2 Kings 16:2-20 ▼

2 Ahaz (he has grasped) was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) sixteen years. And unlike David (beloved) his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God {YHWH Elohaw}.

3 Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel (he wrestles with God) and even sacrificed his son in the fire \made his son pass through the fire/, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD {YHWH} had driven out before the Israelites.

4 And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

5 Then Rezin (firm) king of Aram (exalted) and Pekah (expand) son of Remaliah (protected by YHWH) king of Israel (he wrestles with God) came up to wage war against Jerusalem (city of peace). They besieged Ahaz (he has grasped) but could not overcome him.

6 At that time Rezin (firm) king of Aram (exalted) recovered Elath (Eloth) for Aram (Syria), drove out the men of Judah (grove of lofty trees), and sent the Edomites into Elath, where they live to this day.

7 So Ahaz (he has grasped) sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser (You will uncover the wonderful bond) king of Assyria (a step), saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hands of the kings of Aram (exalted) and Israel (he wrestles with God), who are rising up against me.”

8 Ahaz (he has grasped) also took the silver and gold found in the house of the LORD {YHWH} and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and he sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria (a step).

9 So the king of Assyria (a step) responded to him, marched up to Damascus (well-watered land), and captured it. He took its people to Kir as captives (wall) and put Rezin (firm) to death.

10 Then King Ahaz (he has grasped) went to Damascus (well-watered land) to meet Tiglath-pileser (You will uncover the wonderful bond) king of Assyria (a step). On seeing the altar in Damascus, King Ahaz sent Uriah (YHWH is my light) the priest a model of the altar and complete plans for its construction.

11 And Uriah (YHWH is my light) the priest built the altar according to all the instructions King Ahaz (he has grasped) had sent from Damascus (well-watered land), and he completed it before King Ahaz returned.

12 When the king came back from Damascus (well-watered land) and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings on it.

13 He offered his burnt offering and his grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and splattered the blood of his peace offerings on the altar.

14 He also took the bronze altar that stood before the LORD {YHWH} from the front of the temple (between the new altar and the house of the LORD) and he put it on the north side of the new altar.

15 Then King Ahaz (he has grasped) commanded Uriah (YHWH is my light) the priest, “Offer on the great altar the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering and grain offering, as well as the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings of all the people of the land. Splatter on the altar all the blood of the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar to seek guidance.”

16 So Uriah (YHWH is my light) the priest did just as King Ahaz (he has grasped) had commanded.

17 King Ahaz also (he has grasped) cut off the frames of the movable stands and removed the bronze basin from each of them. He took down the Sea from the bronze oxen that were under it and put it on a stone base.

18 And on account of the king of Assyria (a step), he removed the Sabbath canopy (the base of his throne) they had built in the temple and closed the royal entryway outside the house of the LORD {YHWH}.

19 As for the rest of the acts of Ahaz (he has grasped), along with his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah (praised)?

20 And Ahaz (he has grasped) rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David (beloved), and his son Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) reigned in his place.