2 Chronicles 28:6

For Pekah the sonne of Remaliah slew in Iudah an hundred & twentie thousand in one day, which were all valiant men: because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. 2 Chronicles 28:6 (KJV)

This verse belongs to the historical account of the reign of King Ahaz of Judah. It records a devastating military encounter between the northern kingdom of Israel, led by Pekah, and the southern kingdom of Judah. The surrounding narrative in 2 Chronicles 28:1‑5 tells us that Ahaz did not follow the ways of the Lord. He turned to idolatry, offered sacrifices to other gods, and adopted the practices of the nations surrounding Judah. As a result, God allowed Judah to be defeated by its enemies.

In 2 Chronicles 28:6 Pekah, the son of Remaliah and king of Israel, attacked Judah and killed one hundred and twenty thousand valiant men in a single day. The text explicitly states that this tragedy occurred because the people of Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. Their disobedience led to a withdrawal of divine protection, leaving them vulnerable to the invading forces.

The passage serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. It illustrates the biblical principle of sowing and reaping: the people of Judah reaped the disastrous results of their own choices. Their loss of life and national humiliation underscore the seriousness of abandoning the covenant relationship with God.

From this account we see the importance of remaining faithful and obedient to the Lord. The narrative warns that when God’s people stray from His path, they expose themselves to severe and often tragic outcomes. It calls believers today to examine their own hearts, to cling to God’s commandments, and to trust in His protection rather than relying on worldly alliances or idolatrous practices.