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2 Chronicles 28:20

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Chronicles 28:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
2 Chronicles 28:20 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Chronicles 28

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.
18The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland, and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Soco with the towns thereof, and Timnah with the towns thereof, Gimzo also and the towns thereof: and they dwelt there.
19For Jehovah brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he had dealt wantonly in Judah, and trespassed sore against Jehovah.
20And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
21For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of Jehovah, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but it helped him not.
22And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against Jehovah, this same king Ahaz.
23For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him; and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped 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 28:192 Chronicles 28:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, etc.] Not to Jerusalem, but to Damascus, where he made a diversion in his favour, and took that city, and where Ahaz met him, (<121609>2 Kings 16:9) and distressed him, but strengthened him not; exhausted his treasures, and laid a tribute upon him, but did not help him against the Edomites and Philistines, or recover for him the cities they had taken from him; and, in taking Damascus, he served himself more than Ahaz, and paved the way for seizing upon the ten tribes.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Tilgath-pilneser . . . distressed him, but strengthened him not--that is, notwithstanding the temporary relief which Tilgath-pilneser afforded him by the conquest of Damascus and the slaughter of Rezin (Kg2 16:9), little advantage resulted from it, for Tilgath-pilneser spent the winter in voluptuous revelry at Damascus; and the connection formed with the Assyrian king was eventually a source of new and greater calamities and humiliation to the kingdom of Judah (Ch2 28:2-3).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Tilgath-pilneser - This form of the name is doubly corrupt. See the properly Hebraized form in 2 Kings 15:29. Distressed him, but strengthened him not - This statement, and that at the end of 2 Chronicles 28:21, is supplemental to, and not contradictory of, 2 Kings 16:9. Here it is the writer’s object to note that the material assistance rendered by Tiglath-pileser to Ahab, was no real “help” or “strength,” but rather a cause of “distress.” return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Distressed - Or, straitened him, by robbing him of his treasures. Strengthened not - A most emphatical expression: for tho' he weakened his present enemy the Syrian, yet all things considered, he did not strengthen Ahaz and his kingdom, but weaken them; for by removing the Syrian, who, tho' a troublesome neighbour, was a kind of bulwark to him, he smoothed the way for himself, a far more dangerous enemy, as appears in the very next king's reign. 2 Chronicles 28:22”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“am 3264, bc 740 Tilgathpilneser: Kg2 15:29, Kg2 16:7-10, Tiglath-pileser, Ch1 5:26; Hos 5:13 distressed him: Kg2 17:5; Isa 7:20, Isa 30:3, Isa 30:16; Jer 2:37 2 Chronicles 28:21”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification