2 Kings 16:3

_BUT HE WALKED IN THE WAY OF THE KINGS OF ISRAEL, YEA, AND MADE HIS SON TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRE, ACCORDING TO THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE HEATHEN, WHOM THE LORD CAST OUT FROM BEFORE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL._ Walked in the way of the kings of Israel. This is descriptive of the early part of his reign, when, like the kings of Israel, he patronized the symbolic worship of God by images, but he gradually went further into gross idolatry (2 Chronicles 28:2). MADE HIS SON TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRE (2 Kings 23:10). The hands of the idol Moloch, or Baal, being red hot, the children were passed through between them, which was considered a form of lustration; but there is reason to believe that in certain circumstances the children were burnt to death ...

1-9 Few and evil were the days of Ahaz. Those whose hearts condemn them, will go any where in a day of distress, rather than to God. The sin was its own punishment. It is common for those who bring themselves into straits by one sin, to try to help themselves out by another....

Verse 2 Kings 16:3. _MADE HIS SON TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRE_] On this passage I beg leave to refer the reader to my notes on Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 20:2; Leviticus 20:14, where the subject is considered at large....

Ahaz was the worst of all the kings of Judah. He imitated the worst of the Israelite kings - Ahab and Ahaziah - by a re-introduction of the Baal worship, which had been rooted out of Israel by Jehu and out of Judah by Jehoiada. AND MADE IRIS SON TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRE - i. e. Ahaz adopted the Moloch worship of the Ammonites and Moabites 2 Kings 3:27; Micah 6:7, and sacrificed at least one son, probably his firstborn, according to the horrid rites of those nations, and the Canaanite tribes Deuteronomy 12:31; Psalms 106:37. Hereto, apparently, the Jews had been guilt

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

BUT HE WALKED IN THE WAY OF THE KINGS OF ISRAEL..... Worshipping the calves as they did; which, as it was contrary to the religious sentiments in which he was educated, so against his political interest, which was the only, or at least the principal thing, which swayed with the kings of Israel to continue that idolatry: YEA, AND MADE HIS SON TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRE; between two fires to Molech, by way of lustration; which might be true of Hezekiah his son, and others of his sons, for he had more he burnt with fire, as appears from 2 Chronicles 28:3, both ways were used in that sort of idolatry, Leviticus 18:21, ACCORDING TO THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE HEATHEN, WHOM THE LORD CAST OUT FROM BEFORE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; the old Canaanites; so the

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....

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....

_he walked in the way of the kings of Israel_ This is more fully explained by the Chronicler, and means that he followed after all kinds of heathen idolatry, not that he introduced the worship of the calves from Israel into Judah. -He made molten images for the Baalim, and burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom." -It is hard not to be infected with a contagious neighbourhood. Whoever read that the kingdom of Israel was seasoned with the vicinity of the true religion of Judah? Goodness, such as our nature is, is not so apt to spread. A tainted air doth more easily affect a sound body, than a wholesome air can clear the sick". (Bp. Hall.) _yea, and made his son to pass through the fire_ i.e. To Moloch. Thus introducing into Judah once more, as in Solomon's days (1 Kings 11:7) the worship of -the abomination of the children of Ammon". The words of this verse might be made to r