---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  2 Kings 16"
description: "CHAPTER 16   :-. AHAZ"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/2-kings/16"
---

CHAPTER 16

. AHAZ' WICKED
REIGN OVER JUDAH.

**1-4. Ahaz . . . did not that which
was right in the sight of the Lord**—[See on .] 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 [2 Chronicles 28:24](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/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 ().
**made his son to pass through
the fire**— ([2 Kings 23:10](../../../kjv/2-kings/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 ([2 Kings 23:10](../../../kjv/2-kings/23/10)). This was strongly prohibited in the law ([Leviticus 18:21](../../../kjv/leviticus/18/21);
[Leviticus 20:2-5](../../../kjv/leviticus/20/2-5); [Deuteronomy 18:10](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/18/10)),
although there is no evidence that it was practised in Israel till
the time of Ahaz.

**1-4. Ahaz . . . did not that which
was right in the sight of the Lord**—[See on .] 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 [2 Chronicles 28:24](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/28/24)).

**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 ).

**6. Rezin . . . recovered Elath**—which
Azariah had got into his possession ().
**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 ([Isaiah 7:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/14);
[Isaiah 8:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/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 (). 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
([Exodus 25:40](../../../kjv/exodus/25/40); [Exodus 26:30](../../../kjv/exodus/26/30);
[Exodus 27:1](../../../kjv/exodus/27/1); [1 Chronicles 28:19](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/28/19)).
Urijah was one of the witnesses taken by Isaiah to bear his
prediction against Syria and Israel ([1 Chronicles 28:19](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/28/19)).
[1 Chronicles 28:19](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/28/19). 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.

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