2 Kings 16:16

¹⁵Then King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, “Offer on the great altar the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering and grain offering, as well as the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings of all the people of the land. Sprinkle on the altar all the blood of the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar to seek guidance.”¹⁶So Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had commanded.

Summary

In this verse, King Ahaz alters the temple by changing its design to resemble an altar he saw in Damascus. This act of altering the worship practices of the temple reflects Ahaz's disregard for God's commands and his willingness to adopt pagan customs. It signifies a departure from true worship and a compromise of faith, leading the people away from God. Ahaz's actions serve as a warning against syncretism and the dangers of mixing true worship with practices that are contrary to God's will.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house,.... Used on the sabbath day, either for the people to sit under to hear the law explained by the priests; or for the course of the priests to be in, that went out that day, to give way to the course that entered, which yet did not depart from the temple till evening; or rather for the king himself to sit under, while attending the temple service of that day, and might be the cover of the scaffold, Ch2 6:13 and be very rich cloth of gold; and therefore he took it away for the king of Assyria, or to signify that he should not frequent the place any more: and hence it follows: and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the Lord; the way which led from the king's palace to it, he turned it a round about way, that it might not be discerned there was a way from the one to the other: and this he did for the king of Assyria; to gratify him, that he might from hence conclude that he had wholly relinquished the worship of God in the temple, and should cleave to the gods of Damascus and Syria; or for fear of him, that he might not see the way into the temple, and take away the vessels; or find him, should he be obliged to hide himself there, when in danger by him.