When King Ahaz rejected God, he lost divine covering and was disastrously conquered by his enemies.
So the LORD his God handed him over to the king of Aram; and they defeated him and carried away from him a great number of captives and brought them to Damascus. And he was also handed over to the king of Israel, who inflicted him with heavy casualties. (v.5)
In this verse, King Ahaz of Judah (reigned approximately 735 - 715 BC) faces dire consequences for leading his people into idolatry and forsaking God’s commands. Earlier in this chapter, we learn that King Ahaz returned Baal worship to Judah and even sacrificed his own children in pagan rituals, provoking the LORD’s anger and forfeiting His protection. Thus, when the verse says the LORD his God handed him over to the king of Aram (v.5), it underscores that God effectively withdrew His hand of defense, allowing Ahaz to be defeated by his enemies. Aram refers to the kingdom of Syria, whose capital city was Damascus. Once subjugated by the Arameans, many Judeans were taken captive and brought into the city of Damascus, a key Syrian political and cultural center in the ancient Near East.
Even worse, he was also handed over to the king of Israel (v.5). In this period, the northern kingdom of Israel joined an alliance against Judah. Their assault inflicted heavy casualties on King Ahaz’s forces and demonstrated how Judah’s reliance on foreign gods and earthly alliances, rather than on the LORD, led to devastation. This humiliating defeat foreshadows the broader theme that appears throughout the Old Testament: when God’s covenant people turn away from Him, they lose His divine blessing and protection. Instead of repenting and seeking help from the LORD, King Ahaz chose to look elsewhere, turning his hope toward the gods of Syria for deliverance. But God alone is the one who holds power to deliver or to give people over to their enemies.
Summary: King Ahaz’s stubborn disobedience caused the LORD to withdraw His protection, handing Judah over to the kings of Aram and Israel, resulting in captives taken to Damascus and great casualties in battle.
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2 Chronicles 28:5 meaning
So the LORD his God handed him over to the king of Aram; and they defeated him and carried away from him a great number of captives and brought them to Damascus. And he was also handed over to the king of Israel, who inflicted him with heavy casualties. (v.5)
In this verse, King Ahaz of Judah (reigned approximately 735 - 715 BC) faces dire consequences for leading his people into idolatry and forsaking God’s commands. Earlier in this chapter, we learn that King Ahaz returned Baal worship to Judah and even sacrificed his own children in pagan rituals, provoking the LORD’s anger and forfeiting His protection. Thus, when the verse says the LORD his God handed him over to the king of Aram (v.5), it underscores that God effectively withdrew His hand of defense, allowing Ahaz to be defeated by his enemies. Aram refers to the kingdom of Syria, whose capital city was Damascus. Once subjugated by the Arameans, many Judeans were taken captive and brought into the city of Damascus, a key Syrian political and cultural center in the ancient Near East.
Even worse, he was also handed over to the king of Israel (v.5). In this period, the northern kingdom of Israel joined an alliance against Judah. Their assault inflicted heavy casualties on King Ahaz’s forces and demonstrated how Judah’s reliance on foreign gods and earthly alliances, rather than on the LORD, led to devastation. This humiliating defeat foreshadows the broader theme that appears throughout the Old Testament: when God’s covenant people turn away from Him, they lose His divine blessing and protection. Instead of repenting and seeking help from the LORD, King Ahaz chose to look elsewhere, turning his hope toward the gods of Syria for deliverance. But God alone is the one who holds power to deliver or to give people over to their enemies.
Summary: King Ahaz’s stubborn disobedience caused the LORD to withdraw His protection, handing Judah over to the kings of Aram and Israel, resulting in captives taken to Damascus and great casualties in battle.