2 Kings 16:13 Study Bible: He burnt his burnt offering and his meal offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, on the altar.

◄ 2 Kings 16:13 ►

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

Study Bible

He offered his burnt offering
The Hebrew word for "burnt offering" is "olah," which signifies an offering that is completely consumed by fire, symbolizing total dedication to God. In the context of 2 Kings 16, King Ahaz is performing these offerings on an altar he constructed after a pagan model, indicating a departure from the prescribed worship of Yahweh. This act reflects a significant spiritual decline, as Ahaz prioritizes political alliances and foreign customs over faithfulness to God.

and grain offering
The "grain offering," or "minchah" in Hebrew, was typically an offering of fine flour, oil, and frankincense. It represented the fruits of human labor and was an expression of thanksgiving and dedication to God. In this context, Ahaz's offering is tainted by his syncretism, as he blends pagan practices with the worship of Yahweh, diluting the purity of the offering.

poured out his drink offering
The "drink offering," or "nesek" in Hebrew, involved the pouring out of wine, symbolizing the pouring out of one's life in service to God. However, Ahaz's actions here are not in true service to God but rather a misguided attempt to appease foreign powers and gods. This highlights the danger of compromising one's faith for worldly gain.

and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings
The "peace offering," or "shelamim" in Hebrew, was a communal meal shared between the offerer, the priests, and God, symbolizing fellowship and reconciliation. The sprinkling of blood was a sacred act meant to atone and purify. Ahaz's use of this ritual on a pagan altar underscores his spiritual infidelity and the corruption of true worship.

on the altar
The altar, in biblical terms, is a place of sacrifice and worship, a sacred space where humans meet with God. Ahaz's construction of an altar based on a pagan design, and his subsequent offerings upon it, represent a profound spiritual compromise. This act is a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments and the importance of maintaining the sanctity of worship as prescribed in Scripture.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Ahaz
The king of Judah who is central to this passage. He is known for his unfaithfulness to God, adopting pagan practices and altering the temple worship.

2. The Altar
A significant place of worship in the temple, which Ahaz modified according to a pagan design he saw in Damascus.

3. Damascus
The capital of Aram (Syria), where Ahaz saw the altar design that he replicated in Jerusalem.

4. Burnt Offering, Grain Offering, Drink Offering, Peace Offering
These are various types of sacrifices prescribed in the Mosaic Law, each with specific purposes and symbolism.

5. Uriah the Priest
The priest who complied with King Ahaz's orders to build the new altar and conduct the offerings.

Teaching Points

Faithfulness to God's Instructions
Ahaz's actions demonstrate a departure from God's prescribed worship. Believers are reminded to adhere to God's Word and not be swayed by external influences.

The Danger of Syncretism
Ahaz's incorporation of pagan practices into temple worship serves as a warning against blending worldly practices with Christian faith.

Leadership and Influence
Ahaz's decisions had a profound impact on the spiritual state of Judah. This highlights the responsibility of leaders to guide others in faithfulness to God.

The Role of Priests and Spiritual Leaders
Uriah's compliance with Ahaz's orders shows the importance of spiritual leaders standing firm in God's truth, even when pressured by authority.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Ahaz's reign is marked by turmoil and decline, illustrating the broader consequences of turning away from God.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Ahaz's modification of the altar reflect his spiritual state, and what can we learn about the importance of maintaining purity in worship?

2. In what ways can modern Christians be tempted to incorporate secular or non-biblical practices into their faith, and how can we guard against this?

3. How does the role of Uriah the priest in this passage challenge us to consider the influence and responsibility of spiritual leaders today?

4. Reflect on a time when you faced pressure to conform to worldly standards. How did you respond, and what biblical principles can guide you in similar situations?

5. Considering the broader account of Ahaz's reign, what lessons can we draw about the long-term effects of disobedience to God, both personally and communally?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Leviticus 1-7
These chapters detail the laws concerning offerings, including burnt, grain, drink, and peace offerings, providing context for the types of sacrifices Ahaz offered.

2 Chronicles 28
This chapter provides a parallel account of Ahaz's reign, offering additional insights into his actions and their consequences.

Isaiah 7
The prophet Isaiah's interactions with Ahaz, offering a divine perspective on Ahaz's political and religious decisions.

Sermons

A People's King and Priest, or Kinghood and Priesthood	David Thomas, D. D.	2 Kings 16:1-20
A People's King and Priest; Or, Kinghood and Priesthood	D. Thomas	2 Kings 16:1-20
Steps in a Downward Path: the Reign of Ahaz	C.H. Irwin	2 Kings 16:1-20
The Altar to Inquire By	D. Davies.	2 Kings 16:10-15
The Cosmopolitan in Religion	C. Brown.	2 Kings 16:10-15
Using God for Emergencies	W. Aikman, D. D.	2 Kings 16:10-15
Religious Innovations	J. Orr	2 Kings 16:10-20

People

Ahaz, Aram, David, Edomites, Hezekiah, Israelites, Jotham, Pekah, Remaliah, Rezin, Syrians, Tiglathpileser, Uriah, Urijah

Places

Assyria, Damascus, Elath, Jerusalem, Kir, Syria

Topics

Altar, Blood, Burned, Burnt, Burnt-offering, Cereal, Dashed, Draining, Drink, Drink-offering, Fellowship, Grain, Libation, Meal, Meal-offering, Meat, Meat-offering, Oblation, Offered, Offering, Offerings, Peace, Peace-offering, Peace-offerings, Perfumeth, Poured, Poureth, Present, Sprinkled, Sprinkleth, Threw

Dictionary of Bible Themes

2 Kings 16:13

2 Kings 16:1-20

2 Kings 16:7-18

7471 temples, heathen

2 Kings 16:10-16

5811 compromise
7245 Judah, kingdom of

Library

That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party, According as is Contained in the Public Resolutions, is Sinful and Unlawful.
That The Employing Of, And Associating With The Malignant Party, According As Is Contained In The Public Resolutions, Is Sinful And Unlawful. If there be in the land a malignant party of power and policy, and the exceptions contained in the Act of Levy do comprehend but few of that party, then there need be no more difficulty to prove, that the present public resolutions and proceedings do import an association and conjunction with a malignant party, than to gather a conclusion from clear premises. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Of the Power of Making Laws. The Cruelty of the Pope and his Adherents, in this Respect, in Tyrannically Oppressing and Destroying Souls.
1. The power of the Church in enacting laws. This made a source of human traditions. Impiety of these traditions. 2. Many of the Papistical traditions not only difficult, but impossible to be observed. 3. That the question may be more conveniently explained, nature of conscience must be defined. 4. Definition of conscience explained. Examples in illustration of the definition. 5. Paul's doctrine of submission to magistrates for conscience sake, gives no countenance to the Popish doctrine of the obligation …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

That Upon the Conquest and Slaughter of vitellius Vespasian Hastened his Journey to Rome; but Titus his Son Returned to Jerusalem.
1. And now, when Vespasian had given answers to the embassages, and had disposed of the places of power justly, [25] and according to every one's deserts, he came to Antioch, and consulting which way he had best take, he preferred to go for Rome, rather than to march to Alexandria, because he saw that Alexandria was sure to him already, but that the affairs at Rome were put into disorder by Vitellius; so he sent Mucianus to Italy, and committed a considerable army both of horsemen and footmen to …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem

The Prophet Micah.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Micah signifies: "Who is like Jehovah;" and by this name, the prophet is consecrated to the incomparable God, just as Hosea was to the helping God, and Nahum to the comforting God. He prophesied, according to the inscription, under Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We are not, however, entitled, on this account, to dissever his prophecies, and to assign particular discourses to the reign of each of these kings. On the contrary, the entire collection forms only one whole. At …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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