2 Chronicles 28:3
and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that King Ahaz didn't just borrow pagan practices; he performed them, even the horrific act of child sacrifice, directly within Jerusalem's "Valley of the Son of Hinnom." This wasn't just a distant, abstract sin, but a tangible, localized defiance of God, deliberately mirroring the very nations God had driven out to make way for His people. It shows a shocking embrace of the enemy's deepest corruptions.
This passage is describing the wicked reign of King Ahaz of Judah. Just before this, it details how the Edomites and Philistines had attacked Judah and captured many people and plunder. Ahaz, instead of turning to God for help and repentance, doubled down on his idolatrous practices, even sacrificing his own sons, mirroring the detestable acts of the surrounding pagan nations that God had commanded Israel to eradicate.
Imagine a king who would do the unthinkable, sacrificing his own children to appease false gods. This wasn't just a bad decision; it was a profound spiritual betrayal.
The Depth of Spiritual Corruption
King Ahaz's actions in 2 Chronicles 28:3 are chilling. He didn't just offer animals; he burned his own sons as an offering.
This act represents the absolute nadir of spiritual corruption:
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This specific location, the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, became a horrifying symbol. What made this place so infamous?
A Place of Abomination
The "Valley of the Son of Hinnom" (Gehenna in later times) was not just any valley; it was a place tainted by horrific idolatrous practices.
Understand the original words
to'ebah · Hebrew Noun
Used in the Old Testament to describe acts, practices, or objects that are morally detestable, morally repulsive, or spiritually corrupt, particularly those associated with idolatry and pagan worship.
Ben Hinnom · Hebrew Noun
Specifically refers to the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna), a site south of Jerusalem associated with child sacrifice during the reigns of wicked kings; it eventually became a metaphor for the place of final judgment and hell.
This verse captures King Ahaz of Judah engaging in the most horrific pagan practices. These were the very abominations the Canaanite nations committed, which God had commanded Israel to eradicate upon entering the land, highlighting a profound betrayal of God's covenant.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God delivers Israel from slavery in Egypt, initiating their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Under Joshua, Israel enters and begins conquering the land promised to Abraham, displacing its inhabitants.
c. 1010-970 BC
Reign of King David
David establishes Jerusalem as the capital and consolidates the united kingdom of Israel.
c. 970-931 BC
Reign of King Solomon
Solomon builds the First Temple in Jerusalem, ushering in a golden age, but later introduces foreign worship.
931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After Solomon's death, the united monarchy splits into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
740 BC
Assyrian Expansion Begins
Assyria, under Tiglath-Pileser III, begins a major expansionist campaign, directly threatening the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
732 BC
Fall of Damascus
The Assyrian king conquers the Aramean capital of Damascus, bringing his empire to the borders of Israel and Judah.
This passage directly condemns the practice of offering children to Molech, highlighting the severity of King Ahaz's sin as an abomination in God's eyes.
Deuteronomy 18:10This verse explicitly forbids the practice of burning sons and daughters as offerings, showing that Ahaz was directly defying God's commands given to Israel.
Jeremiah 32:35The prophet Jeremiah condemns the very same abominations in the Valley of Hinnom, showing how persistent and detestable this practice was throughout Israel's history.
Ezekiel 20:31God rebukes Israel for offering up their sons through fire, illustrating that this sin was a major reason for His judgment and a departure from His ways.
This verse highlights that King Ahaz didn't just borrow pagan practices; he performed them, even the horrific act of child sacrifice, directly within Jerusalem's "Valley of the Son of Hinnom." This wasn't just a distant, abstract sin, but a tangible, localized defiance of God, deliberately mirroring the very nations God had driven out to make way for His people. It shows a shocking embrace of the enemy's deepest corruptions.
This passage is describing the wicked reign of King Ahaz of Judah. Just before this, it details how the Edomites and Philistines had attacked Judah and captured many people and plunder. Ahaz, instead of turning to God for help and repentance, doubled down on his idolatrous practices, even sacrificing his own sons, mirroring the detestable acts of the surrounding pagan nations that God had commanded Israel to eradicate.
This passage is describing the wicked reign of King Ahaz of Judah. Just before this, it details how the Edomites and Philistines had attacked Judah and captured many people and plunder. Ahaz, instead of turning to God for help and repentance, doubled down on his idolatrous practices, even sacrificing his own sons, mirroring the detestable acts of the surrounding pagan nations that God had commanded Israel to eradicate.
"and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel." — This verse highlights that King Ahaz didn't just borrow pagan practices; he performed them, even the horrific act of child sacrifice, directly within Jerusalem's "Valley of the Son of Hinnom." This…
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