds to 2 Kings 16, but it omits many facts related there, whilst expanding the account of the war with Israel.5. The king of Syria] i.e. Rezin, who, with Pekah of Israel, wished to depose Ahaz: see Isaiah 7.7. Maaseiah, the king’s son] perhaps a son of Jotham... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Chronicles 28:23

(23) For (and) he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus.—The statement of this verse is peculiar to the Chronicle; and the same may be said of the next also. Both here and in the preceding account of the relations of Ahaz to Tiglath-pileser, the writer appears to have drawn upon another source than the book of Kings.Damascus may, perhaps, be put for the Damascenes, though in that case Aram would have been more natural. (Not “at Damascus,” as Thenius renders.)Which smote him.—Did the chronicler... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 28:1-27

THE WICKED KINGS2 Chronicles 28:1-27, Etc.THE type of the wicked king is not worked out with any fullness in Chronicles. There are wicked kings, but no one is raised to the "bad eminence" of an evil counterpart to David; there is no anti-David, so to speak, no prototype of antichrist. The story of Ahaz, for instance, is not given at the same length and with the same wealth of detail as that of David. The subject was not so congenial to the kindly heart of the chronicler. He was not imbued with... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 2 Chronicles 28:1-27

CHAPTER 28 The Reign of Ahaz 1. The record of his reign (2 Chronicles 28:1-4 ) 2. The punishment of Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:5-8 ) 3. The message of Oded and its results (2 Chronicles 28:9-15 ) 4. Further punishments of Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:16-25 ) 5. Death of Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:26-27 ) On Ahaz his wicked reign and apostasy, as well as the war with Syria and the invasion of Judah by Israel, see our annotations on 2 Kings 16:0 . It was at that time that Isaiah ministered in Judah... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Chronicles 28:23

28:23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which {o} smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, [therefore] will I sacrifice to them, that they may {p} help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.(o) As he falsely supposed.(p) Thus the wicked measure God’s favour by prosperity and adversity: for if idolaters prosper, they make their idols gods, not considering that God often punishes them whom he loves and gives his enemies good success for a... read more