Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 16

Verse 1

Ahaz. One of the four kings in whose reign Isaiah prophesied. Compare 2 Chronicles 28:1 .Isaiah 1:1 .

Verse 2

Twenty years old . . . sixteen. There is no reason for concluding that "there must be an error in one of the passages" (viz. 2 Kings 16:2 and 2 Kings 18:2 ), for Ahaz begins in 622 and reigns till 616. As he was twenty when he began, he was born in 652, and died when thirty-six. Hezekiah begins in 617, and reigns twenty-nine years, till 588. As he was twenty-five when he began he was therefore born in 642, and died when he was fifty-four, From this it is clear that Ahaz was between ten and eleven when his son Hezekiah was born. This sounds improbable only to Western ears. But, to Eastern ears and physiological phenomena, there is nothing unusual, and nothing to justify a conclusion that the text is corrupt the usual excuse for ignorance of the facts.

Verse 3

he walked. Compare 2 Chronicles 28:2 .

son. See note on 2 Chronicles 28:3 .

to pass through the fire. The first king of Judah to do this. Followed in it by Manasseh (2 Kings 21:6 ; 2 Kings 23:10 ). Compare Jeremiah 7:31 .Ezekiel 20:26 , and Leviticus 18:21 .

heathen = nations.

children = sons.

Verse 5

Rezin. Compare Isaiah 7:0 . He and Pekah are the two firebrands of 2 Kings 7:4 . The events in verses: 2 Kings 16:5-9 are said by some to contradict 2 Chronicles 28:5-20 ; but the event recorded in 2 Chron. happened the year before, directly after (2 Chronicles 28:5-20 ), in 631 (see App-50 .) Rezin and Pekah both attacked directly after his accession (successfully). But they confederated unsuccessfully, came up. Pekah's design to persuade Ahaz failed; and he tried to supersede him himself ("Tabeal" being a cipher for Remaliah). Compare Isaiah 7:6 .

could not: because of the promise to David. Compare Isaiah 7:7 , Isaiah 7:16 .

Verse 6

Syria. Probably Edom (for Aram). See note below.

Elath. It had belonged to Edom (2 Kings 14:22 ).

Verse 7

sent messengers. This was opposed by Isaiah (2 Kings 7:17 ). Compare Hosea 5:13 ; Hosea 7:11 , Hosea 7:12 ; Hosea 8:9 ; Hosea 11:5 . Tiglath-pileser is the "razor" of Isaiah 7:20 .

Verse 8

house. Some codices, with two early printed editions, and Septuagint, read "treasures of the house".

a present. Tiglath-pileser regarded it (in his inscriptions) as tribute.

Verse 10

Ahaz. Called Jehoahaz in Tiglath-pileser ' s great triumphal inscriptions. The first syllable of his name dropped in Scripture, as he was unworthy of it.

to meet: and do him honour. Hence the solemn warnings of Isaiah 8:13 , Isaiah 8:14 , Isaiah 8:19 .

fashion = likeness, or sketch.

pattern, or model.

Verse 11

Urijah. Perhaps the Uriah of Isaiah 8:2 . His name does not occur in the list of high priests (1 Chronicles 6:3-15 ). Note the emphatic repetition of "Ahaz the king" and "Urijah the priest".

Verse 12

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in verses: 2 Kings 16:12-15 .

Verse 13

burnt = offered up. App-43 .

burnt his burnt offering. Figure of speech Polyptoton for emphasis.

meat offering = meal offering. App-48 .

Verse 14

brasen altar. Compare 1 Kings 8:64 .

the altar: i.e. the new altar.

Verse 15

great altar: i.e. the new altar.

to enquire = to consider further [what shall he done with it]. Figure of speech Ellipsis. Hebrew. bakar. Occurs seven times (2 Kings 16:15 .Leviticus 13:36 ; Leviticus 27:33 .Psalms 27:4 .Proverbs 20:25 .Ezekiel 34:11 , Ezekiel 34:12 ).

Verse 16

did Urijah. Unlike Azariah in 2 Chronicles 26:17 , 2 Chronicles 26:18 .

Verse 17

the laver. Compare 1 Kings 7:23-39 . 2 Chronicles 28:24 , 2 Chronicles 28:25 .

the Sea. Compare 1 Kings 7:23-26 .

Verse 18

covert = the covered way.

for = because of.

Verse 19

the rest. Compare 2 Chronicles 28:24 , 2 Chronicles 28:25 . He shut up the house of the Lord altogether.

which. Some codices, with Aramaean (Manuscript) and Syriac, read "and all that".

are they not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

Verse 20

slept with his fathers. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .

buried . . . in the city of David. But not in the tombs of the kings. Compare 2 Chronicles 28:27 , where observe the phrase "kings of Israel".