Tyndale Open Study Notes2 Chronicles 28

After ruling together with his father Jotham, Ahaz became king on his own. He reigned for sixteen years, from 731 to 715 BC.

Ahaz even sacrificed his own sons in the fire. He was copying the terrible actions of the Canaanites (see Deuteronomy 12:31; 18:9–10; Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5; 32:35).

you have slaughtered them: Although the Lord used Israel to punish Judah, the covenant forbade enslaving and murdering fellow Israelites (2 Chronicles 28:10; Leviticus 25:39–55).

• The Chronicler shows a positive attitude toward the north by using the term kinsmen (literally brothers).

• for the fierce anger of the LORD is upon you: Later, during Ahaz's reign, the kingdom of Israel would face destruction and exile in 722 BC (2 Kings 17:5–23).

Ahaz sent for help from the king of Assyria: See 2 Kings 16:7–9 for more details.

The Edomites and the Philistines were natural enemies of Judah. These armies captured towns along the Aijalon, Sorek, and Elah valleys. These areas were in the buffer zone of the foothills of Judah or the Negev.

King Ahaz rejected the Lord by building an altar like one in Damascus (2 Kings 16:10–16) and by offering sacrifices to the gods of Damascus.

Under King Ahaz, Judah hit its lowest spiritual point, similar to being in exile.

Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, fell to Assyria in 722 BC. This happened during the twenty-first year of Ahaz’s reign in Judah (2 Kings 17:1–6). The Chronicler, who focuses on the southern kingdom, does not mention this event.