Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Chronicles 28

2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim .

To worship his Baalim or false gods in and by them.

5 Wherefore 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.

God was his God, though not by Covenant, and Grace, and special Relation, which Ahaz had renounced, yet by his Soveraign Dominion over him: For God did not forfeit his Right by Ahaz his denying it.

Marginal references: Heb. Darmesek.

9 But 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 .

i. e. In a most high and fierce manner. An usual Hyperbole, withal signifying that their Rage did cry aloud and was heard to heaven from whence it would pull down Vengeance upon them.

Marginal references: Psal. 69. 26. Isa. 10. 5. & 47. 6. Ezek. 2. 12, 15. & 26. 2. Obad. 10. &c. Zech. 1. 15.

10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bond-men, and bond-women unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God ?

Which, if not repented of, may bring down the like Vengeance upon your own Heads.

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 arraied 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.

Which were appointed to take care about the Management of this Business.

Marginal references: Deut. 34. 3. Judg. 1. 16.

16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

i. e. The King: The Plural Number for the Singular; Either 1. Because he was a Great King and a King of Kings; as the Elephant, or, as others think, the Crocodile, is called Behemoth, which signifies Beasts, Iob 40. because of his vast Bulk and Eminency above other Beasts. Or, 2. Because he wrote to divers of the Kings or great Princes, who may be called Kings in a more general signification of the Word, and indeed are so called, Isa. 10. 8. Are not my Princes altogether Kings?

18 The Philistins 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 Socho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

That part of Judah which was towards the Sea and towards the Philistins Land.

Of which see Ios. 15. 21.

Marginal references: Ezek. 16. 57.; Heb. daughters.; Heb. daughters.

19 For the LORD brought Judah low, because of Ahaz king of Israel: for he made Judah naked , and transgressed fore against the LORD.

Taking away their Ornament and their Defence and Strength, to wit, their Treasures, which he sent to the Assyrian to no purpose; their Frontier Towns and other strong Holds, which by his Folly and Wickedness were lost; their Religion and the Divine Protection, which was their great and onely firm Security, which by his Sins he forfeited. See the Notes on Exod. 32. 25.

Marginal references: Exod. 32. [illegible: 1+ letters]5

20 And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him , but strengthened him not .

Or, straitned him, by robbing him of his Treasures.

A most Emphatical Expression: for though he weakned his present Enemy the Syrian, as is related, 2 King. 16. 9. yet really and all things considered he did not strengthen Ahaz and his Kingdom, but rather weaken them; for by the removing the Syrian, who, though a Troublesom Neighbour, was a kind of Bulwark to him as to many other Enemies, he smoothed the way for himself a far more Dangerous and Mischievous Enemy, as appears by his Invasion of Judah in the very next Kings Reign.

Marginal references: 2 Kin. 25. 2[illegible: 1+ letters]

21 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 .

A most Emphatical Expression: for though he weakned his present Enemy the Syrian, as is related, 2 King. 16. 9. yet really and all things considered he did not strengthen Ahaz and his Kingdom, but rather weaken them; for by the removing the Syrian, who, though a Troublesom Neighbour, was a kind of Bulwark to him as to many other Enemies, he smoothed the way for himself a far more Dangerous and Mischievous Enemy, as appears by his Invasion of Judah in the very next Kings Reign.

22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD. This is that king Ahaz .

That Monster and Reproach of Mankind, that unteachable and incorrigible Prince, whom even grievous Afflictions made worse, which commonly make Men better. This is he whose name deserves to be remembred and detested for ever. Or, King Ahaz was the same, no Changeling, not a whit better by all the Methods which God used with him.

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 ruine of him and of all Israel.

Or, which had smitten him formerly, i. e. had enabled their Worshippers, the Syrians, to smite him, as he fondly imagined: which yet he saw confuted, having now found by experience that they could not save them from the Assy[illegible: 1+ letters]ian Power.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] ▪