mh_parser/vol_split/14 - 2Chronicles/Chapter 28.xml

<div2 id="iiCh.xxix" n="xxix" next="iiCh.xxx" prev="iiCh.xxviii" progress="86.06%" title="Chapter XXVIII">
<h2 id="iiCh.xxix-p0.1">S E C O N D   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iiCh.xxix-p0.2">CHAP. XXVIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiCh.xxix-p1">This chapter is the history of the reign of Ahaz
the son of Jotham; a bad reign it was, and which helped to augment
the fierce anger of the Lord. We have here, I. His great
wickedness, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.1-2Chr.28.4" parsed="|2Chr|28|1|28|4" passage="2Ch 28:1-4">ver. 1-4</scripRef>. II.
The trouble he brought himself into by it, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.5-2Chr.28.8" parsed="|2Chr|28|5|28|8" passage="2Ch 28:5-8">ver. 5-8</scripRef>. III. The reproof which God sent
by a prophet to the army of Israel for trampling upon their
brethren of Judah, and the obedient ear they gave to that reproof,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.9-2Chr.28.15" parsed="|2Chr|28|9|28|15" passage="2Ch 28:9-15">ver. 9-15</scripRef>. IV. The many
calamities that followed to Ahaz and his people, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.16-2Chr.28.21" parsed="|2Chr|28|16|28|21" passage="2Ch 28:16-21">ver. 16-21</scripRef>. V. The continuance of his
idolatry notwithstanding (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.22-2Chr.28.25" parsed="|2Chr|28|22|28|25" passage="2Ch 28:22-25">ver.
22-25</scripRef>), and so his story ends, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.26-2Chr.28.27" parsed="|2Chr|28|26|28|27" passage="2Ch 28:26,27">ver. 26, 27</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iiCh.xxix-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.27" parsed="|2Chr|27|0|0|0" passage="2Ch 27" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiCh.xxix-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.27.1-2Chr.27.5" parsed="|2Chr|27|1|27|5" passage="2Ch 27:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.27.1-2Chr.27.5">
<h4 id="iiCh.xxix-p1.9">The Wickedness of Ahaz. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p1.10">b. c.</span> 738.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xxix-p2">1 Ahaz <i>was</i> twenty years old when he began
to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not
<i>that which was</i> right in the sight of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p2.1">Lord</span>, like David his father:   2 For he
walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten
images for Baalim.   3 Moreover 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p2.2">Lord</span> had cast out before the children of Israel.
  4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places,
and on the hills, and under every green tree.   5 Wherefore
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p2.3">Lord</span> 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 <i>them</i> to
Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of
Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p3">Never surely had a man greater opportunity
of doing well than Ahaz had, finding things in a good posture, the
kingdom rich and strong and religion established; and yet here we
have him in these few verses, 1. Wretchedly corrupted and
debauched. He had had a good education given him and a good example
set him: but parents cannot give grace to their children. All the
instructions he had were lost upon him: <i>He did not that which
was right in the sight of the Lord</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.1" parsed="|2Chr|28|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), nay, he did a great deal that
was wrong, a wrong to God, to his own soul, and to his people; he
walked in the way of the revolted Israelites and the devoted
Canaanites, made molten images and worshipped them, contrary to the
second commandment; nay, he made them for Baalim, contrary to the
first commandment. He forsook the temple of the Lord and sacrificed
and burnt incense on the hills, as if they would place him nearer
heaven, and under every green tree, as if they would signify the
protection and influence of heaven by their shade and dropping. To
complete his wickedness, as one perfectly divested of all natural
affection as well as religion and perfectly devoted to the service
and interest of the great enemy of mankind, he <i>burnt his
children in the fire to Moloch</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.3" parsed="|2Chr|28|3|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), not thinking it enough to
dedicate them to that infernal fiend by causing them to pass
through the fire. See what an absolute sway the prince of the power
of the air bears among the children of disobedience. 2. Wretchedly
spoiled and made a prey of. When he forsook God, and at a vast
expense put himself under the protection of false gods, God, who of
right was his God, delivered him into the hands of his enemies,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.5" parsed="|2Chr|28|5|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. (1.) The
Syrians insulted him and triumphed over him, beat him in the field
and carried away a great many of his people into captivity. (2.)
The king of Israel, though an idolater too, was made a scourge to
him, and <i>smote him with a great slaughter.</i> The people
suffered by these judgments: their blood was shed, their country
wasted, their families ruined; for when they had a good king,
though <i>they did corruptly</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.27.2" parsed="|2Chr|27|2|0|0" passage="2Ch 27:2"><i>ch.</i> xxvii. 2</scripRef>), yet then his goodness
sheltered them; but now that they had a bad one all the defence had
departed from them and an inundation of judgments broke in upon
them. Those that knew not their happiness in the foregoing reign
were taught to value it by the miseries of this reign.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCh.xxix-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.27.6-2Chr.27.15" parsed="|2Chr|27|6|27|15" passage="2Ch 27:6-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.27.6-2Chr.27.15">
<h4 id="iiCh.xxix-p3.6">The King of Israel Defeats
Ahaz. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p3.7">b. c.</span> 738.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xxix-p4">6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah a
hundred and twenty thousand in one day, <i>which were</i> all
valiant men; because they had forsaken the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p4.1">Lord</span> God of their fathers.   7 And Zichri,
a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam
the governor of the house, and Elkanah <i>that was</i> next to the
king.   8 And 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.   9 But a prophet of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p4.2">Lord</span> was there, whose name <i>was</i> Oded: and
he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto
them, Behold, because the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p4.3">Lord</span> God
of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into
your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage <i>that</i> reacheth up
unto heaven.   10 And now ye purpose to keep under the
children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you:
<i>but are there</i> not with you, even with you, sins against the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p4.4">Lord</span> your God?   11 Now hear me
therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken
captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p4.5">Lord</span> <i>is</i> upon you.   12 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 Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that
came from the war,   13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring
in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p4.6">Lord</span> <i>already,</i> ye intend to
add <i>more</i> to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass
is great, and <i>there is</i> fierce wrath against Israel.  
14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the
princes and all the congregation.   15 And 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p5">We have here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p6">I. Treacherous Judah under the rebukes of
God's providence, and they are very severe. Never was such bloody
work made among them since they were a kingdom, and by Israelites
too. Ahaz walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and the king
of Israel was the instrument God made use of for his punishment. It
is just with God to make those our plagues whom we make our
patterns or make ourselves partners with in sin. A war broke out
between Judah and Israel, in which Judah was worsted. For, 1. There
was a great slaughter of men in the field of battle. Vast numbers
(120,000 men, and valiant men too at other times) were slain
(<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.6" parsed="|2Chr|28|6|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>) and some of
the first rank, the king's son for one. He had sacrificed some of
this sons to Moloch; justly therefore is this sacrificed to the
divine vengeance. Here is another that was <i>next the king,</i>
his friend, the prime-minister of state, or perhaps next him in the
battle, so that the king himself had a narrow escape, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.7" parsed="|2Chr|28|7|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. The kingdom of Israel
was not strong at this time, and yet strong enough to bring this
great destruction upon Judah. But certainly so many men, great men,
stout men, could not have been cut off in one day if they had not
been strangely dispirited both by the consciousness of their own
guilt and by the righteous hand of God upon them. Even valiant men
were numbered <i>as sheep for the slaughter,</i> and became an easy
prey to the enemy <i>because they had forsaken the Lord God of
their fathers,</i> and he had therefore forsaken them. 2. There was
a great captivity of <i>women and children,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.8" parsed="|2Chr|28|8|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. When the army in the field was
routed, the cities, and towns, and country villages, were all
easily stripped, the inhabitants taken for slaves, and their wealth
for a prey.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p7">II. Even victorious Israel under the rebuke
of God's word for the bad principle they had gone upon in making
war with Judah and the bad use they had made of their success, and
the good effect of this rebuke. Here is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p8">1. The message which God sent them by a
prophet, who went out to meet them, not to applaud their valour or
congratulate them on their victory, though they returned laden with
spoils and triumphs, but in God's name to tell them of their faults
and warn them of the judgments of God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p9">(1.) He told them how they came by this
victory of which they were so proud. It was not because God
favoured them, or that they had merited it at his hand, but
<i>because he was wroth with Judah,</i> and made them the rod of
his indignation. <i>Not for your righteousness,</i> be it known to
you, but <i>for their wickedness</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.5" parsed="|Deut|9|5|0|0" passage="De 9:5">Deut. ix. 5</scripRef>) <i>they are broken off;</i>
therefore <i>be not you high-minded, but fear lest God also spare
not you,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.20-Rom.11.21" parsed="|Rom|11|20|11|21" passage="Ro 11:20,21">Rom. xi. 20,
21</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p10">(2.) He charged them with the abuse of the
power God had given them over their brethren. Those understand not
what victory is who think it gives them authority to do what they
will, and that the longest sword is the clearest claim to lives and
estates (<i>Jusque datum sceleri</i>—<i>might is right</i>); no,
as it is impolitic not to use a victory, so it is impious to abuse
it. The conquerors are here reproved, [1.] For the cruelty of the
slaughter they had made in the field. They had indeed <i>shed the
blood of war in war;</i> we suppose that to be lawful, but it
turned into sin to them, because they did it from a bad principle
of enmity to their brethren and after a bad manner, with a
barbarous fury, <i>a rage reaching up to heaven,</i> that is, that
cried to God for vengeance against such bloody men, that delighted
in military execution. Those that serve God's justice, if they do
it with rage and a spirit of revenge, make themselves obnoxious to
it, and forfeit the honour of acting for him; <i>for the wrath of
man worketh not the righteousness of God.</i> [2.] For the
imperious treatment they gave their prisoners. "<i>You now purpose
to keep them under,</i> to use them or sell them as slaves, though
they are your brethren and free-born Israelites." God takes notice
of what men purpose, as well as of what they say and do.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p11">(3.) He reminded them of their own sins, by
which they also were obnoxious to the wrath of God: <i>Are there
not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God?</i>
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.10" parsed="|2Chr|28|10|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. He appeals
to their own consciences, and to the notorious evidence of the
thing. "Though you are now made the instruments of correcting Judah
for sin, yet do not think that you are therefore innocent
yourselves; no, you also are guilty before God." This is intended
as a check, [1.] To their triumph in their success. "You are
sinners, and it ill becomes sinners to be proud; you have carried
the day now, but be not secure, the wheel may ere long return upon
yourselves, for, if judgment begin thus with those that have <i>the
house of God</i> among them, what shall be the end of such as
worship the calves?" [2.] To their severity towards their brethren.
"You have now got them under, but you ought to show mercy to them,
for you yourselves are undone if you do not find mercy with God. It
ill becomes sinners to be cruel. You have transgressions enough to
answer for already, and need not add this to the rest."</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p12">(4.) He commanded them to release the
prisoners, and to send them home again carefully (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.11" parsed="|2Chr|28|11|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>); "for you having
sinned, <i>the fierce wrath of God is upon you,</i> and there is no
other way of escaping it than by showing mercy."</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p13">2. The resolution of the princes thereupon
not to detain the prisoners. They <i>stood up against those that
came from the war,</i> though flushed with victory, and told them
plainly that they should not bring their captives into Samaria,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.12-2Chr.28.13" parsed="|2Chr|28|12|28|13" passage="2Ch 28:12,13"><i>v.</i> 12, 13</scripRef>. They
had sin enough already to answer for, and would have nothing done
to add to their trespass. In this they discovered an obedient
regard to the word of God by his prophet and a tender compassion
towards their brethren, which was wrought in them by the tender
mercy of God; for he regarded the affliction of this poor people,
and hears their cry, and <i>made them to be pitied of all those
that carried them captive,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.106.44 Bible:Ps.106.46" parsed="|Ps|106|44|0|0;|Ps|106|46|0|0" passage="Ps 106:44,46">Ps.
cvi. 44, 46</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p14">3. The compliance of the soldiers with the
resolutions of the princes in this matter, and the dismission of
the captives thereupon. (1.) The armed men, though being armed they
might by force have maintained their title to what they got by the
sword, acquiesced, and left their captives and the spoil to the
disposal of <i>the princes</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.14" parsed="|2Chr|28|14|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), and herein they showed more
truly heroic bravery than they did in taking them. It is a great
honour for any man to yield to the authority of reason and religion
against his interest. (2.) The princes very generously sent home
the poor captives well accommodated, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.15" parsed="|2Chr|28|15|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. Those that hope to find mercy
with God must learn hence with what tenderness to carry themselves
towards those that lie at their mercy. It is strange that these
princes, who in this instance discovered such a deference to the
word of God, and such an influence upon the people, had not so much
grace as, in obedience to the calls of God by so many prophets, to
root idolatry out of their kingdom, which, soon after this, was the
ruin of it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCh.xxix-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.27.16-2Chr.27.27" parsed="|2Chr|27|16|27|27" passage="2Ch 27:16-27" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.27.16-2Chr.27.27">
<h4 id="iiCh.xxix-p14.4">The Death of Ahaz. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p14.5">b. c.</span> 738.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xxix-p15">16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the
kings of Assyria to help him.   17 For again the Edomites had
come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.   18 The
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.   19 For the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p15.1">Lord</span>
brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah
naked, and transgressed sore against the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p15.2">Lord</span>.   20 And Tilgath-pilneser king of
Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him
not.   21 For Ahaz took away a portion <i>out</i> of the house
of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p15.3">Lord</span>, and <i>out</i> of the
house of the king, and of the princes, and gave <i>it</i> unto the
king of Assyria: but he helped him not.   22 And in the time
of his distress did he trespass yet more against the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p15.4">Lord</span>: this <i>is that</i> king Ahaz.   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,
<i>therefore</i> will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me.
But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.   24 And
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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p15.5">Lord</span>, and he made
him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.   25 And in every
several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto
other gods, and provoked to anger the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxix-p15.6">Lord</span> God of his fathers.   26 Now the rest
of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they
<i>are</i> written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
  27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in
the city, <i>even</i> in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into
the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned
in his stead.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p16">Here is, I. The great distress which the
kingdom of Ahaz was reduced to for his sin. In general, 1. <i>The
Lord brought Judah low,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.19" parsed="|2Chr|28|19|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. They had lately been very high in wealth and power;
but God found means to bring them down, and make them as despicable
as they had been formidable. Those that will not humble themselves
under the word of God will justly be humbled by his judgments.
Iniquity <i>brings men low,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.106.43" parsed="|Ps|106|43|0|0" passage="Ps 106:43">Ps.
cvi. 43</scripRef>. 2. Ahaz made Judah naked. As his sin debased
them, so it exposed them. It made them naked to their shame; for it
exposed them to contempt, as a man unclothed. It made them naked to
their danger; for it exposed them to assaults, as a man unarmed,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.32.25" parsed="|Exod|32|25|0|0" passage="Ex 32:25">Exod. xxxii. 25</scripRef>. Sin strips
men. In particular, the Edomites, to be revenged for Amaziah's
cruel treatment of them (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.12" parsed="|2Chr|25|12|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:12"><i>ch.</i>
xxv. 12</scripRef>), smote Judah, and carried off many captives,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.17" parsed="|2Chr|28|17|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. The
Philistines also insulted them, took and kept possession of several
cities and villages that lay near them (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p16.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.18" parsed="|2Chr|28|18|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), and so they were revenged for
the incursions which Uzziah had made upon them, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p16.7" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.26.6" parsed="|2Chr|26|6|0|0" passage="2Ch 26:6"><i>ch.</i> xxvi. 6</scripRef>. And, to show that it was
purely the sin of Ahaz that brought the Philistines upon his
country, in the very year that he died the prophet Isaiah foretold
the destruction of the Philistines by his son, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p16.8" osisRef="Bible:Isa.14.28-Isa.14.29" parsed="|Isa|14|28|14|29" passage="Isa 14:28,29">Isa. xiv. 28, 29</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p17">II. The addition which Ahaz made both to
the national distress and the national guilt.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p18">1. He added to the distress, by making
court to strange kings, in hopes they would relieve him. When the
Edomites and Philistines were vexatious to him, <i>he sent to the
kings of Assyria to help him</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.16" parsed="|2Chr|28|16|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>); for he found his own kingdom
weakened and made naked, and he could not put any confidence in
God, and therefore was at a vast expense to get an interest in the
king of Assyria. He pillaged the house of God, and the king's
house, and squeezed the princes for money to hire these foreign
forces into his service, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.21" parsed="|2Chr|28|21|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>. Though he had conformed to the idolatry of the
heathen nations, his neighbours, they did not value him for that,
nor love him the better, nor did his compliance, by which he lost
God, gain them, nor could he make any interest in them, but with
his money. It is often found that wicked men themselves have no
real affection for those that revolt to them, nor do they care to
do them a kindness. A degenerate branch is looked upon, on all
sides, as <i>an abominable branch,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.14.19" parsed="|Isa|14|19|0|0" passage="Isa 14:19">Isa. xiv. 19</scripRef>. But what did Ahaz get by the
king of Assyria? Why, he <i>came to him,</i> but he <i>distressed
him,</i> and <i>strengthened him not</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.20" parsed="|2Chr|28|20|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>), <i>helped him not,</i>
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.21" parsed="|2Chr|28|21|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. The forces
of the Assyrian quartered upon his country, and so impoverished and
weakened it; they grew insolent and imperious, and created him a
great deal of vexation, like a broken reed, which not only fails,
but pierces the hand.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p19">2. He added to the guilt, by making court
to strange gods, in hopes they would relieve him. In his distress,
instead of repenting of his idolatry, which he had reason enough to
see the folly of, <i>he trespassed yet more</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.22" parsed="|2Chr|28|22|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), was more mad than ever upon
his idols. A brand of infamy is here set upon him for it: <i>This
is that king Ahaz,</i> that wretched man, who was the scandal of
the house of David and the curse and plague of his generation.
Note, Those are wicked and vile indeed that are made worse by their
afflictions, instead of being made better by them, who <i>in their
distress trespass yet more,</i> have their corruptions exasperated
by that which should mollify them, and their hearts more <i>fully
set in them to do evil.</i> Let us see what his trespass was. (1.)
He abused the house of God; for he <i>cut in pieces the vessels</i>
of it, that the priests might not perform the service of the
temple, or not as it should be performed, for want of vessels; and,
at length, he <i>shut up the doors,</i> that the people might not
attend it, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.24" parsed="|2Chr|28|24|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>.
This was worse than the worst of the kings before him had done.
(2.) He confronted the altar of God, for he <i>made himself altars
in every corner of Jerusalem;</i> so that, as the prophet speaks,
they were like <i>heaps in the furrows of the fields,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Hos.12.11" parsed="|Hos|12|11|0|0" passage="Ho 12:11">Hos. xii. 11</scripRef>. And in the cities of
Judah, either by his power or by his purse, perhaps by both, he
erected high places for the people to burn incense to what idols
they pleased, as if on purpose to <i>provoke the God of his
fathers,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.25" parsed="|2Chr|28|25|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>.
(3.) He cast off God himself; for he <i>sacrificed to the gods of
Damascus</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.23" parsed="|2Chr|28|23|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>), not because he loved them, for he thought they
smote him; but because he feared them, thinking that they helped
his enemies, and that, if he could bring them into his interest,
they would help him. Foolish man! It was his own God that smote him
and strengthened the Syrians against him, not the gods of Damascus;
had he sacrificed to him, and to him only, he would have helped
him. But no marvel that men's affections and devotions are
misplaced when they mistake the author of their trouble and their
help. And what comes of it? The gods of Syria befriend Ahaz no more
than the kings of Assyria did; they were <i>the ruin of him and of
all Israel.</i> This sin provoked God to bring judgments upon them,
to cut him off in the midst of his days, when he was but thirty-six
years old; and it debauched the people so that the reformation of
the next reign could not prevail to cure them of their inclination
to idolatry, but they retained that root of bitterness till the
captivity in Babylon plucked it up.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxix-p20">The chapter concludes with the conclusion
of the reign of Ahaz, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxix-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.26-2Chr.28.27" parsed="|2Chr|28|26|28|27" passage="2Ch 28:26,27"><i>v.</i>
26, 27</scripRef>. For aught that appears, he died impenitent, and
therefore died inglorious; for he was not buried <i>in the
sepulchres of the kings.</i> Justly was he thought unworthy to be
laid among them who was so unlike them—to be buried with kings who
had used his kingly power for the destruction of the church and not
for its protection or edification.</p>
</div></div2>