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.

2 CHRONICLES 28:23KJV
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2 Chronicles 28:23 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 28:23 mean?

2 Chronicles 28:23 describes how King Ahaz of Judah began sacrificing to the gods of Damascus, believing these foreign gods had helped the Syrians defeat him, and hoping they would help him too. Instead, these actions led to his downfall and brought harm to all Israel.

In this verse, the Chronicler is recounting King Ahaz’s response after being defeated by the Syrians. Rather than turning back to the God of Israel, Ahaz chooses to worship the gods (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים, ’elohim) of his enemies, thinking their power would benefit him. The verse highlights the tragic irony: the very gods Ahaz hoped would help him instead became his ruin, worsening the situation for both him and his people.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 28:23

  • אֱלֹהִים (’elohim) — "gods": This word is used both for the God of Israel and for foreign gods, depending on context. Here, it clearly refers to the idols of Damascus, showing Ahaz’s misplaced trust.
  • עָזַר (’azar) — "help": Ahaz believes these gods "helped" the Syrians, so he seeks their help for himself. The word carries the sense of active assistance or support, which Ahaz desperately wants.
  • מַכְשֵׁלָה (makhshēlah) — "ruin": This word means stumbling or downfall. The Chronicler uses it to show that Ahaz’s choice didn’t just fail; it actively brought disaster.
  • דַּמֶּשֶׂק (Dammesek) — "Damascus": Naming the city connects Ahaz’s actions directly to his defeat, underlining the irony of seeking help from the gods of those who had just conquered him.

Why 2 Chronicles 28:23 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that Ahaz’s religious choices were harmless or neutral; it shows that turning to other gods had real, negative consequences for both him and his nation.
  • The verse emphasizes the theme of misplaced trust, highlighting how seeking help from sources other than God can backfire.
  • In the wider passage, this moment marks a turning point in Judah’s decline under Ahaz, helping explain the seriousness of his reign’s failures in the Chronicler’s account.

Where else these words appear

“Damascus” Hebrew H1834 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 14:15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
  • 2 Kings 16:10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.
  • Isaiah 17:3 The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

“ruin” Hebrew H3782 · used in 59 verses

  • Leviticus 26:37 And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.
  • Isaiah 5:27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:
  • Jeremiah 50:32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.

“help” Hebrew H5826 · used in 77 verses

  • Genesis 49:25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
  • 2 Chronicles 19:2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
  • Psalms 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

“Syria” Hebrew H758 · used in 117 verses

  • Genesis 10:22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
  • 1 Kings 22:35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
  • 1 Chronicles 1:17 The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.