Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 28:1
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chronicler records the accession and reign of King Ahaz of Judah following the reign of his father Jotham. This account introduces Ahaz’s rule during a period when the southern kingdom was shifting toward the religious practices of the northern kingdom.
The words — The text uses עֶשְׂרִ֤ים ('esrim) for "twenty" and שֵׁשׁ־ עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה (shesh-'esreh) for "sixteen" to mark the duration of his life and rule. These numerical terms establish the chronological framework for his reign in Jerusalem.
The thread — This accession narrative parallels the regnal formula found in 2 Kings 16:1 and the genealogical line in 1 Chronicles 3:13. Isaiah 1:1 further anchors Ahaz’s reign within the prophetic timeline of Judah and Jerusalem.
Why it lands — The text states that Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD, contrasting him directly with David. This establishes a standard of royal conduct and signals the theological decline that follows in his reign.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father:
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 3:13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
- Isaiah 1:1 This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
- 2 Kings 16:1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham became king of Judah.
- 2 Chronicles 17:3 Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals,
- Isaiah 7:1 Now in the days that Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram marched up to wage war against Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Pekah son of Remaliah the king of Israel, but he could not overpower the city.
- Hosea 1:1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel.
- Micah 1:1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Micah the Moreshite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—what he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem:
- Matthew 1:9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.