2 Chronicles 28:23

For 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.

For he sacrificed {H2076} unto the gods {H430} of Damascus {H1834}, which smote {H5221} him: and he said {H559}, Because the gods {H430} of the kings {H4428} of Syria {H758} help {H5826} them, therefore will I sacrifice {H2076} to them, that they may help {H5826} me. But they were the ruin {H3782} of him, and of all Israel {H3478}.

by sacrificing to the gods of Dammesek, who had attacked him, reasoning, "The gods of the kings of Aram helped them, so I will sacrifice to them, and then they'll help me." But they became the ruin of him and of all Isra'el.

Since Damascus had defeated him, he sacrificed to their gods and said, โ€œBecause the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.โ€ But these gods were the downfall of Ahaz and of all Israel.

For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him; and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.

Commentary

Context

This verse describes a pivotal and tragic act of King Ahaz of Judah, whose reign (c. 735-715 BC) was marked by profound apostasy and disobedience to the Lord. Facing severe military pressure from the combined forces of Aram (Syria) and the northern kingdom of Israel (2 Chronicles 28:5-6), Ahaz had already made a disastrous decision to seek help from the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III rather than trusting in God (2 Kings 16:7-9). Having been defeated by the Syrians, Ahaz compounded his sin by embracing the very idolatry of his enemies. He believed that the gods of Damascus, which had seemingly brought victory to the Syrian kings, could also bring him success.

Key Themes

  • Idolatry and Apostasy: Ahaz's actions represent a blatant rejection of the God of Israel for foreign deities. This was not merely a lapse but a deliberate embrace of pagan worship, directly violating the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3).
  • Misguided Pragmatism: Ahaz's reasoning ("Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me") reveals a spiritually blind pragmatism. He attributed the Syrians' success to their gods, failing to recognize that Judah's defeat was a direct result of God's judgment on their unfaithfulness (2 Chronicles 28:19).
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The verse powerfully concludes with the dire outcome: "But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel." Far from helping, these false gods became a stumbling block and source of destruction, highlighting the destructive nature of turning away from the one true God.
  • Spiritual Blindness: Ahaz's inability to discern the true source of power and help, attributing divine favor to lifeless idols rather than the sovereign Lord, underscores his profound spiritual darkness.

Linguistic Insight

The KJV phrase "which smote him" uses a strong verb, indicating that the Syrian gods were perceived by Ahaz as having been instrumental in his defeat, rather than recognizing it as a consequence of his own sin and God's sovereign hand. The word "ruin" (Hebrew: ืžึดื›ึฐืฉืื•ึนืœ, mikshol) implies a stumbling block, an offense, or a cause of downfall and destruction. It emphasizes that Ahaz's idolatry did not merely fail to help but actively led to his and Israel's devastation.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a timeless warning against seeking solutions or help outside of God, especially when facing difficulties.

  • Beware of Misplaced Trust: In times of trouble, it's tempting to look to worldly methods, philosophies, or even financial gain for security, rather than relying on God. Ahaz's error was trusting in the "gods" of his oppressors.
  • Discern God's Discipline: Setbacks or defeats in life may not indicate God's weakness or absence, but rather His discipline meant to call us back to Himself (Hebrews 12:6). Like Ahaz, we must avoid attributing our struggles to external forces or false remedies.
  • The Destructive Nature of Idolatry: Whether it's the worship of literal idols or the modern "gods" of money, power, success, or self, anything that takes God's rightful place in our lives will ultimately lead to spiritual "ruin."
  • Faith Over Pragmatism: True help and lasting peace come from faithful obedience to God, not from adopting the seemingly successful but ungodly practices of the world. As the prophet Isaiah encouraged Ahaz in a similar crisis, "If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established" (Isaiah 7:9).
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 25:14

    ยถ Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up [to be] his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.

  • Isaiah 1:28

    And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners [shall be] together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

  • Hosea 13:9

    ยถ O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me [is] thine help.

  • Habakkuk 1:11

    Then shall [his] mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, [imputing] this his power unto his god.

  • Jeremiah 10:5

    They [are] upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also [is it] in them to do good.

  • Jeremiah 44:15

    ยถ Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,

  • Jeremiah 44:18

    But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all [things], and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.
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