2 Kings 16:17

_AND KING AHAZ CUT OFF THE BORDERS OF THE BASES, AND REMOVED THE LAVER FROM OFF THEM; AND TOOK DOWN THE SEA FROM OFF THE BRASEN OXEN THAT WERE UNDER IT, AND PUT IT UPON A PAVEMENT OF STONES._ Cut off the borders of the bases ... It is thought that be did this to employ the elaborate sculpture in adorning his palace. Many writers have supposed that the design of Ahaz in 'cutting off the borders of the bases,' and removing the layer from off them, 'was to melt them down, and apply them to some idolatrous uses; and as the temple was closed, it is highly probable that he did pervert them to such purposes, as we know that he did with the bronze altar (2 Kings 16:15) and many of the vessels abstracted from the Lord's house (see the notes at 2 Chronicles 28:24). But that the brasen

17-20 Ahaz put contempt upon the sabbath, and thus opened a wide inlet to all manner of sin. This he did for the king of Assyria. When those who have had a ready passage to the house of the Lord, turn it another way to please their neighbours, they are going down-hill apace to ruin....

See the marginal references. The acts recorded here, were probably not mere wanton acts of mutilation, but steps in the conversion of these sacred objects to other uses, as to the ornamentation of a palace or of an idol temple. The bases, the oxen, and the sea were not destroyed - they remained at Jerusalem until its final capture Jeremiah 52:17, Jeremiah 52:20. Probably they were restored to their original uses by Hezekiah 2 Chronicles 29:19. A PAVEMENT OF STONES - Probably a pavement made expressly, for the stones of the court seem to have been covered with a planking of cedar 1Ki 6:36;...

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 16:1 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. 2 KINGS 16:1 _General character of the reign of Ahaz_._ _Ahaz was the most wicked king that had as yet reigned in Judah. The author, the

AND KING AHAZ CUT OFF THE BORDERS OF THE BASES, AND REMOVED THE LAVER FROM OFF THEM,.... In the temple there were ten lavers for the priests to wash in, which are here meant, the singular being put for the plural; and these had bases of brass, on which they were set; and about these bases were borders, which had on them figures of various creatures, lions, oxen, and cherubim; and these Ahaz cut off, either to deface them, in contempt of them, or to convert the brass to other uses, as he might also the bases themselves, since he removed the lavers from off of them, see 1 Kings 7:27 AND TOOK DOWN THE SEA FROM OFF THE BRASEN OXEN [THAT WERE] UNDER IT; the molten sea Solomon made, which he set upon twelve oxen made of brass; this Ahaz took down from thence, either to abate its magnificence, and render it despicable, or for the sake of the brass, of which the oxen were made, se

7. KING AHAZ AND ASSYRIA CHAPTER 16 _ 1. King Ahaz and his reign (2 Kings 16:1; 2 Chronicles 28)_ 2. The invasion by the two kings (2 Kings 16:5) 3. Ahaz appeals to Assyria (2 Kings 16:7) 4. Ahaz in Damascus and the idolatrous altar (2 Kings 16:9) 5. Death of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:19; 2 Chronicles 28:26) Righteou

2 KINGS 16. REIGN OF AHAZ. This chapter is assigned to different sources, and deals mainly with the king's alteration of the Temple, though it alludes to his apostasy and his wars. The Temple record (2 Kings 16:10) may be compared to similar passages in 2 K._ e.g._ 2 Kings 11, 2 Kings 12:4 ff. The verdict on Ahaz is more unfavourable than on any king of Judah except Manasseh. 2 KINGS 16:1. AHAZ. The full name was _Yehoahaz,_ and it appears in almost this form in an inscription of Tiglath-pileser. The king mentioned in 2 Kings 23:31 is properly Jehoahaz II....

THE LAVER. Compare 1 Kings 7:23; 2 Chronicles 28:24; 2 Chronicles 28:25. THE SEA. Compare 1 Kings 7:23....

_Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases_ For a description of these bases, which were moveable stands to carry the lavers used for the sacrifices, see 1 Kings 7:27-39. The borders were of highly wrought ornamental work, made by Hiram of Tyre for king Solomon. _removed the laver from off them_ i.e. From each of them. There were ten bases, with a laver on the top of each one. _and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen_ This sea was also the work of Hiram. See 1 Kings 7:23-26. It was supported by twelve oxen, three looking each way, and standing with their tails beneath the huge vessel. Ahaz took these beautiful castings away and allowed the sea to rest upon stone supports. As all these acts are in the next verse said to be done -because of the king of Assyria" we may su

B. THE REIGN OF AHAZ 16:1-20 Considerable attention is devoted to Ahaz because of the religious significance of his reign. For the first time since the bloody reign of Athaliah, the Davidic dynasty faced the threat of removal from the throne in Jerusalem. To preserve himself on the throne, Ahaz appealed for aid from Assyria. He thus brought Judah under the political influence andwhat is worsethe religious influence of the Mesopotamian superpower. After a brief introduction to the reign of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:1-4), the author discusses the Syro-Ephraimitic invasion of Judah (2 Kings 16:5-9), and the Temple alterations made by Ahaz (2 Kings 16:10-18). _1. INTRODUCTION TO THE REIGN OF AHAZ_ ...