Melachim Bais 16:3

3 But he walked in the derech of the Melachim of Yisroel, and even made bno to pass through the eish, according to the to’avot of the Goyim, whom Hashem cast out from before the Bnei Yisroel.

Melachim Bais 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.

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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.

Melachim Bais 16:3 In-Context

1 6 In the seventeenth year of Pekach Ben Remalyahu, Achaz Ben Yotam Melech Yehudah began to reign.

3 But he walked in the derech of the Melachim of Yisroel, and even made bno to pass through the eish, according to the to’avot of the Goyim, whom Hashem cast out from before the Bnei Yisroel.

4 And he sacrificed and burnt ketoret in the [idolatrous] high places, and on the geva’ot, and under every spreading tree.

5 Then Retzin Melech Aram (Syria) and Pekach Ben Remalyahu Melech Yisroel came up to Yerushalayim for milchamah; and they besieged Achaz, but could not overcome him.