Ahaz son of Jotham has now come to the throne of Judah. He has good examples in his father and grandfather, of faithfulness and strength in the Lord. However it seems he was more impressed by the strength of the pagan world powers.

Ahaz evidently co-ruled for a while with his father,

and it seems ruled on his own for sixteen years. The record says clearly,

“2 … he didn’t do that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh his God, like David his father. 3 … and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Yahweh cast out from before the children of Israel. ”
2Kgs 16:2-3 WEB

“Pass through the fire,” Human sacrifice of your own children! As the author of Second Kings noted, these are very sins which caused the original Canaanites to lose Palestine. Also it says that he not only did NOT shutdown the high places, but offered worship on them himself. Worship was by Moses Law supposed to only be at the Temple in Jerusalem

The Southern Kingdom of Judah was a very
small nation even in those times.

The Northern Kingdom of Israel was several times larger than Judah, and Aram (Syria it called in the King James Version) was larger than Israel, and Assyria was larger than Aram.

Assyria was the threat of which Aram and Israel were afraid. It seems that Aram and Israel wanted Judah to unite with them to oppose Assyria.

Ahaz’s reign seemed to have started with
war and some big defeats.

So a combination of the Northern kingdom of Israel and Aram, working together began attacking the Souther kingdom of Judah. Further, because of Ahaz’s sins, they were being able to defeat him in battle.

“Therefore Yahweh his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they struck him, and carried away of his a great multitude of captives, and brought them to Damascus. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter.”
2Chron 28:5-6 WEB

It doesn’t mention Ahaz being outnumbered, although I am sure he was. Smaller nations are often able to defeat larger nations, especially in defensive warfare, and Judah had in the past been able to maintain her independence. No, the real reason for defeat was that God had removed their protection. God overrules men and nations, 2Sam 23:3.

Israel by herself was able to inflict serious loses.

2Chron 28:6-7 says that Judah lost 120,000 men in one day of battle in which one of the Ahaz’s sons was killed and two of his key officials were killed. Compare that to the United States of America losing approximately 50,000 men in the eleven years of the Vietnam War. Then they lost 200,000 captives who were later returned.

Then King Rezin of Aram captured some cities, and the Philistines and the men of Edom were also able to mount successful attacks, 2Chron 28:17-18.

“For Yahweh brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he had dealt wantonly in Judah, and trespassed severely against Yahweh.”
2Chron 28:19 WEB.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901