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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 16:10-16

Though Ahaz had himself sacrificed in high places, on hills, and under every green tree (2 Kgs. 16:4), yet God's altar had hitherto continued in its place and in use, and the king's burnt-offering and his meat-offering (2 Kgs. 16:15) had been offered upon it by the priests that attended it; but here we have it taken away by wicked Ahaz, and another altar, an idolatrous one, put in the room of it?a bolder stroke than the worst of the kings had yet given to religion. We have here, I. The model... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 16:10

And King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria ,.... When he heard he was come thither, and had taken it, to congratulate him on the victory, and to give him thanks for his assistance; which place from Jerusalem was one hundred and sixty miles, according to Bunting F17 Travels, &c.; p. 185. . and saw an altar that was at Damascus ; where, in all probability, he attended at the sacrifice on it along with the king of Assyria: and King Ahaz sent to Urijah... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 16:10

Ahaz went to Damascus - He had received so much help on the defeat of Rezin, that he went to Damascus to meet the king of Assyria, and render him thanks. Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar - This was some idolatrous altar, the shape and workmanship of which pleased Ahaz so well that he determined to have one like it at Jerusalem. For this he had no Divine authority, and the compliance of Urijah was both mean and sinful. That Ahaz did this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 16:1-20

REIGN OF AHAZ OVER JUDAH . WAR OF AHAZ WITH PEKAH AND REZIN . EXPEDITION OF TIGLATH - PILESER AGAINST THEM . RELIGIOUS CHANGES MADE BY AHAZ . HIS DEATH . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 16:1-20

Steps in a downward path: the reign of Ahaz. In the opening chapters of Isaiah we have an account of the condition of the kingdom of Judah at the time that Ahaz succeeded to the throne. The prosperity which the country had enjoyed under Uzziah had been continued and increased under the righteous reign of his son Jotham. And now the grandson, Ahaz, a young man of twenty, finds the country abounding in wealth, full of silver and gold. Isaiah says there was no end of their treasure; their land... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 16:1-20

A people's king and priest; or, kinghood and priesthood. "In the seventeenth year of Pekah," etc. Throughout all lands, almost throughout all times, two functionaries have been at the head of the peoples, too often treading them down by oppression, and fattening on them by their greed. One of these functionaries was not, among the Jews, of Divine ordinations; for the Almighty is represented as saying, "They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not." Let... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 16:10

And King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser King of Assyria. It was a practice of the Assyrian monarchs to hold durbar ' s , or courts, at central places in the provinces, in the course of their military expeditions, whereat to receive the subject princes of the neighborhood, who were expected to do homage, and bring with them presents, or their fixed tribute. Tiglath-pileser held one such court in the earlier part of his reign at Arpad, a Syrian town, at which were present... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 16:10-17

A wicked king allowed to have his way by a weak priest. The double regime , civil and ecclesiastical, which it pleased God to establish in his first Church, the Jewish, and to continue, with certain modifications, in his second Church, the Christian, seems to have been designed for the mutual advantage of both parties. Authority, in whatever hands it is placed, is always liable to be abused, to over-assert itself, to grow arbitrary, autocratic, tyrannical. Hence the necessity of checks, of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 16:10-18

Religious changes introduced into Judea by Ahaz . The new position into which Ahaz had brought himself with respect to Assyria was followed by certain religious changes, which were probably, in part at any rate, its consequence, though some of them may have been the result of his own religious (or irreligious) convictions. He had a new altar made and introduced into the temple, which at first he used for his own private sacrifices ( 2 Kings 16:10-13 ); then, that his new altar might... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 16:10-20

Religious innovations. The remaining events of the reign of Ahaz recorded in this chapter shed a strong light on the king's frivolous and arbitrary character. I. THE DAMASCUS ALTAR . 1. Ahaz at Damascus . We are now introduced to Tiglath-pileser holding court in Damascus, and Ahaz is there as one of the vassals and tributaries of the Assyrian king. He does not seem to feel the humiliation of his position, but is probably pleased to figure as part of so brilliant an... read more

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