2 Chronicles 28:3
New International Version
He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

New Living Translation
He offered sacrifices in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, even sacrificing his own sons in the fire. In this way, he followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.

English Standard Version
and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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 had cast out before the children of Israel.

New American Standard Bible
Furthermore, he burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom, and burned his sons in fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had driven out from the sons of Israel.

NASB 1995
Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons in fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel.

NASB 1977
Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom, and burned his sons in fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
Moreover, he offered offerings in smoke in the valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh had dispossessed from before the sons of Israel.

Amplified Bible
And he burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons [as an offering], in accordance with the repulsive acts of the [pagan] nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons (descendants) of Israel.

Christian Standard Bible
He burned incense in Ben Hinnom Valley and burned his children in the fire, imitating the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had dispossessed before the Israelites.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He burned incense in the Valley of Hinnom and burned his children in the fire, imitating the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had dispossessed before the Israelites.

American Standard Version
Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the children of Israel.

Contemporary English Version
and he offered sacrifices in Hinnom Valley. Worst of all, Ahaz sacrificed his own sons, which was a disgusting custom of the nations that the LORD had forced out of Israel.

English Revised Version
Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He burned sacrifices in the valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his son by burning him alive, one of the disgusting things done by the nations that the LORD had forced out of the Israelites' way.

Good News Translation
burned incense in Hinnom Valley, and even sacrificed his own sons as burnt offerings to idols, imitating the disgusting practice of the people whom the LORD had driven out of the land as the Israelites advanced.

International Standard Version
burned incense in the Ben-hinnom Valley, and burned his sons as an offering, following the detestable activities of the nations whom the LORD had expelled in front of the people of Israel.

Majority Standard Bible
Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

NET Bible
He offered sacrifices in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom and passed his sons through the fire, a horrible sin practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out before the Israelites.

New Heart English Bible
Moreover he burnt incense in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, and made his sons pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
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 Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and has made incense himself in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burns his sons with fire according to the abominations of the nations that YHWH dispossessed from the presence of the sons of Israel,

Young's Literal Translation
and himself hath made perfume in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burneth his sons with fire according to the abominations of the nations that Jehovah dispossessed from the presence of the sons of Israel,

Smith's Literal Translation
And he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and he will burn his sons in fire according to the abomination of the nations which Jehovah dispossessed from before the sons of Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
It was he that burnt incense in the valley of Benennom, and consecrated his sons in the fire according to the manner of the nations, which the Lord slew at the coming of the children of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
It is he who burned incense in the Valley of the son of Hinnom. And he purified his sons by fire, in accord with the ritual of the nations that the Lord put to death at the advent of the sons of Israel.

New American Bible
Moreover, he offered sacrifice in the Valley of Ben-hinnom, and immolated his children by fire in accordance with the abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD had dispossessed before the Israelites.

New Revised Standard Version
and he made offerings in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and made his sons pass through fire, according to the abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Moreover he burned incense in great valleys, and passed his son through the fire, according to the custom of the nations whom the LORD had destroyed from before the children of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he offered up censers of sweet spices in the great valleys, and he brought his son into fire, according to the law of the Gentiles, whom LORD JEHOVAH destroyed from before the sons of Israel.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Moreover he offered in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he sacrificed to their idols in the valley of Benennom, and passed his children through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ahaz Reigns in Judah
2Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even made cast images of the Baals. 3Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 4And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.…

Cross References
Leviticus 18:21
You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 18:10
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,

2 Kings 16:3
Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

2 Kings 21:6
He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Jeremiah 7:31
They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.

Jeremiah 19:5
They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind.

Ezekiel 16:20-21
You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough? / You slaughtered My children and delivered them up through the fire to idols.

Ezekiel 20:31
When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your sons in the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you!

Psalm 106:37-38
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. / They shed innocent blood—the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.

Isaiah 57:5
who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

2 Kings 23:10
He also desecrated Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech.

2 Kings 17:17
They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Micah 6:7
Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Romans 1:28-32
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. / They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, / slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. ...

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

burnt incense.

2 Kings 23:10
And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.

Jeremiah 7:31,32
And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart…

Jeremiah 19:2-6,13
And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee, …

burnt

2 Chronicles 33:6
And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Leviticus 18:21
And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

2 Kings 16:3
But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.

after the abominations

2 Chronicles 33:2
But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 12:31
Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

Jump to Previous
Abominable Abominations Ben Ben-Hinnom Burned Burnt Cast Children Copying Detestable Disgusting Dispossessed Driven Drove Fire Following Heathen Hinnom Incense Israel Israelites Moreover Nations Offered Offering Offerings Perfume Practices Sacrifices Valley Ways
Jump to Next
Abominable Abominations Ben Ben-Hinnom Burned Burnt Cast Children Copying Detestable Disgusting Dispossessed Driven Drove Fire Following Heathen Hinnom Incense Israel Israelites Moreover Nations Offered Offering Offerings Perfume Practices Sacrifices Valley Ways
2 Chronicles 28
1. Ahaz, reigning wickedly, is greatly afflicted by the Syrians.
6. Judah, being captivated by the Israelites, is sent home by the counsel of Oded.
16. Ahaz sending for aid to Assyria, is not helped thereby,
22. In his distress he grows more idolatrous
26. He dying, Hezekiah succeeds him














Ahaz
Ahaz was the king of Judah, and his reign is marked by significant apostasy and idolatry. His name in Hebrew, "אָחָז" (Achaz), means "he has grasped" or "he has held." This is ironic, as Ahaz grasped onto the practices of the pagan nations rather than holding onto the covenant with God. His leadership is a cautionary tale of how a leader's spiritual decline can lead a nation away from God.

burned incense
The act of burning incense was originally a part of the worship practices ordained by God for the tabernacle and temple, symbolizing prayers ascending to heaven. However, Ahaz's use of incense here is in a pagan context, indicating a perversion of true worship. The Hebrew word "קָטַר" (qatar) means to burn or offer incense, and its misuse here highlights the corruption of sacred practices.

Valley of Hinnom
This valley, known in Hebrew as "גֵּי־הִנֹּם" (Ge-Hinnom), was located south of Jerusalem. It became infamous as a site for idolatrous practices, including child sacrifice. Historically, it was associated with the worship of the Canaanite god Molech. The valley later became a symbol of judgment and hell (Gehenna) in Jewish thought, illustrating the severe consequences of turning away from God.

sacrificed his sons in the fire
This phrase describes the horrific practice of child sacrifice, which was strictly forbidden by God (Leviticus 18:21). The Hebrew word "שָׂרַף" (saraph) means to burn or consume with fire. This act was one of the "abominations" that led to the Canaanites' expulsion from the land. Ahaz's participation in such practices shows the depth of his rebellion against God.

according to the abominations
The term "abominations" (Hebrew "תּוֹעֵבָה," to'evah) refers to practices that are detestable and repugnant to God. These were not just cultural differences but actions that violated the moral and spiritual order established by God. The use of this term underscores the severity of Ahaz's sins and the spiritual degradation of Judah under his rule.

of the nations
The "nations" here refer to the Canaanite peoples whom God had driven out before Israel. These nations were known for their idolatrous and immoral practices, which God had explicitly warned Israel not to imitate (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). Ahaz's actions represent a tragic return to these forbidden practices, showing a complete disregard for God's commands.

that the LORD had driven out
This phrase emphasizes God's past actions in purging the land of its former inhabitants due to their wickedness. The Hebrew word "יָרַשׁ" (yarash) means to dispossess or drive out. It serves as a reminder of God's holiness and justice, as well as His desire for His people to remain separate from the corrupting influences of surrounding nations.

before the Israelites
The Israelites were chosen by God to be a holy nation, set apart for His purposes. The phrase "before the Israelites" indicates the historical context of God's deliverance and the covenant relationship He established with them. Ahaz's actions are a direct violation of this covenant, highlighting the tension between God's faithfulness and human unfaithfulness.

(3) Moreover he.--"And he (emphatic) burnt incense" to Moloch, the god of Ammon, for whom Solomon had built a high place (1Kings 11:5-8), which was still in existence.

In the valley of the son of Hinnom.--Also called simply the valley of Hinnom (Joshua 15:8), on the west and south of Jerusalem (Joshua 18:16), the scene of the cruel rites in honour of

"Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood."

MILTON.

(Jeremiah 7:31-32; Jeremiah 19:2-6, where "the Baal" is named as the object of this worship, Moloch being a Baal.) In later times, the term "valley of Hinnom," spelt as one word, and with modified vowels, G?hinn?m, became the appellation of hell, "the house of woe and pain." It is so used in the Targums, and later in the Talmud, and appears in the New Testament under the Graecised form ??????, whence the Latin Gehenna. . . .

Verse 3. - Burnt incense... Hinnom. The sin of Solomon (1 Kings 11:7, 8) is reproduced. For the valley of the son of Hinnom, which curved round the south-west and west of Jerusalem (Ge Ben-Hinnom), see Conder's 'Handbook,' ch. 7. pp. 330-332. Burnt his children (see Leviticus 18:21); but there cannot be any doubt that Ahaz's practice here stated was an incident of the Moloch-superstition and horrible cruelty (see the parallel in its vers. 3, 4).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Moreover, Ahaz
וְה֥וּא (wə·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

burned incense
הִקְטִ֖יר (hiq·ṭîr)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

in the Valley of Hinnom
בְּגֵ֣יא (bə·ḡê)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1516: A valley

and sacrificed
וַיַּבְעֵ֤ר (way·yaḇ·‘êr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish

his sons
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

in the fire,
בָּאֵ֔שׁ (bā·’êš)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

according to the abominations
כְּתֹֽעֲבוֹת֙ (kə·ṯō·‘ă·ḇō·wṯ)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 8441: Something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol

of the nations
הַגּוֹיִ֔ם (hag·gō·w·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

whom
אֲשֶׁר֙ (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (ha·šêm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin

had driven out
הֹרִ֣ישׁ (hō·rîš)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

before
מִפְּנֵ֖י (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the Israelites.
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 28:3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 28:2
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