The big picture
2 Chronicles 28 opens in verse 1 with “Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the…”, and closes in verse 27 with “And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Israel, Judah, king, Ahaz. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Chronicles · King James Version · 272 Chronicles 28:1-7
1–7: Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen…
2 Chronicles 28:1–7 opens with “Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but…” and reaches “And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 28 develops its own movement around LORD, Israel, Judah, king, Ahaz, with particular weight carried by LORD, burnt, Israel.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the…” Naming Hinnom and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Chronicles 28:1-7
King James Version1Ahaz 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:
2For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
3Moreover 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.
4He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
5Wherefore 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.
6For 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.
7And 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.
2 Chronicles 28:8-14
8–14: The children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two…
2 Chronicles 28:8–14 opens with “And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women…” and reaches “So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 28 develops its own movement around LORD, Israel, Judah, king, Ahaz, with particular weight carried by LORD, captives, children.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and…” Naming Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
2 Chronicles 28:8-14
King James Version8And 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.
9But 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.
10And 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?
11Now 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.
12Then 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,
13And 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.
14So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
2 Chronicles 28:15-21
15–21: The men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and…
2 Chronicles 28:15–21 opens with “And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil…” and reaches “For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD , and out of the house of the king…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 28 develops its own movement around LORD, Israel, Judah, king, Ahaz, with particular weight carried by king, Judah, Ahaz.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were…” Naming Jericho and Samaria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.” Naming Ahaz and Assyria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
2 Chronicles 28:15-21
King James Version15And 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.
16At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.
17For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.
18The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, 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.
19For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD .
20And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
21For 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.
2 Chronicles 28:22-27
22–27: In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD …
2 Chronicles 28:22–27 opens with “And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD : this is that king…” and reaches “And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 28 develops its own movement around LORD, Israel, Judah, king, Ahaz, with particular weight carried by Ahaz, gods, house.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD : this is that king Ahaz.” Naming Ahaz keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and…” Naming Ahaz keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Chronicles 28:22-27
King James Version22And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD : this is that king Ahaz.
23For 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.
24And 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.
25And 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.
26Now 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.
27And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Chronicles 28:1 begins with “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 …”
Where the chapter turns
2 Chronicles 28:12 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
2 Chronicles 28:27 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Israel, Judah, king, Ahaz, captives help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Which promise most directly answers Jacob's situation?
God will be with him, keep him and bring him back to the land in verse 15.
How does the place change for Jacob?
An ordinary stopping place becomes recognized as the setting of divine encounter.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- wherefore
- for that reason
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.