This chapter is wholly taken up with the reign of Ahaz; and we have quite enough of it, unless it were better. He had a good father, and a better son, and yet was himself one of the worst of the kings of Judah. I. He was a notorious idolater, 2 Kings 16:1–4. II.

We have here a general character of the reign of Ahaz. Few and evil were his days—few, for he died at thirty-six—evil, for we are here told, 1. That he did not that which was right like David , that is, he had none of that concern and affection for the instituted service and worship of God for…

Here is, 1. The attempt of his confederate neighbours, the kings of Syria and Israel, upon him. They thought to make themselves masters of Jerusalem, and to set a king of their own in it, Isa. 7:6.

Though Ahaz had himself sacrificed in high places, on hills, and under every green tree , yet God’s altar had hitherto continued in its place and in use, and the king’s burnt-offering and his meat-offering had been offered upon it by the priests that attended it; but here we have it taken away by…

Here is, I. Ahaz abusing the temple, not the building itself, but some of the furniture of it. 1. He defaced the bases on which the lavers were set and took down the molten sea, 2 Kings 16:17. These the priests used for washing; against them therefore he seems to have had a particular spite.