2 Kings 16:3

Translations

Modern

Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

Traditional

But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel.

Literal

And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and he even made his son pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom YHWH had cast out from before the sons of Israel.

Latin

…sed ambulavit in via regum Israël: insuper et filium suum consecravit, transferens per ignem secundum idola gentium, quæ dissipavit Dominus coram filiis Israël.

Original

Hebrew

English

Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

Notes

2 Kings 16:2–3

David was Ahaz's ancestor. He is the benchmark for judging the spiritual character of Judah's kings (2 Kings 14:3; 1 Kings 15:3, 11).
he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel: Ahaz was one of Judah's most wicked kings. He adopted Israel's false religion and the pagan practices of other nations, even sacrificing his own son in fire (see Jeremiah 19:5; 32:35). Levitical laws forbade such sacrifices as detestable to the Lord (Leviticus 18:10; 20:1–5), yet God's people continued the practice (Isaiah 30:33; Jeremiah 7:31) until Josiah's reforms (2 Kings 23:10).

Theme notes and profiles

Ahaz Assyria Purity and Identity

Events

Reign of Ahaz

Related verses

Deuteronomy 12:31
You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
Leviticus 18:21
You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
2 Kings 21:2
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
2 Kings 21:11
“Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed all these abominations, acting more wickedly than the Amorites who preceded him, and with his idols has caused Judah to sin,
Psalm 106:37–38
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
2 Kings 17:17
They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.
Jeremiah 32:35
They have built the high places of Baal in the Valley of Ben-hinnom to make their sons and daughters pass through the fire to Molech—something I never commanded them, nor had it ever entered My mind, that they should commit such an abomination and cause Judah to sin.
2 Chronicles 33:6
He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.
2 Chronicles 33:2
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
2 Chronicles 22:3
Ahaziah also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in wickedness.
1 Kings 16:31–33
And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.
1 Kings 22:52–53
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.

Parallels

2 Chronicles 28:1–4

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Abomination Ahaz (King) Gehenna High Place Kings, Books of First and Second Nineveh, Ninevite

Topics

Ahaz: King of Judah, Son and Successor of Jotham: Idolatrous Abominations of Children: Caused to Pass Through Fire Fire: Children Caused to Pass Through Idolatry: Wicked Practices of Human Sacrifices Kings: Who Reigned Over Judah: Ahaz Molech: Children Sacrificed To Offerings: Human Sacrifices: Israelites Rulers: Wicked: Ahaz, Burning his own Children in Idolatrous Sacrifice The Heathen: Evil of Imitating

2 Kings 16:3

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