Bible Discussion Thread

We've been talking about kings of Judah, but this chapter states Ahaz King of Israel? Don't they mean King of Judah since he reigned in Jerusalem? Even his son Hezekiah on next chapter is King of Judah as he reigned in Jerusalem also. Israel based out of Samaria per my understanding.

Hi Eric,

I ran across this to add to the explanation Ron gave,

As concerning him reigning from Jerusalem. All the Kings reigned from Jerusalem starting with Rehoboam.

2 Chronicles 11:5. And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

Eric Lopez, my understanding, Ahaz was king in Judah but he did evil unto the LORD. 2 Chronicles 28:1-3 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: 2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. 3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

The reference to Israel is comparing him to the kings of Israel by doing the same evil but he was king of Judah. He burned incense on the pagan shrines and on the hills which often refers to idolatrous actions, human sacrifice, and more.

His son Hezekiah did right unto the LORD. 2 Chronicles 29:1-3 Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 3 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them.

Hezekiah was King of Judah, he had the priest cleanse the temple and all the vessels and undue all that his father did, and when they sacrificed and put the blood on the altar for reconciliation Hezekiah gave the command that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

Hezekiah tried to bring the house of Israel back together. He sent letters to get them to come to the Passover but most laughed at him, but three of the tribes come. 2 Chronicles 30. Ahaz and Hezekiah both were Kings of Judah one bad and one good.

God bless, Ron

That's very observant of you, Eric: most of us would have missed it. You're quite correct: Ahaz was King of Judah but is written as King of Israel in verse 19. As you know, Ahaz was a wicked king, following the bad example of the other kings in Israel by making molten images as idols for worship. So he is likened as those kings in character. Now whether this 'error' was purposely placed there because of Ahaz's wickednesses or more likely, the writer made a genuine error in classifying Ahaz as King of Israel rather than of Judah, we can't be certain.