2 Kings 16:10 - Meaning and Application

Though Ahaz had already sacrificed in the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree (2 Kings 16:4), God’s altar had still remained in place and in use. The king’s burnt offerings and grain offerings were still being offered on it by the priests who served there (2 Kings 16:15). But here wicked Ahaz removes it and puts an idolatrous altar in its place, a bolder attack on true worship than any earlier king had made.

First, Ahaz takes the design for this new altar from one he saw in Damascus, and he does it himself (2 Kings 16:10). The king of Assyria had captured Damascus, and Ahaz went there to congratulate him, thank him for helping him, and receive his orders as though he were his servant and son. If Ahaz had been faithful to God, he would not have needed to bow so low before a foreign ruler.

While he was in Damascus, perhaps admiring the place, or more likely joining in their worship, he saw an altar that greatly pleased him. It was not the plain, old altar he had known in Jerusalem, but one likely decorated with carved images and other eye-catching features. Its outward beauty and strange design stirred his feelings, and he thought it was far more impressive than the altar God had given.

Ahaz wanted one just like it. He had a pattern made at once and sent it ahead to Urijah the priest, ordering him to build it before he came home. The pattern God showed Moses on the mountain, or David by the Spirit, was far better than this model from Damascus. Idolaters follow what their eyes desire, which is why Scripture says they go after their idols as though unfaithful in marriage. True worshipers, however, worship the true God by faith.

Second, Urijah the priest makes the altar for him (2 Kings 16:11). This Urijah was likely the chief priest in charge of temple worship at the time. Ahaz did not even need to give a formal order. He simply made his wishes known, and Urijah got to work right away, perhaps eager to please the king.

Maybe Urijah told himself that this would keep the king coming to the temple in Jerusalem instead of turning completely to the high places and groves. He may have thought, “If we give him this, he will bring his sacrifices here, and we will still be paid.” But whatever excuse he had, it was a shameful act for a priest, especially a chief priest, to make this altar for an idolatrous ruler.

By doing this, he misused his authority and lowered the honor of his priesthood. He made himself a servant to sinful desires. He also betrayed his duty. As a priest, he was bound to protect God’s commands and resist changes to them. To help the king set up an altar that challenged the altar God had appointed him to serve was deep betrayal. If he had only allowed it under pressure, tried to stop it, or at least delayed it until he could speak with the king, it would have been less guilty. But he gladly carried out the command, which was an insult to God and could not be excused.

Third, the altar is set up and dedicated (2 Kings 16:12-13). Urijah made sure it was ready when the king returned, and placed it near the bronze altar, though lower and farther from the temple door. Ahaz was delighted with it. He came to it with great reverence and offered his burnt offering there.

These sacrifices were not offered to the God of Israel, but to the gods of Damascus (see 2 Chronicles 28:23). Once he borrowed the Syrians’ altar, it is no surprise that he also borrowed their gods. Naaman the Syrian, by contrast, came to honor the God of Israel when he took earth from Israel to make an altar for Him.

Fourth, God’s altar is removed to make room for the new one. Urijah was modest enough to place the new altar at the lower end of the court and leave God’s altar where it was, between that altar and the house of the Lord (2 Kings 16:14). But that was not enough for Ahaz. He moved God’s altar to a hidden corner on the north side of the court and put his own altar in front of the sanctuary, in its place.

He thought his new altar looked grander and more attractive, and that it made the old one look weak. So he set aside what he thought brought no pleasure. At first, his superstition only pushed against God’s holy order. In time, it forced it out. Those who refuse to make God their all will soon come to make nothing of Him at all.

Ahaz did not dare, perhaps because he feared the people, to tear down the bronze altar completely. But he ordered all sacrifices to be offered on the new altar instead (2 Kings 16:15). As for the bronze altar, he said it would be for him to inquire by. After pushing it out from its proper use, which was to sanctify the gifts offered on it, he pretended to raise it to a higher purpose. This is common with superstitious people. The altar was never meant to be an oracle, yet Ahaz wanted to use it that way.

Some think his words meant something else, namely, “I will consider what to do with the bronze altar and give my orders about it.” The Jews say that later he used the bronze from it to make the famous sundial called the dial of Ahaz (2 Kings 20:11).

Once again, the weak obedience of the priest is noted: Urijah the priest did everything King Ahaz commanded (2 Kings 16:16). It is a sad thing when great men are led deeper into sin by those who should rebuke them and instead help them in it.