2Ki 16:1
16:1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah {a}
     Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.

     (a) This was a wicked son of a godly father, as of him
         again came godly Hezekiah, and of him wicked Manasseh,
         save that God in the end showed him mercy. Thus we see
         how uncertain it is to depend on the dignity of our
         fathers.

2Ki 16:3
16:3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and
     made his son to {b} pass through the fire, according to the
     abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from
     before the children of Israel.

     (b) That is, offered him to Molech or made him pass between
         two fires, as the manner of the Gentiles was,
         @Le 18:21, De 18:10.

2Ki 16:5
16:5 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of
     Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz,
     but could not overcome {c} [him].

     (c) For the Lord preserved the city and his people for
         the sake of his promise made to David.

2Ki 16:6
16:6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered {d} Elath to
     Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came
     to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.

     (d) Which Azariah had taken from the Syrians and fortified,
         @2Ki 14:22.

2Ki 16:7
16:7 So Ahaz sent {e} messengers to Tiglathpileser king of
     Assyria, saying, I [am] thy servant and thy son: come up,
     and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out
     of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against
     me.

     (e) Contrary to the admonition of the prophet Isaiah,
         @Isa 7:4.

2Ki 16:8
16:8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the {f}
     house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's
     house, and sent [it for] a present to the king of Assyria.

     (f) Thus he did not spare the temple of God from being
         spoiled to gain help from men and would not once lift
         his heart to God to desire his help or hear his
         prophet's counsel.

2Ki 16:11
16:11 And Urijah the priest built an altar {g} according to all
      that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the
      priest made [it] against king Ahaz came from Damascus.

      (g) We see that there is no prince so wicked that he
          cannot find liars and false ministers to serve his
          purposes.

2Ki 16:12
16:12 And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the
      altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered
      {h} thereon.

      (h) Either offerings for peace or prosperity, or
          thanksgiving as in @Le 3:1 or else meaning the
          morning and evening offering, @Ex 29:38, Nu 28:3
          and thus he contemned the means and the altar which
          God had commanded by Solomon, to serve God after his
          own fantasy.

2Ki 16:14
16:14 And he brought also the brasen altar, which [was] before
      the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between
      the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the {i}
      north side of the altar.

      (i) That is, at the right hand, as men went into the
          temple.

2Ki 16:15
16:15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon
      the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the
      evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and
      his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the
      people of the land, and their meat offering, and their
      drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the
      burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and
      the {k} brasen altar shall be for me to enquire [by].

      (k) Here he establishes by commandment his own wicked
          proceedings, and abolishes the commandment and
          ordinance of God.

2Ki 16:18
16:18 And the {l} covert for the sabbath that they had built in
      the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from
      the house of the LORD {m} for the king of Assyria.

      (l) Or tent, in which they lay on the sabbath, who had
          served their week in the temple and so departed home.
      (m) Either to flatter the king of Assyria, when he should
          thus see him change the ordinance of God or else that
          the temple might be a refuge for him if the king
          should suddenly assault his house.



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