📖 2 Chronicles — Chapter 28 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Chronicles 28:1 RAhaz 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:
2 Chronicles 28:2 RFor he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
2 Chronicles 28:3 Moreover he burnt incense in Rthe valley of the son of Hinnom, and Tburnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
2 Chronicles 28:4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
2 Chronicles 28:5 Wherefore the LORD Rhis 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 TDamascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
2 Chronicles 28:6 For RPekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all Tvaliant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.
2 Chronicles 28:7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was RTnext to the king.
2 Chronicles 28:8 And the children of Israel Rcarried 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.
2 Chronicles 28:9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and Rhe 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.
2 Chronicles 28:10 And now ye purpose to Rkeep 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?
2 Chronicles 28:11 Now hear me therefore, and Rdeliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.
2 Chronicles 28:12 Then certain of Rthe 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,
2 Chronicles 28:13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to Radd more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
2 Chronicles 28:14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
2 Chronicles 28:15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil Rclothed 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.
2 Chronicles 28:16 At that time Rdid king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.
2 Chronicles 28:17 For again Rthe Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away Tcaptives.
2 Chronicles 28:18 The RPhilistines 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.
2 Chronicles 28:19 For the LORD brought Judah low Rbecause of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.
2 Chronicles 28:20 And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and Rdistressed him, but strengthened him not.
2 Chronicles 28:21 For Ahaz Rtook 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 And Rin the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.
2 Chronicles 28:23 RFor he sacrificed unto the gods of TDamascus, 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.
2 Chronicles 28:24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and Rcut 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.
2 Chronicles 28:25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places Tto Rburn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.
2 Chronicles 28:26 Now Rthe 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.
2 Chronicles 28:27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but Rthey brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Chronicles 28:1–8 — Ahaz leads Judah into wrongdoing
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Ahaz adopts idolatrous worship, including burning his children, and Judah suffers severe defeat and captivity. The narrator connects this national disaster with forsaking the LORD. His account condemns harmful religious practices and shows the reach of a ruler's choices into ordinary households. Worship that injures children is treated as abomination.
Key Truth: Faithfulness must never be confused with practices that harm the vulnerable.
Check What You Remember
1. Who was the king described here? (2 Chronicles 28:1)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 28:1 (KJV).
2. For which gods did he make molten images? (2 Chronicles 28:2)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 28:2 (KJV).
3. To which city were the captives and spoil taken? (2 Chronicles 28:8)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 28:8 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Chronicles 28:9–15 — A rebuke leads to compassionate action
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Oded warns Israel against enslaving their brethren and reminds them of their own sins. Leaders respond, and the captives are clothed, fed, treated, and transported when weak. The passage moves from rebuke to concrete mercy. Recognizing wrongdoing should change how vulnerable people are treated, not remain only a verbal acknowledgment.
Key Truth: Repentance can become practical care for those harmed.
Check What You Remember
1. Which prophet rebuked the returning army? (2 Chronicles 28:9)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 28:9 (KJV).
2. Were the captives to be returned? (2 Chronicles 28:11)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 28:11 (KJV).
3. To which city were they brought to their brethren? (2 Chronicles 28:15)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 28:15 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Chronicles 28:16–27 — Distress without repentance
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Ahaz seeks Assyria's help, but it brings distress rather than strength. He turns further into false worship, destroys temple vessels, and shuts the temple doors. His response to trouble deepens the problem instead of bringing him back to God. Hezekiah succeeds him, opening the possibility of another direction.
Key Truth: Let distress prompt turning to God rather than deeper wrongdoing.
Check What You Remember
1. Which empire did Ahaz seek for help? (2 Chronicles 28:16)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 28:16 (KJV).
2. What did Ahaz do to the temple doors? (2 Chronicles 28:24)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 28:24 (KJV).
3. Who succeeded Ahaz? (2 Chronicles 28:27)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 28:27 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Isaiah 1:17 — Isaiah calls for justice and protection of those vulnerable to harm.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What practical act of mercy could follow an honest acknowledgment of wrong?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Why does Oded oppose enslaving the captives despite Judah’s defeat?
2. How do the named men care for the released captives?
3. How does the Assyrian king’s response contrast with Ahaz’s payment?
4. What false reasoning leads Ahaz to sacrifice to Damascus’s gods?
5. How does distress affect Ahaz’s conduct?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
Loading your notes…
Chapter Navigation
Go to passage
← 2 Chronicles 27 | 2 Chronicles Contents | 2 Chronicles 29 →