2 Kings 16 Ahaz’s idolatry, 2 Kings 16:1–4. Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah king of Israel, war against him: he hireth Tiglath-pileser against them, 2 Kings 16:5–9.

In the seventeenth year of Pekah; of which See Poole “2 Kings 15:30”.

Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign: of the difficulty hence arising, See Poole “2 Kings 18:2”, to which it more properly belongs.

Made his son to pass through the fire; either, 1. By way of lustration, to pass hastily through it, so as to be scorched, and, as it were, baptized with it. Or, 2.

After the manner of the heathens: See Poole “Deut. 12:2”; See Poole “Jer. 2:20”; See Poole “Hos. 4:13”.

Because God of his own mere grace undertook their protection, as he promised to do, and disappointed the hopes and design of their enemies; of which see on Isa. 7:0.

Recovered Elath, i.e. took it from the Jews, who had not long since taken it, 2 Kings 14:22. It lay in the land of Edom, upon the Red Sea, very conveniently for navigation; of which See Poole “1 Kings 9:26”.

I am thy servant and thy son; I yield myself to thee, as thy vassal, to serve and obey thee, and pay thee tribute, upon condition thou dost assist me against my enemies.

Against Damascus, the metropolis of the Syrians, and the head of that kingdom, Isa. 7:8; as was prophesied, Amos 1:5. Kir; not Kir of Moab, Isa. 15:1, but a part of Media, which then was subject to the king of Assyria.

To meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria; to congratulate his victory, and acknowledge his favour and help, and to beg the continuance of it. Saw an altar of an excellent structure, upon which the Syrians used to offer to their idols: see 2 Chron. 28:23.

So he complied with the king’s command against his own conscience, and against the express command of that great God, to which the king and he both were subject. He made haste, and delayed not to do it, to please the king, and advance himself.

To wit, a sacrifice, and that not unto God, but unto the Syrian idols, as appears from 2 Chron. 28:23–24, to whom that altar was appropriated. Whether he offered by himself, or by a priest, is not certain.

For the heathens, and Ahaz, in imitation of them, offered the same sorts of offerings to their false gods which the Israelites did to the true, the devil being noted to be God’s ape in his worship.

The brazen altar of burnt-offerings, made by Solomon, and placed there by God’s appointment. Which was before the Lord, i.e. from before the Lord’s house: See Poole “Lev. 1:3”. From between the altar and the house of the Lord; or rather, from between his altar, &c., or, that altar, &c.

Upon the great altar, i.e. this new altar; which was greater than Solomon’s, either in quantity, or in his estimation. Whatsoever is offered to the true God, either in my name, (for possibly he did not yet utterly forsake God, but worshipped idols with him,) or on the behalf of the people, shall be…

Having once began to debauch his conscience, he could not now make an honourable retreat; and therefore proceeds to execute all the king’s commands.

Which he did, either to express his contempt of them, or to render them inconvenient for the uses to which they had been designed; or to dispose of them, or of the brass of them, in some other place and way, as best suited with his fancy; or for the king of Assyria as it follows in the next verse.

The covert for the sabbath; the form and use whereof is now unknown. It is generally understood of some building or covert; either that where the priests, after their weekly course was ended, abode until the next course came and relieved them, which was done upon the sabbath day; see 2 Kings 11:5,…