2 Rois - Caput 16

2 Rois 16.1 anno septimodecimo Phacee filii Romeliae regnavit Ahaz filius Ioatham regis Iuda 2 Rois 16.2 viginti annorum erat Ahaz cum regnare coepisset et sedecim annis regnavit in Hierusalem non fecit quod erat placitum in conspectu Domini Dei sui sicut David pater eius 2 Rois 16.3 sed ambulavit in via regum Israhel insuper et filium suum consecravit transferens per ignem secundum idola gentium quae dissipavit Dominus coram filiis Israhel 2 Rois 16.4 immolabat quoque victimas et adolebat incensum in excelsis et in collibus et sub omni ligno frondoso 2 Rois 16.5 tunc ascendit Rasin rex Syriae et Phacee filius Romeliae rex Israhel in Hierusalem ad proeliandum cumque obsiderent Ahaz non valuerunt superare eum 2 Rois 16.6 in tempore illo restituit Rasin rex Syriae Ahilam Syriae et eiecit Iudaeos de Ahilam et Idumei venerunt in Ahilam et habitaverunt ibi usque in diem hanc 2 Rois 16.7 misit autem Ahaz nuntios ad Theglathfalassar regem Assyriorum dicens servus tuus et filius tuus ego sum ascende et salvum me fac de manu regis Syriae et de manu regis Israhel qui consurrexerunt adversum me 2 Rois 16.8 et cum collegisset argentum et aurum quod invenire potuit in domo Domini et in thesauris regis misit regi Assyriorum munera 2 Rois 16.9 qui et adquievit voluntati eius ascendit enim rex Assyriorum in Damascum et vastavit eam et transtulit habitatores eius Cyrenen Rasin autem interfecit 2 Rois 16.10 perrexitque rex Ahaz in occursum Theglathfalassar regis Assyriorum in Damascum cumque vidisset altare Damasci misit rex Ahaz ad Uriam sacerdotem exemplar eius et similitudinem iuxta omne opus eius 2 Rois 16.11 extruxitque Urias sacerdos altare iuxta omnia quae praeceperat rex Ahaz de Damasco ita fecit Urias sacerdos donec veniret rex Ahaz de Damasco 2 Rois 16.12 cumque venisset rex de Damasco vidit altare et veneratus est illud ascenditque et immolavit holocausta et sacrificium suum 2 Rois 16.13 et libavit libamina et fudit sanguinem pacificorum quae obtulerat super altare 2 Rois 16.14 porro altare aeneum quod erat coram Domino transtulit de facie templi et de loco altaris et de loco templi Domini posuitque illud ex latere altaris ad aquilonem 2 Rois 16.15 praecepit quoque rex Ahaz Uriae sacerdoti dicens super altare maius offer holocaustum matutinum et sacrificium vespertinum et holocaustum regis et sacrificium eius et holocaustum universi populi terrae et sacrificia eorum et libamina eorum et omnem sanguinem holocausti et universum sanguinem victimae super illud effundes altare vero aeneum erit paratum ad voluntatem meam 2 Rois 16.16 fecit igitur Urias sacerdos iuxta omnia quae praeceperat rex Ahaz 2 Rois 16.17 tulit autem rex Ahaz celatas bases et luterem qui erat desuper et mare deposuit de bubus aeneis qui sustentabant illud et posuit super pavimentum stratum lapide 2 Rois 16.18 Musach quoque sabbati quod aedificaverat in templo et ingressum regis exterius convertit in templo Domini propter regem Assyriorum 2 Rois 16.19 reliqua autem verborum Ahaz quae fecit nonne haec scripta sunt in libro sermonum dierum regum Iuda 2 Rois 16.20 dormivitque Ahaz cum patribus suis et sepultus est cum eis in civitate David et regnavit Ezechias filius eius pro eo

2 Rois : Caput 16

The Reign of Ahaz in Judah

Chapter 16 of the book of 2 Kings immerses us in the reign of Ahaz, King of Judah, revealing how a ruler's infidelity can gravely affect a nation. Through Ahaz's idolatrous practices, his alliance with Assyria, and the changes made to the temple, this seminal text highlights the consequences of royal apostasy. It also illustrates the influence of pagan nations on God's people and the resulting spiritual decline.

At the same time, 2 Kings 16 contrasts human infidelity with God's enduring faithfulness to His people. We invite you to examine with us five biblical passages that shed light on the profound themes of this alarming chapter.

Isaiah 7:1-2

"When Ahaz son of Jotham, grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel attacked Jerusalem but could not conquer it. And it was said to the house of David, 'Aram has joined forces with Ephraim.' So the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people will tremble, as the trees of the forest shake before the wind."

This passage from Isaiah provides additional context for the political situation facing Ahaz in 2 Kings 16.

2 Chronicles 28:22-23

"In his distress, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord. He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him, for he thought, 'Since the gods of the kings of Syria are helping them, I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me too.' But this is what caused his downfall and that of all Israel."

This passage from Chronicles offers additional perspective on Ahaz's idolatrous actions mentioned in 2 Kings 16.

Isaiah 8:7-8

"Therefore the Lord will bring against them the mighty and powerful waters of the river, the king of Assyria with all his might. It will overflow all its channels and pass over all its banks, and it will flood Judah up to its neck."

This prophecy of Isaiah refers to the Assyrian invasion mentioned in 2 Kings 16, which Ahaz sought as an alliance.

Micah 1:1

"The word of the Lord that came to Micaiah the Morshethite during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, concerning the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem."

This verse places the ministry of the prophet Micah during the reign of Ahaz, providing a prophetic context for the events of 2 Kings 16.

Hosea 5:13

"When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, Ephraim turned to Assyria and asked the great king for help. But he was not able to heal them or bind up their wounds."

This prophecy of Hosea criticizes the policy of alliances with Assyria, which Ahaz pursued in 2 Kings 16.