Since Damascus had defeated him, he sacrificed to their gods and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But these gods were the downfall of Ahaz and of all Israel.
Parallel translations
- WEB For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which struck him. He said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, so I will sacrifice to them, that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
- KJV For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
- NKJV For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
- NASB For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me.” But they became the downfall of him and all Israel.
- NLT He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, for he said, “Since these gods helped the kings of Aram, they will help me, too, if I sacrifice to them.” But instead, they led to his ruin and the ruin of all Judah.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Ahaz sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, hoping they will help him as they seemingly helped Syria, but they prove his and Israel's ruin. He embraces the gods of his conquerors with disastrous results.
Overview
Ahaz reasons that Syria's gods gave Syria victory, so he worships them, a striking display of spiritual blindness. The Chronicler notes that these idols brought only ruin, exposing the emptiness of false gods who cannot save. Ahaz's folly illustrates the futility of idolatry and magnifies the LORD, the only true God, who saves all who turn to Him through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 2 Chr 25:14When Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the Seirites, set them up as his own gods, bowed before them, and burned sacrifices to them.
- Jer 44:20–28Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, who were answering him,
- Jer 44:15–18Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, and all the women standing by—a great assembly—along with all the people living in the land of Egypt and in Pathros, said to Jeremiah,
- 2 Kgs 16:12–13When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings on it.
- Isa 1:28But rebels and sinners will together be shattered, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.
- Hos 13:9You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against Me—against your helper.
- Jer 10:5Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”
- Hab 1:11Then they sweep by like the wind and pass on through. They are guilty; their own strength is their god.”
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Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
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Original language
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