2 Kings 16:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 16:4

2 Kings 16:4. He sacrificed, &c., in the high places If his father had but had zeal enough to take them away, it might have prevented the corrupting of his sons. They that connive at sin, know not what dangerous snares they lay for those that come after them. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 16:1-20

Judah’s decline under Ahaz (15:27-16:20)The writer of Kings records the Assyrian attack mentioned above. Pekah’s policy had proved fatal and he was assassinated by Hoshea, a sympathizer with Assyria. Hoshea then became king and won temporary relief for Israel by submitting to Assyria’s control (27-31).Before speaking further of Hoshea, the writer returns to the time before Pekah was assassinated. Pekah’s program for the conquest of Judah had begun during the reign of Jotham, but reached its... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 16:4

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... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Kings 16:1-4

Ahaz’s assessment 16:1-4Pekah’s seventeenth year (2 Kings 16:1) was 735 B.C. Ahaz did not follow David’s example of godliness (2 Kings 16:2). Rather he followed the kings of Israel and those of his pagan neighbors and went so far as offering at least one of his sons as a human sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21; Deuteronomy 12:31; cf. Deuteronomy 3:27). [Note: See Wiseman, pp. 260-61.] These sacrificial rites took place near the confluence of the Hinnom and Kidron valleys at a place called Topheth.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 16:1-20

Ahaz and AssyriaThis chapter describes the reign of Ahaz of Judah, his appeal to Assyria when attacked by Pekah of Israel and Rezin of Syria, and the overthrow of Damascus by the king of Assyria.3. He walked, etc.] see 2 Chronicles 28:2 where he is described as making images for Baalim. Made his son.. fire] Children were sometimes actually sacrificed and burnt (see 2 Kings 17:31; 2 Kings 3:27), and the same thing may be meant here, but some think that the rite here described was a kind of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Kings 16:4

(4) In the high places.—These are evidently distinguished from “the hills,” two different prepositions being used in the Hebrew as in the English. A bâmâh, or “high-place,” was a local sanctuary, and it appears that a sacred pillar or altar might be called a bâmâh. Mesha king of Moab speaks of his pillar as “this bâmath” (See Note on 2 Kings 1:1.)Under every green tree.—Comp. 1 Kings 14:23; Hosea 14:8. Thenius says not so much a green as a thick-foliaged and shadow-yielding tree. “They burn... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 2 Kings 16:1-20

Lowering the Sea 2 Kings 16:17 'King Ahaz... took down the sea.' The reference is to the enormous and superb laver which was situate in the temple, and was intended for the cleansing of the priests. I. We have not lowered the sea! No. But we have Frustrated the Divine Plan. That plan we may not have spoiled utterly, thanks to restraining grace, but we have frustrated it in detail. True, Ahaz did not frustrate God's plan as a whole. He 'took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 16:1-18

THE APOSTASIES OF AHAZ2 Kings 16:1-18"For when we in our wickedness grow hard,Oh the misery on’t! the wise gods seal our eyes; In our own filth drop our clear judgments; make us Adore our errors; laugh at us while we strut To our confusion."AHAZ was indifferent to these prophecies because his heart was otherwhere. It is clear from our authorities that this king had excited an unusually deep antipathy in the hearts of those later writers who judged religion not only from the earlier standpoint,... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 16:1-20

ISAIAH AND AHAZ2 Kings 16:1-20"Expediency is man’s wisdom; doing right is God’s."- GEORGE MEREDITHISAIAH was one of those men whom God provides for the need of kingdoms. He was not only a prophet, but a statesman, a reformer, a poet, a man of invincible faith and unequalled: insight. If Ahaz had accepted his counsels and followed his moral guidance, the whole history of Judah might have been different.But the position of things was indeed disastrous. Judah was attacked from every side. On the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 2 Kings 16:1-20

7. King Ahaz and Assyria CHAPTER 16 1. King Ahaz and his reign (2 Kings 16:1-4 ; 2 Chronicles 28:0 ) 2. The invasion by the two kings (2 Kings 16:5-6 ) 3. Ahaz appeals to Assyria (2 Kings 16:7-8 ) 4. Ahaz in Damascus and the idolatrous altar (2 Kings 16:9-18 ) 5. Death of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:19-20 ; 2 Chronicles 28:26-27 ) Righteous Jotham had for his successor a wicked son. Ahaz “walked in the way of the Kings of Israel, yea, and made his son pass through the fire according to the... read more

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