2 Chronicles 28:21

KJV

For 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

For Ahaz {H271} took away a portion {H2505} out of the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, and out of the house {H1004} of the king {H4428}, and of the princes {H8269}, and gave {H5414} it unto the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}: but he helped {H5833} him not.

Complete Jewish Bible

even though Achaz had stripped the house of ADONAI and the palaces of the king and princes and had given the plunder to the king of Ashur, it didn't help him at all.

Berean Standard Bible

Although Ahaz had taken a portion from the house of the LORD, from the royal palace, and from the princes and had presented it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

American Standard Version

For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of Jehovah, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but it helped him not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Chronicles 28:21 chronicles King Ahaz's desperate and sacrilegious act of plundering the Temple, the royal palace, and the treasuries of his princes to offer tribute to King Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. This misguided attempt was a desperate plea for military intervention against the encroaching Syro-Ephraimite coalition. The verse starkly concludes with the pronouncement that the Assyrian king provided no effective assistance, thereby underscoring the futility of Ahaz's misplaced trust in human power over divine faithfulness during a profound national crisis.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the broader narrative of King Ahaz's reign (2 Chronicles 28), which is consistently portrayed as one of profound apostasy and unfaithfulness. Immediately preceding this verse, the text details the devastating attacks from the Syro-Ephraimite coalition (Aram and Israel), which inflicted heavy casualties and took many Judahite captives (e.g., [2 Chronicles 28:5-8](/2_chronicles/28-5 "2 Chronicles 28:5-8 - Syro-Ephraimite War against Judah")). Ahaz's response to this crisis, rather than seeking the Lord, was to turn to Assyria, a recurring theme in the Deuteronomistic history where kings are judged by their faithfulness. The subsequent verses (e.g., [2 Chronicles 28:22-25](/2_chronicles/28-22 "2 Chronicles 28:22-25 - Ahaz's Continued Idolatry")) further elaborate on Ahaz's descent into deeper idolatry and his continued defiance of God, even after Assyria proved unhelpful. This verse serves as a pivotal moment, illustrating the practical outworking of his faithlessness and setting the stage for the escalating spiritual decline of Judah under his rule.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Ahaz reigned in Judah from approximately 735-715 BC, a tumultuous period dominated by the rising power of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. The "Syro-Ephraimite War" (circa 734-732 BC) saw King Rezin of Aram (Syria) and King Pekah of Israel form an alliance to pressure Judah into joining their anti-Assyrian coalition. When Ahaz refused, they attacked Judah, aiming to replace him with a more compliant ruler. In the ancient Near East, it was common practice for smaller nations under threat to seek alliances with larger, more powerful empires by offering tribute, often in the form of gold, silver, and valuable commodities. The plundering of temple treasuries for such purposes, while sacrilegious from a Yahwistic perspective, was not unheard of as a desperate measure to secure political and military aid. Ahaz's appeal to Tiglath-Pileser III, the formidable Assyrian monarch, was a calculated political move, yet one that entirely bypassed reliance on the covenant God of Israel.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in 2 Chronicles. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Misplaced Trust**, showcasing Ahaz's profound failure to trust in the Lord, despite prophetic counsel (as seen in [Isaiah 7:1-17](/isaiah/7-1 "Isaiah 7:1-17 - Isaiah's Prophecy to Ahaz")). Instead, he placed his hope in human strength and foreign alliances, directly contrasting the biblical call to rely on God alone (e.g., [Psalm 20:7](/psalm/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Lord")). Secondly, it underscores the **Consequences of Unfaithfulness**, demonstrating how Ahaz's pervasive idolatry and spiritual rebellion (detailed in [2 Chronicles 28:2-4](/2_chronicles/28-2 "2 Chronicles 28:2-4 - Ahaz's Idolatry")) led to desperate and ultimately futile actions. His sacrilegious act of stripping the Temple further illustrates his spiritual bankruptcy. Finally, the verse emphasizes **Divine Sovereignty and the Futility of Human Schemes apart from God**. Despite Ahaz's significant payment, Assyria offered no lasting help, and indeed, later became a burden to Judah ([2 Chronicles 28:20](/2_chronicles/28-20 "2 Chronicles 28:20 - Assyria Becomes a Burden")). This outcome powerfully illustrates that human efforts, however grand or desperate, are ultimately ineffective when they contradict or bypass God's will and covenant faithfulness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Portion (Hebrew, _mas'et'_):** The Hebrew word מַשְׂאֵת (_mas'et_) carries a range of meanings, including "lifted offering," "tribute," "gift," or "burden." In this context, it specifically refers to a substantial tribute or payment, literally "that which is lifted up" or "brought." The choice of this word emphasizes the significant value and weight of what Ahaz extracted from the most sacred and valuable treasuries of Judah – the Temple, the royal house, and the princes’ possessions. It was a desperate offering, a heavy burden for Judah, intended to "lift up" or secure the favor of the Assyrian king.
* **Helped him not (Hebrew, _lo' 'azar lo'_):** This stark, concluding phrase utilizes the Hebrew verb עָזַר (_'azar_), meaning "to help," "to assist," or "to support," negated by לֹא (_lo'_), meaning "not." The repetition of the pronoun "him" (לוֹ, _lo'_) for emphasis underscores the complete and utter failure of Ahaz's strategy. It highlights the divine judgment or, at the very least, the absence of divine blessing on Ahaz's unfaithful actions. The help sought from Assyria was either non-existent, insufficient, or ultimately detrimental, demonstrating the futility of relying on human power when God's favor has been forfeited.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For Ahaz took away a portion [out] of the house of the LORD":** This clause reveals Ahaz's profound sacrilege. The "house of the LORD" refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, the sacred dwelling place of God's presence and the center of Israelite worship. Taking a "portion" from its treasury, likely gold, silver, and valuable vessels, was an act of extreme desperation and a blatant disregard for the sanctity of God's sanctuary. It signifies Ahaz's willingness to compromise divine principles for perceived political expediency, demonstrating his spiritual bankruptcy and lack of faith.
* **"and [out] of the house of the king, and of the princes":** In addition to the Temple, Ahaz also plundered the royal treasury and the personal wealth of the leading officials and nobles of Judah. This indicates the massive scale of the tribute he sought to gather, highlighting the immense pressure he felt and the extent of the resources he was willing to sacrifice. It also shows a complete consolidation of power and resources under Ahaz's desperate command, stripping the nation's wealth from all levels of its leadership.
* **"and gave [it] unto the king of Assyria":** This clause explicitly states the recipient of the tribute: Tiglath-Pileser III, the powerful ruler of the Assyrian Empire. Ahaz's intention was to "buy" military aid and protection from Assyria against the Syro-Ephraimite threat. This act was a formal submission, acknowledging Assyria's suzerainty and seeking its intervention as a vassal state, rather than trusting in the covenant God of Israel for deliverance.
* **"but he helped him not":** This concluding phrase delivers the crushing verdict on Ahaz's strategy. Despite the enormous cost and sacrilegious nature of the tribute, the king of Assyria provided no effective or lasting help. While Assyria did eventually intervene against Aram and Israel, this intervention did not ultimately alleviate Judah's troubles, and in fact, led to Assyria becoming a burden and a source of further oppression (as noted in [2 Chronicles 28:20](/2_chronicles/28-20 "2 Chronicles 28:20 - Assyria Becomes a Burden")). This outcome serves as a powerful theological statement, demonstrating the futility of human alliances when trust in God is abandoned, and implicitly, God's judgment on Ahaz's unfaithfulness.

#### Literary Devices
The Chronicler employs several potent literary devices in 2 Chronicles 28:21. The most prominent is **Irony**: Ahaz sacrifices the sacred and the substantial, hoping for salvation from a powerful human king, only to find that "he helped him not." This creates a sharp contrast between Ahaz's desperate efforts and their utterly fruitless outcome. There is also a strong element of **Contrast** between Ahaz's actions and the expected behavior of a faithful king who would rely on the Lord. His plundering of the Temple directly contrasts with the actions of faithful kings who enriched or restored it. The phrase "but he helped him not" functions as a concise **Climax** and **Anti-climax**, building up to the expectation of aid, only to deliver a stark negation. This succinct declaration also serves as a form of **Divine Commentary**, subtly revealing God's hand in withholding the very help Ahaz so desperately sought from an ungodly source, thereby validating the consequences of his unfaithfulness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Second Chronicles 28:21 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of divine sovereignty and the consequences of misplaced trust. Ahaz's desperate act of stripping the Temple and national treasuries to appease a foreign power is a stark illustration of human futility when operating outside of God's will and covenant. It underscores the biblical principle that true security and deliverance come from God alone, not from the might of nations or the accumulation of wealth. The failure of the Assyrian king to provide effective help serves as a divine commentary, demonstrating that God is not obligated to bless or validate human schemes that disregard His authority and faithfulness. This episode reinforces the Chronicler's consistent message: faithfulness to God leads to blessing and security, while unfaithfulness leads to disaster and disappointment, even when human efforts seem strategically sound.

* [Psalm 20:7](/psalm/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Lord, not in chariots")
* [Jeremiah 17:5](/jeremiah/17-5 "Jeremiah 17:5 - Cursed is the one who trusts in man")
* [Isaiah 31:1](/isaiah/31-1 "Isaiah 31:1 - Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of Ahaz in 2 Chronicles 28:21 offers a powerful and timeless lesson for believers navigating their own crises. In moments of overwhelming pressure, when circumstances seem dire and human solutions appear most expedient, where do we instinctively turn? Do we, like Ahaz, compromise our spiritual convictions, sacrifice what is sacred, or forge alliances that contradict our faith, hoping for a worldly rescue? Or do we, even when the path is unclear and the odds seem stacked against us, turn wholeheartedly to the Lord, trusting in His sovereign power and unfailing faithfulness? This verse challenges us to examine our priorities, reminding us that true security is found not in accumulating resources or currying favor with powerful entities, but in steadfast reliance on God's promises. It calls us to cultivate a radical trust in God, even when it means resisting the seemingly logical or easier path, knowing that His help is the only help that truly delivers and endures.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to place your trust in human solutions or resources rather than in God?**
* **What "sacred portions" (time, values, integrity) might you be tempted to compromise in pursuit of perceived security or relief from pressure?**
* **How does the outcome of Ahaz's actions encourage you to deepen your reliance on God in times of crisis?**
* **What practical steps can you take this week to intentionally seek God's help and wisdom before pursuing human solutions to your challenges?**

### FAQ
**Why did Ahaz turn to Assyria instead of God, especially given Judah's history?**

Answer: Ahaz's decision to turn to Assyria, despite Judah's rich history of divine deliverance and prophetic warnings against foreign alliances, stemmed from a profound lack of faith and deep-seated apostasy. His reign was marked by widespread idolatry and a deliberate turning away from the Lord, as detailed in [2 Chronicles 28:2-4](/2_chronicles/28-2 "2 Chronicles 28:2-4 - Ahaz's Idolatry"). Faced with the immediate and severe threat of the Syro-Ephraimite coalition, Ahaz prioritized political expediency and military might over divine counsel. Prophets like Isaiah explicitly urged him to trust the Lord and remain quiet (e.g., [Isaiah 7:4](/isaiah/7-4 "Isaiah 7:4 - Isaiah's Counsel to Ahaz")), even offering a sign (e.g., [Isaiah 7:11](/isaiah/7-11 "Isaiah 7:11 - Ask for a Sign")). However, Ahaz refused, demonstrating his hardened heart and preference for human solutions. His actions reflect a common human tendency to rely on tangible power and visible alliances rather than the unseen, yet omnipotent, hand of God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic account of King Ahaz in 2 Chronicles 28:21, marked by his desperate and futile reliance on Assyria, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and perfect King who would indeed provide true deliverance. Ahaz's sacrilegious plundering of the Temple to buy human aid contrasts sharply with Christ, who did not take from the Temple but *became* the Temple, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice to secure eternal salvation. Where Ahaz's "portion" was a futile human tribute, Christ's sacrifice on the cross was the perfect, once-for-all offering that truly "helped" humanity, reconciling us to God ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). Ahaz sought a temporary, earthly king for military protection that ultimately failed; in contrast, Jesus is the [King of kings and Lord of lords](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - Jesus, King of Kings"), whose kingdom is eternal and whose help is always sufficient ([Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God will supply all your needs")). The futility of Ahaz's human alliance points to the absolute necessity and sufficiency of Christ as our deliverer, the one who truly takes away the sin of the world and offers lasting peace and security ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 16:8

And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent [it for] a present to the king of Assyria.

2 Kings 16:9

And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried [the people of] it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.

2 Chronicles 12:9

So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

2 Kings 18:15

And Hezekiah gave [him] all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.

2 Kings 18:16

At that time did Hezekiah cut off [the gold from] the doors of the temple of the LORD, and [from] the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

Proverbs 20:25

¶ [It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry.