2 Chronicles 28:1
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that Ahaz, despite inheriting a kingdom and a lineage tied to King David, actively chose not to follow the Lord. It's not just a statement of his failure, but a stark reminder that faithfulness is a personal, ongoing decision, not an automatic inheritance.
Ahaz has just been presented as king of Judah, taking over from his father. The narrative immediately points out his tragic failure: unlike his righteous ancestor David, Ahaz turns away from God and leads his people into deep spiritual compromise, setting the stage for the terrible judgments that will soon fall upon his kingdom.
King Ahaz inherited a legacy of faith, but his reign took a drastically different path. What caused this divergence?
Ahaz's story is a stark reminder that we don't automatically inherit the faith of our ancestors. Despite being the son of a righteous king (Jotham) and the grandson of the mighty Uzziah, Ahaz actively turned away from God.
A Deliberate Rejection
The verse states plainly that he 'did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD.' This wasn't a passive drift; it was an active choice. He followed the path of the kings of Israel, who had largely abandoned God, rather than the path of his own faithful father, David (and by extension, his father Jotham).
The High Cost of Neglect
This rejection led to disastrous consequences for Judah, as we see later in the chapter. When leaders turn from God, the whole community suffers. Ahaz's reign became a period of deep spiritual and political decline.
The Bible judges kings by a specific standard. What does it mean to 'do what was right in the eyes of the LORD'?
The phrase 'did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD' is a recurring theme in the books of Kings and Chronicles. It's the ultimate measure of a ruler's success and integrity.
More Than Just Rules
It's not just about following a set of religious rules, though that's part of it. It's about a posture of the heart: seeking God, trusting Him, obeying His commands, and leading the people in that same direction.
The Davidic Standard
By contrasting Ahaz with 'his father David,' the text points to a specific legacy. David, despite his flaws, was known as a 'man after God's own heart' (1 Samuel 13:14). He repeatedly turned back to God in repentance and sought to establish worship centered on Him. Ahaz failed to uphold this standard of seeking and obeying God.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
A descriptive term referring to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, indicating His standard of moral and ethical perfection as the ultimate judge of human behavior.
Ahaz's reign stands in stark contrast to the spiritual heritage of his grandfather Uzziah and father Jotham, and even more so to the faithful reforms of his son Hezekiah, highlighting a critical moment of national spiritual decline and its devastating consequences.
c. 740 BC
Reign of Uzziah ends
King Uzziah, Ahaz's grandfather, was a long-reigning and initially successful king who led Judah into a golden age. However, he later overstepped his authority by attempting to offer incense in the Temple, an act reserved for priests, resulting in his leprosy and a divided kingdom.
c. 740-735 BC
Reign of Jotham
Uzziah's son Jotham ruled as regent and then king. While generally seen as a righteous ruler who followed the LORD, his reign was marked by military challenges and the growing influence of the Aramean and Israelite kingdoms to the north.
c. 735-715 BC— this verse
Reign of Ahaz
Ahaz, Jotham's son, became king at twenty years old. His reign is characterized by deep spiritual corruption, turning to foreign gods and engaging in child sacrifice, leading to severe military defeats and national distress.
c. 734 BC
Syro-Ephraimitic War begins
The kings of Aram (Syria) and Israel (Northern Kingdom) formed an alliance to attack Judah, likely intending to replace Ahaz with a pro-Syrian king. Ahaz's refusal to join their anti-Assyrian coalition led to their invasion.
This passage provides a parallel account of Ahaz's reign, highlighting his wicked actions, including sacrificing his children and worshiping idols, which directly contrasts with doing what is right in the Lord's eyes.
Judges 2:11-19This section describes a recurring cycle in Israel's history where the people turn to wickedness after the death of righteous leaders, leading to God's discipline, mirroring Ahaz's failure to follow the Lord's ways.
Psalm 78:56-58This psalm laments Israel's persistent unfaithfulness and their tendency to provoke God to anger through their actions, which strongly echoes the spirit of Ahaz's reign and his disregard for the Lord.
Jeremiah 2:8The prophets frequently criticized the kings and people for turning away from God to worthless idols, a condemnation that clearly applies to Ahaz who 'did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD'.
The verse highlights that Ahaz, despite inheriting a kingdom and a lineage tied to King David, actively chose not to follow the Lord. It's not just a statement of his failure, but a stark reminder that faithfulness is a personal, ongoing decision, not an automatic inheritance.
Ahaz has just been presented as king of Judah, taking over from his father. The narrative immediately points out his tragic failure: unlike his righteous ancestor David, Ahaz turns away from God and leads his people into deep spiritual compromise, setting the stage for the terrible judgments that will soon fall upon his kingdom.
Ahaz has just been presented as king of Judah, taking over from his father. The narrative immediately points out his tragic failure: unlike his righteous ancestor David, Ahaz turns away from God and leads his people into deep spiritual compromise, setting the stage for the terrible judgments that will soon fall upon his kingdom.
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c. 732 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Syria and Israel
In response to appeals from Judah, Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria conquered Aram and invaded the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many Israelites. This removed the immediate threat from the north but made Judah a vassal of Assyria.
c. 715 BC
Hezekiah begins his reign
Ahaz's son, Hezekiah, succeeded him. Hezekiah is renowned as one of Judah's most faithful kings, initiating significant religious reforms and famously trusting the LORD during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem.
"Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done," — The verse highlights that Ahaz, despite inheriting a kingdom and a lineage tied to King David, actively chose not to follow the Lord. It's not just a statement of his failure, but a stark reminder…
