2 Kings 16:2 - Exposition

Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign. As sixteen years afterwards his son Hezekiah was twenty-five ( 2 Kings 18:2 ), it is scarcely possible that Ahaz can have been no more than twenty at his accession, since in that case he must have married at ten years of age, and have had a son at eleven! The reading of "twenty-five" instead of "twenty," found in some Hebrew codices, in the Vatican manuscript of the Septuagint, and elsewhere, is therefore to be preferred. And reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. So the author of Chronicles ( 2 Chronicles 28:1 ) and Josephus ('Ant. Jud.,' 2 Kings 9:12 . § 3). The reign of Ahaz probably lasted from B.C. 742 to B.C. 727. And did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father. Compare what is said of Abijah ( 1 Kings 15:3 ), but the form of speech here used is stronger. Manasseh ( 2 Kings 21:2 ) and Amon ( 2 Kings 21:20-22 ) alone, of all the kings of Judah, receive greater condemnation.