2 Chronicles 28:23 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ahaz turns to the gods of Damascus seeking help, which brings ruin.
The Context of 2 Chronicles 28:23
Ahaz turns to Damascus's gods seeking help, accelerating his ruin and Israel's.
What Does 2 Chronicles 28:23 Mean?
In his distress, Ahaz adopts the gods of Damascus—the very city that defeated him and carried away Judean captives. This is not merely idolatry but logical inversion: the gods of Judah's enemy are now Ahaz's hope. His reasoning is explicit: 'Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me.' He conflates military victory with divine favor, failing to see that Judah's enemies are instruments of God's judgment, not possessed of independent divine power.
The narrator's judgment is direct: these gods 'were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.' Ahaz's turn to foreign gods does not bring the hoped-for help but accelerates destruction. For all Israel means Ahaz's unfaithfulness extends beyond personal failure to national catastrophe.
2 Chronicles 28:23 in the Original Language
Damascus (דַּמֶּשֶׂק) — Ahaz imitates the very enemy that defeated him, showing the depth of his spiritual confusion.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Chronicles 28:23
What does 2 Chronicles 28:23 mean?
Ahaz turns to the gods of Damascus seeking help, which brings ruin.
What is the context of 2 Chronicles 28:23?
Ahaz turns to Damascus's gods seeking help, accelerating his ruin and Israel's.