DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2014 November 10
Image 1: Timoclea Captive Brought Before Alexander (c. 1615)
Domenichino (1581-1641)
Baroque Style; Bolognese or Carracci School
Musee du Louvre, Paris, France
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
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Image 2: Oded in the Host of Samaria (1728)
Gerard Hoet (1648-1733)
Dutch Golden Age Baroque Style
Page 138 in Figures de la Bible (1728)
Image Source: Myth Folklore Net
Explanation: 2 Chronicles 28 describes the wicked reign of Ahaz (732-716 B.C.) in Judah, and his punishments from the LORD. Both illustrations above apply to the key incident in the chapter -- Oded confronting King Pekah of Israel. The first illustration depicts the principle involved in the confrontation -- in both the Biblical event and in the event in Alexander's time, captives were released due to injustice on the part of the captors. In the second illustration the actual event mentioned in the Bible is depicted -- Oded confronts Pekah and his soldiers as they return with captives who were unjustly and harshly treated. [Traditional Patriarchal Timeline. Judges Period Chronology. Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2]. [Chronologically and Thematically Related Scriptures: 2 Kings 15:38; 2 Kings 16:1-2; 2 Chronicles 27:9; 2 Kings 16:2-9; 2 Kings 15:29-31; 2 Kings 16:10-18; 2 Kings 17:1-2; 2 Kings 16:19-20; 2 Kings 18:1-2; 2 Chronicles 29:1].
Ahaz (732-716 B.C.) reigned over Judah for 16 years. He was an evil king, like the kings of Israel. He made images of Baalim, burned incense in the valley of Hinnom, burned his children, and worshiped on the hills and under the green trees (1-4). Therefore the LORD let the king of Syria conquer him, and take captives to Damascus. The LORD also delivered him into the hand of Pekah (740-732 B.C.), King of Israel, who slaughtered 20,000 in one day, plus several key officials (5-7). Pekah also captured 200,000 in Judah and brought them to Samaria, the capital of Israel. But the prophet Oded confronted Pekah with his sins. (8-10). And Oded demanded that the prisoners be released because the fierce wrath of God was upon the captors (11). Also, certain officers of Israel stood against the captivity, confessed that they had sinned, and warned Pekah not to add to their sins by keeping the captives. So the army surrendered the captives and the spoil, fed and clothed them, and sent them to Jericho (12-15). At that time, Ahaz asked the kings of Assyria for help against the Edomites and the Philistines. But Tilgathpilneser, king of Assyria, responded, not by helping, but by despoiling the Temple and the house of Ahaz (16-21). During this time of distress Ahaz added to his sin by sacrificing to the Assyrian gods because they had helped Syria; so he tried to persuade them to help him. He ruined many things in the Temple, shut it up, put pagan altars all over Jerusalem, and made pagan worship centers all over Judah. But this provoked the LORD to anger. The rest of his acts are written in his court records. And his son Hezekiah (716-687 B.C.) succeeded him on the throne (22-27).
The reign of Ahaz (732-716 B.C.) had overlaps with the last two kings of Israel: Pekah (740-732 B.C.) and Hoshea (732-712 B.C.). Further details about these two kings can be found in the following DAWN pages: 2 Kings 15; 2 Kings 16; 2 Kings 17; 2 Kings 18. Also, Ahaz reigned during various parts of the ministries of the following prophets: Hosea (760-720 B.C.); Isaiah (740-681 B.C.); and Micah (737-690 B.C.).
2 Chronicles 28
1 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.
4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
5 Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.
7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.
10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?
11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.
12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,
13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.
17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.
18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
19 For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.
20 And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.
22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.
23 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.
24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.
26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
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