2 Kings 16

7-9 In these verses the writer describes the second major phase of Ahaz’s reign: the first was his apostasy and the resulting invasions by his neighbors; the second was his appeal to Assyria for help and his subsequent subservience to Assyria’s king, Tiglath-Pileser (verse 7). Ahaz’s turning to the king of Assyria for help instead of to the Lord was just one more sign of his ungodliness. Indeed, the prophet Isaiah counseled Ahaz to stand firm in his faith and not be afraid (Isaiah 7:1-9).

According to 2 Chronicles 28:20-21, the alliance Ahaz sought with TiglathPileser turned out to give him trouble instead of help.⁵⁸ But initially, Ahaz received help in return for all the silver and gold he gave the Assyrian king: TiglathPileser captured Damascus (the capital of Aram) and put itsking,Rezin,todeath(verses8-9).Inaddition, he seized the northern part of Israel and deported its people (2 Kings 15:29). Thus TiglathPileser helped save Judah from its two main attackers, but in exchange he made Judah subject to Assyria.

10-16 After meeting TiglathPileser in Damascus, Ahaz saw an altar in that city, a copy of which he wanted to install in Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem. With the help of Uriah the priest, this pagan altar was constructed and then put in the place of the bronze altar of the Lord (2 Chronicles 4:1); when Ahaz returned to Jerusalem he presented offerings on this new altar (verses 12-13)—pagan versions of the same offerings Solomon hadoffered on the Lord’s bronze altar at the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8:64). Ahaz ordered Uriah to henceforth use this new altar for all offerings and sacrifices; Ahaz would use the bronze altar only for seeking guidance⁵⁹ (verse 15).

17-20 Ahaz not only set up a pagan altar but he also defaced and defiled other pieces of the temple furnishings, including the basins, the moveable stands, and the Sea (1 Kings 7:23,27,30). He removed the royal entryway outside the temple, in deference to the king of Assyria (verse 18). But even worse than all this, Ahaz shut the doors of the LORD’S temple and set up pagan places of worship in every town in Judah (2 Chronicles 28:24-25). Ahaz intended to replace the worship of God with the worship of idols. So evil was this king that when he died he was not placed in the royal sepulcher (2 Chronicles 24:25; 28:27). It is all the more amazing that Ahaz’s son Hezekiah, having had such an ungodly father, turned out to be such a godly king (2 Kings Chapters 18-20). God’s grace was still falling on the house of David.