Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 28:23

"For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him; and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, [therefore] will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel." — 2 Chronicles 28:23 (ASV)

For (and) he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus. —The statement in this verse is unique to Chronicles, and the same can also be said of the next one. Both here and in the preceding account of Ahaz's relations with Tiglath-pileser, the writer appears to have drawn from a source other than the Book of Kings.

Damascus may, perhaps, stand for the Damascenes, though in that case Aram would have been more natural. (Not “at Damascus,” as Thenius renders.)

Which struck him. —Did the chronicler himself believe that the gods of Aram had any power or real existence? It appears certain that this was the common belief of the Israelites in the days of Ahaz (Judges 11:24; 1 Samuel 26:19).

In the latter half of Isaiah, the nothingness of false gods is strongly asserted. However, there was also another current opinion, which St. Paul repeats and Milton adopted in Paradise Lost, namely, that the things which the heathen sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons (1 Corinthians 8:4; 1 Corinthians 10:20; Deuteronomy 32:17).

Because the gods. —Omit because (the Hebrew particle simply introduces what the speaker said). “The gods of the kings of Aram, they help them; to them will I sacrifice, that they may help me.” Such is the statement attributed to Ahaz, implying a doubt of Jehovah's power or willingness to help (Ma'zĕrîm, “help,” an Aramaised form).

But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. —Literally, and they (that is, those very gods) were to him to make him stumble, and all Israel. The mode of expression, as well as the thought expressed, is highly characteristic.

Israel = Judah, as usual.