2 Kings16
New Living Translation
1 Ahaz son of Jotham began to rule over Judah in the seventeenth year of King Pekah’s reign in Israel.
2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord his God, as his ancestor David had done.
3 Instead, he followed the example of the kings of Israel, even sacrificing his own son 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.
4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the pagan shrines and on the hills and under every green tree.
5 Then King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel came up to attack Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz but could not conquer him.
6 At that time the king of Edom recovered the town of Elath for Edom. He drove out the people of Judah and sent Edomites to live there, as they do to this day.
7 King Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria with this message: “I am your servant and your vassal. Come up and rescue me from the attacking armies of Aram and Israel.”
8 Then Ahaz took the silver and gold from the Temple of the Lord and the palace treasury and sent it as a payment to the Assyrian king.
9 So the king of Assyria attacked the Aramean capital of Damascus and led its population away as captives, resettling them in Kir. He also killed King Rezin.
10 King Ahaz then went to Damascus to meet with King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria. While he was there, he took special note of the altar. Then he sent a model of the altar to Uriah the priest, along with its design in full detail.
11 Uriah followed the king’s instructions and built an altar just like it, and it was ready before the king returned from Damascus.
12 When the king returned, he inspected the altar and made offerings on it.
13 He presented a burnt offering and a grain offering, he poured out a liquid offering, and he sprinkled the blood of peace offerings on the altar.
14 Then King Ahaz removed the old bronze altar from its place in front of the Lord’s Temple, between the entrance and the new altar, and placed it on the north side of the new altar.
15 He told Uriah the priest, “Use the new altar for the morning sacrifices of burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and grain offering, and the burnt offerings of all the people, as well as their grain offerings and liquid offerings. Sprinkle the blood from all the burnt offerings and sacrifices on the new altar. The bronze altar will be for my personal use only.”
16 Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz commanded him.
17 Then the king removed the side panels and basins from the portable water carts. He also removed the great bronze basin called the Sea from the backs of the bronze oxen and placed it on the stone pavement.
18 In deference to the king of Assyria, he also removed the canopy that had been constructed inside the palace for use on the Sabbath day, as well as the king’s outer entrance to the Temple of the Lord.
19 The rest of the events in Ahaz’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.
20 When Ahaz died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Hezekiah became the next king.
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2 Kings 16Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Kings 16. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Ahaz, king of Judah, His wicked reign. (1–9). Ahaz takes a pattern from an idol's altar. (10–16). Ahaz spoils the temple. (17–20).
vv1-9
Few and evil were the days of Ahaz. Those whose hearts condemn them, will go any where in a day of distress, rather than to God. The sin was its own punishment. It is common for those who bring themselves into straits by one sin, to try to help themselves out by another.
vv10-16
God's altar had hitherto been kept in its place, and in use; but Ahaz put another in the room of it. The natural regard of the mind of man to some sort of religion, is not easily extinguished; but except it be regulated by the word, and by the Spirit of God, it produces absurd superstitions, or detestable idolatries. Or, at best, it quiets the sinner's conscience with unmeaning ceremonies. Infidels have often been remarkable for believing ridiculous falsehoods.
vv17-20
Ahaz put contempt upon the sabbath, and thus opened a wide inlet to all manner of sin. This he did for the king of Assyria. When those who have had a ready passage to the house of the Lord, turn it another way to please their neighbours, they are going down-hill apace to ruin.
Key Words
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
פֶּקַח: Pekach, an Israelite king
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
רְמַלְיָהוּ: Remaljah, an Israelite
אָחָז: Achaz, the name of a Jewish king and of an Israelite
יוֹתָם: Jotham, the name of three Israelites
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
עֶשְׂרִים: twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
Cross References
2 Kings 16Parallel account of Ahaz's accession, age, and initial plunge into Canaanite and Israelite idolatry.
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The exact historical and prophetic context of Syria and Israel's joint siege of Jerusalem under Ahaz.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly prophesied the capture of Damascus and the exile of its people to Kir.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explains Ahaz's motivation: sacrificing to Damascus's gods, thinking they would help him.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the sacrificial site (Topheth/Moloch) where children were made to pass through the fire.
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The Mosaic law explicitly forbidding offering children to Moloch, which Ahaz violated.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Deuteronomic prohibition against making sons or daughters pass through the fire.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Uriah the priest as a contemporary witness utilized by the prophet Isaiah.
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Connects Elath's loss back to its original recovery and building by Azariah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Locates Elath near Ezion-geber on the Red Sea shore, showing its commercial importance.
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Shows that Tiglath-pileser ultimately distressed Ahaz instead of helping or strengthening him.
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Contrasts God's authorized, divinely revealed temple plans with Ahaz's self-styled pagan copy.
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Further details of Ahaz cutting up the temple vessels and shutting its doors.
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Describes the original design of the bronze bases and sea that Ahaz dismantled.
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Confirms that passing through the fire meant sacrificing sons and daughters to devils.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB