Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
walked in the way of the kings of Israel—This is descriptive of the early part of his reign, when, like the kings of Israel, he patronized the symbolic worship of God by images but he gradually went farther into gross idolatry (II Chronicles 28:2).
made his son to pass through the fire— (II Kings 23:10). The hands of the idol Moloch being red hot, the children were passed through between them, which was considered a form of lustration. There is reason to believe that, in certain circumstances, the children were burnt to death (Psalms 106:37). This was strongly prohibited in the law (Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 20:2-5; Deuteronomy 18:10), although there is no evidence that it was practised in Israel till the time of Ahaz.
AHAZ' WICKED REIGN OVER JUDAH. (2Ki. 16:1-16)
Ahaz . . . did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord—[See on II Chronicles 28:1.] The character of this king's reign, the voluptuousness and religious degeneracy of all classes of the people, are graphically portrayed in the writings of Isaiah, who prophesied at that period. The great increase of worldly wealth and luxury in the reigns of Azariah and Jotham had introduced a host of corruptions, which, during his reign, and by the influence of Ahaz, bore fruit in the idolatrous practices of every kind which prevailed in all parts of the kingdom (see II Chronicles 28:24).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 2 Kings 16:3:
2 Kings 21:6
2 Chronicles 28:1-4
Isaiah 7:12
Isaiah 8:19
Hosea 12:2
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
