2 Kings 16

2Ki 16:1-16.

AHAZ'

WICKED

REIGN OVER

JUDAH.

1-4. Ahaz . . . did not that which was right in the sight of the

Lord--[See on

2Ch 28:1.]

The character of this king's reign, the voluptuousness and religious

degeneracy of all classes of the people, are graphically portrayed in

the writings of Isaiah, who prophesied at that period. The great

increase of worldly wealth and luxury in the reigns of Azariah and

Jotham had introduced a host of corruptions, which, during his reign,

and by the influence of Ahaz, bore fruit in the idolatrous practices of

every kind which prevailed in all parts of the kingdom (see

2Ch 28:24).

3. walked in the way of the kings of Israel--This is descriptive of

the early part of his reign, when, like the kings of Israel, he

patronized the symbolic worship of God by images but he gradually went

farther into gross idolatry

(2Ch 28:2).

made his son to pass through the fire--

(2Ki 23:10).

The hands of the idol Moloch being red hot, the children were passed

through between them, which was considered a form of lustration. There

is reason to believe that, in certain circumstances, the children were

burnt to death

(Ps 106:37).

This was strongly prohibited in the law

(Le 18:21; 20:2-5;

De 18:10),

although there is no evidence that it was practised in Israel till the

time of Ahaz.

5. Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel

came up to Jerusalem--Notwithstanding their great efforts and military

preparations, they failed to take it and, being disappointed, raised

the siege and returned home (compare

Isa 7:1).

6. Rezin . . . recovered Elath--which Azariah had got into his

possession

(2Ki 14:22).

the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day--The

Septuagint version has "the Edomites," which the most judicious

commentators and travellers [ROBINSON] prefer.

7-9. So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser--In spite of the

assurance given him by Isaiah by two signs, the one immediate, the

other remote

(Isa 7:14; 8:4),

that the confederate kings would not prevail against him, Ahaz sought

aid from the Assyrian monarch, to purchase which he sent the treasures

of the palace and temple. Tiglath-pileser marched against Damascus,

slew Rezin the king, and carried the people of Damascus into captivity

to Kir, which is thought to have been the city Karine (now Kerend), in

Media.

10-16. And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser--This

was a visit of respect, and perhaps of gratitude. During his stay in

that heathen city, Ahaz saw an altar with which he was greatly

captivated. Forthwith a sketch of it was transmitted to Jerusalem, with

orders to Urijah the priest to get one constructed according to the

Damascus model, and let this new altar supersede the old one in the

temple. Urijah, with culpable complaisance, acted according to his

instructions

(2Ki 16:16).

The sin in this affair consisted in meddling with, and improving

according to human taste and fancy, the altars of the temple, the

patterns of which had been furnished by divine authority

(Ex 25:40; 26:30; 27:1;

1Ch 28:19).

Urijah was one of the witnesses taken by Isaiah to bear his prediction

against Syria and Israel

(Isa 8:2).

2Ki 16:17-19.

HE

SPOILS THE

TEMPLE.

17. cut off the borders of the bases, &c.--It is thought that he

did this to use the elaborate sculpture in adorning his palace.

18. the covert for the Sabbath--the portico through which the priests

entered the temple on the Sabbath.

the king's entry without--a private external entrance for the king into

the temple. The change made by Ahaz consisted in removing both of these

into the temple from fear of the king of Assyria, that, in case of a

siege, he might secure the entrance of the temple from him.