2 Chronicles 28:22-27
time <06256> [in the.]
King <04428> [this is.]
offered sacrifices ........................... sacrifice <02076> [For he sacrificed.]
This passage, says Mr. Hallet, greatly surprised me; for the sacred historian is here represented as saying, "The gods of Damascus had smitten Ahaz." But it is impossible to suppose that an inspired author should say this; for the Scripture every where represents the heathen idols as nothing and vanity, and as incapable of doing either good or hurt. All difficulty is avoided if we follow the old Hebrew copies, from which the Greek translation was made: "And king Ahaz said, I will seek to the gods of Damascus which have smitten me."
Damascus <01834> [Damascus. Heb. Darmesek. Because the gods.]
offered sacrifices ....................... helped ..... sacrifice ....... help <02076 05826> [sacrifice to them.]
stumble <03782> [But they were.]
removed <07112> [cut in pieces.]
shut <05462> [shut up.]
erected <06213> [he made.]
offer <06999> [burn. or, offer.]
rest <03499> [the rest.]
bring <0935> [A.M. 3278. B.C. 726. they brought.]
kings ... Israel <03478 04428> [the kings of Israel.]
Or, "the kings of Judah;" the name Israel being sometimes applied by the writer of this book, in a general way, to Judah. The Hebrews were accustomed to honour the memory of those kings who had reigned well, by depositing their remains in the royal cemetery. On the contrary, those who died under the disapprobation of the people, as a mark of posthumous disgrace, were denied interment with their predecessors, and were buried in some other place in Jerusalem. So it was with Ahaz, who, though brought into the city, was not buried in the sepulchres of the kings of Judah. It was doubtless with a design to make a suitable impression on the minds of their kings while living, that such distinctions were observed. They might thus restrain them from evil, or excite them to good, according as they were fearful of being execrated, or desirous of being honoured, when dead.
