Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Ahaz sacrifices burnt offerings outside the temple and consigns his son to fire. He pays Tiglath-pileser to destroy Damascus when the Arameans besiege Jerusalem. Ahaz builds a new altar and makes changes to the temple.
II. Photo
Ahaz sketches plans for a new altar: “King Ahaz sent the priest Uriah a sketch of the altar and a detailed plan of its construction.” (v. 10b)
III. Important Verses
2b-4: He did not do what was pleasing to the LORD his God, as his ancestor David had done, but followed the ways of the kings of Israel. He even consigned his son to the fire, in the abhorrent fashion of the nations which the LORD had dispossessed before the Israelites. He sacrificed and made offerings at the shrines, on the hills, and under every leafy tree.
5, 7-9: Then King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel advanced on Jerusalem for battle. They besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome [him]… Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria to say, “I am your servant and your son; come and deliver me from the hands of the king of Aram and from the hands of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” Ahaz took the gold and silver that were on hand in the House of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent them as a gift to the king of Assyria. The king of Assyria responded to his request; the king of Assyria marched against Damascus and captured it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir and put Rezin to death.
10-11: When King Ahaz went to Damascus to greet King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, he saw the altar in Damascus. King Ahaz sent the priest Uriah a sketch of the altar and a detailed plan of its construction. The priest Uriah did just as King Ahaz had instructed him from Damascus; the priest Uriah built the altar before King Ahaz returned from Damascus.
IV. Outline
1-2a. Introductory statement
2b-4. Ahaz’s sins
5. Jerusalem is besieged by Aram
6. The might of Rezin king of Aram
7-8. Ahaz seeks Tiglath-pileser’s help
9. Tiglath-pileser destroys damascus
10-11. Ahaz builds a Damascus-like altar
12-13. Ahaz consecrates the new altar
14. The old altar is moved
15-16. Ahaz commands Uriah to use the new altar
17-18. Other changes to the temple
19-20. Summary statement
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Cogan, Mordechai and Hayim Tadmor. “II Kings” The Anchor Bible v. 11 (USA: Doubleday, 1988).
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Hobbs, T.R. “2 Kings” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 13 (Waco, Texas: Wordbooks, 1985).
Photo taken from http://www.tisd.k12.mi.us/TTC/pencils.jpg
