Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD.
Never surely had a man greater opportunity of doing well than Ahaz had, finding things in a good posture, the kingdom rich and strong and religion established; and yet here we have him in these few verses, 1. Wretchedly corrupted and debauched. He had had a good education given him and a good example set him: but parents cannot give grace to their children.
Commenting on 2 Chronicles 28:1-5
Ahaz was twenty years old - For the difficulties in this chronology, see the notes on Kg2 16:2 (note).
2Ch 28:1-4 In the general statements as to the king’s age, and the duration and the spirit of his reign, both accounts (2Ch 28:1-4; 2Ki 16:1-4), agree entirely, with the exception of some unessential divergences; see the commentary on 2Ki 16:1-4. From 2Ch 28:5 onwards both historians go their own ways, so that they coincide only in mentioning the most important events of the reign of this quite untheocratic king.
Commenting on 2 Chronicles 28:1-4