Ahaz and the Assyrians (2 Chronicles 28:16-21; 2 Kings 16:10-18)

Ahaz requests help from he Assyrians. In a way, this actually aligns with the prophecy that Isaiah had given Ahaz. He told the Assyrians will smite the Arameans and Ephraim. Meanwhile, the Philistines and Edomites are harassing Judah. The text says that God wanted to humble Judah on account of the wickedness of Ahaz.

The Assyrian king comes but gives Ahaz "trouble". The details of which are not specified. Ahaz then plunders the temple of valuables and gives them to the Assyrian king. This does not help, but we do not know the details.

In the past, invading armies straightened out the kings of Judah. Not this time. Ahaz has a prophecy of deliverance from one of the major prophets of the Old Testament but instead of relying on God, he plunders the temple.

Ahaz goes to Assyria to visit the king. He ends copying the altar of the Assyrian king and has the priest in Jerusalem make a similar altar. When he comes back to Jerusalem, Ahaz makes the offerings to God on this new altar. He also makes modifications to the temple in accordance with the king of Assyria's desires.

Again, it sounds like Ahaz cares more about what the Assyrian king thinks instead of what God. Also, the fact that he is doing sacrifices on this new altar reminds us of Ahaz's grandfather who was struck with leprosy for going into the temple's Holy of Holies.

Despite this, in a weird way, we are actually seeing some newfound piety on the part of Ahaz. However, it is misdirected as it focuses on the king of Assyria's preferences and not God's. It will be interesting to see God's response. Does God bless the newfound piety? Or will God be mad and think it is actually piety to the king of Assyria?

These things may have been related to the "problems" that the Assyrian king was giving Ahaz when the Assyrians visited Jerusalem.