2 Chronicles 28 · a question people ask
2 Chronicles says Ahaz "burned his children in the fire". 2 Kings says he "made his son to pass through the fire". Why are they different?
2 Chronicles says, "he burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel" (28:3). 2 Kings says, "But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and even made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel" (2 Kings 16:3). The two verses word it differently: children and son, burned and made to pass through. Both set it "according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out" (28:3; 2 Kings 16:3). Neither book explains the difference, and these notes don't try to. The introduction to 2 Chronicles sets these two verses side by side, and does the same for Manasseh (33:6; 2 Kings 21:6). The law had said, "There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire" (Deuteronomy 18:10).
The verses
“Moreover he burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.”
“But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and even made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.”
“He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in the LORD’s sight, to provoke him to anger.”
“He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in the LORD’s sight, to provoke him to anger.”