For again the Edomites had come ,.... As in the days of Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 20:10 , and smitten Judah, and carried away captives ; taking the advantage of the weak and low condition Ahaz was in, and which was the reason of his sending to the king of Assyria. read more
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country ,.... Which lay nearest to them, as Sharon, Lydda, Joppa, &c.; in revenge of what Uzziah had done to them, 2 Chronicles 26:6 , and of the south of Judah; they penetrated as far as that, from the west to the south of the land: and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho, with the villages thereof and Timnah with the villages thereof ; of which see Joshua 15:10 . and Gimzo also, and the villages... read more
For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel ,.... Because of his impieties and idolatries, which the people by his example went into; he is called king of Israel, because he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and because he ruled over two of the tribes of Israel, and of right was king over all Israel, as David and Solomon his ancestors were; though the Vulgate Latin, Septuagint, and Syriac versions, read, king of Judah; and so the Targum: "for he made Judah naked";... read more
And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him ,.... Not to Jerusalem, but to Damascus, where he made a diversion in his favour, and took that city, and where Ahaz met him, 2 Kings 16:9 . and distressed him, but strengthened him not ; exhausted his treasures, and laid a tribute upon him, but did not help him against the Edomites and Philistines, or recover for him the cities they had taken from him; and, in taking Damascus, he served himself more than Ahaz, and paved the way for... read more
This King Ahaz: the progress of a king literally devoid of religion. In such words, the significance of which no one can mistake, is the royal person who is the chief subject of this chapter pointed to ( 2 Chronicles 28:22 ). Ahaz is the bad son of a good father. He is a type of those who begin badly, who are untaught by experience, who grow worse by suffering and adversity, and who end by maddening themselves, to their own destruction! The career of his father Jotham is written,... read more
This is that King Ahaz. I. A DEGENERATE SON . Aliaz, "Grasper" or "Possessor." In the Tigiath-Plleser inscriptions, which probably confounded him with the son of Jehoram ( 2 Chronicles 21:17 ), he is called Jehoahaz, "Whom Jehovah grasps," though the Scripture writers may have dropped the prefix "Jeho-" on account of his wickedness. 1 . He possessed his father ' s nature. Of necessity, as his father's son ( Genesis 5:3 ). Yet he improved not upon that nature, but rather... read more
An unfortunate embassy. I. THE PERSON APPROACHED . Tiglath-Pilneser ( 2 Chronicles 28:20 ), Tiglath-Pileser ( 2 Kings 16:7 ); in Assyrian, Takul-u- (Tukeal) -habal-i-sar-ra, meaning "He who puts his trust in Adar," or, "Adar is my confidence;" in the LXX . θαλγαθ - φελασσάρ ; the same person as Pal King of Assyria, to whom Menahem of Israel gave a thousand talents of silver as a bribe for aid to keep the throne he had usurped ( 2 Kings 15:17 ). Originally a... read more
The Edomites . So the work of Amaziah ( 2 Chronicles 25:11 , 2 Chronicles 25:14 ; 2 Kings 14:7 ) in reducing Edom was again undone (see also 2 Kings 16:7 , where "Edom" should be read for "Aram"). read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 28:16-27
Here is, I. The great distress which the kingdom of Ahaz was reduced to for his sin. In general, 1. The Lord brought Judah low, 2 Chron. 28:19. They had lately been very high in wealth and power; but God found means to bring them down, and make them as despicable as they had been formidable. Those that will not humble themselves under the word of God will justly be humbled by his judgments. Iniquity brings men low, Ps. 106:43. 2. Ahaz made Judah naked. As his sin debased them, so it exposed... read more