2 Kings 16:3

3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Yisra'el, yes, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Yisra'el.

2 Kings 16:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 16:3

But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel.
&c.] 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, (See Gill on 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 Carthaginians, a colony of the Phoenicians, used in time of calamity to offer human sacrifices, and even their children, to appease their deities F12. Theodoret says, he had seen in some cities, in his time, piles kindled once a year, over which not only boys, but men, would leap, and infants were carried by their mothers through the flames; which seemed to be an expiation or purgation, and which he takes to be the same with the sin of Ahaz.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 Justin. e Trogo, Hist. l. 18. c. 6. Curt. Hist. l. 4. c. 3. Pescennius Festus apud Lactant. de fals. Relig. l. 1. c. 21.

2 Kings 16:3 In-Context

1 In the seventeenth year of Pekach the son of Remalyahu Achaz the son of Yotam king of Yehudah began to reign.
2 Twenty years old was Achaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Yerushalayim: and he didn't do that which was right in the eyes of the LORD his God, like David his father.
3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Yisra'el, yes, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Yisra'el.
4 He sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
5 Then Retzin king of Aram and Pekach son of Remalyahu king of Yisra'el came up to Yerushalayim to war: and they besieged Achaz, but could not overcome him.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.