II Kings 16

מלכים ב׳ פרק ט״ז

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: II Kings | Chapter: 16 of 25 | Day: 138 of 742

Date: June 29, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

Chapter 16 is the dark counterpart to the long line of qualified-righteous Judahite kings, recording the sixteen-year reign of Ahaz son of Jotham — the most wicked Davidic king the book has yet described. Where his predecessors merely tolerated the high places, Ahaz actively “walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,” and the text marks his depravity with its starkest charge: “he even consigned his son to the fire” (verse 3), the Molech worship of the dispossessed nations. Metzudat David explains this as passing the child between two pyres. The contrast with “David his forefather” (verse 2) is pointed: Ahaz is a son of David who has abandoned everything David stood for, and the chapter traces how his faithlessness toward God expresses itself in faithlessness toward the Temple and a fateful turn to a foreign empire for salvation.

The chapter’s political crisis is the Syro-Ephraimite war, the threat foreshadowed at the end of chapter 15. Rezin of Aram and Pekah of Israel besiege Jerusalem but cannot take it (verse 5) — the same crisis that, in the parallel account in Isaiah 7, occasions the prophet’s call to Ahaz to trust in God and the sign of Immanuel. Kings, however, records only Ahaz’s response of unbelief: rather than rely on the Lord, he sends silver and gold from the Temple and palace treasuries to Tiglath-pileser of Assyria with the abject message, “I am your servant and your son; come and deliver me” (verse 7). The strategy “works” in the short term — Assyria captures Damascus, deports its people to Kir, and kills Rezin (verse 9), fulfilling, as Radak notes, the very prophecy of Amos that “the people of Aram shall be exiled to Kir.” But Ahaz has made Judah a vassal and opened the door to the empire that will one day besiege Jerusalem itself.

The theological heart of the chapter is the corruption of the Temple service that follows (verses 10-16). Traveling to Damascus to pay homage to his Assyrian overlord, Ahaz is taken with a pagan altar he sees there, sends its design to Uriah the priest, and has a replica built in the Temple court before his return. The tragedy is compounded by Uriah’s compliance: the priest who should have resisted instead “did just as King Ahaz commanded” (verses 11, 16). Ahaz then displaces the bronze altar of the Lord — which Rashi, wrestling with whether this is Moses’s or Solomon’s altar, ultimately explains as the copper laver-accessories — shifting it to the north side so his new altar stands in the place of honor before the Sanctuary. He decrees that all the public and royal offerings be brought on his “great altar,” relegating the Lord’s bronze altar to his own occasional use (“I will decide about the bronze altar,” verse 15), inverting sacred and profane.

The chapter’s final acts of desecration (verses 17-18) show Ahaz dismantling the Temple’s furnishings — cutting off the frames of the laver-stands, removing the lavers, taking the great bronze “sea” down off its twelve oxen and setting it on a stone pavement, and altering the sabbath canopy and the king’s outer entrance “on account of the king of Assyria.” Radak reads these acts as deliberate contempt and provocation, part of the broader campaign (recorded more fully in Chronicles) in which Ahaz shut the doors of the House of God and set up altars on every corner of Jerusalem. The chapter closes with Ahaz’s death and — in one of the great reversals of the book — the accession of his son Hezekiah, who will reverse virtually everything his father did and become the model of royal faithfulness. The juxtaposition is the narrator’s quiet promise that the Davidic line, even at its lowest, still carries the seed of restoration.

פרק ט״ז · Chapter 16

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

בִּשְׁנַת֙ שְׁבַֽע־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה לְפֶ֖קַח בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֑הוּ מָלַ֛ךְ אָחָ֥ז בֶּן־יוֹתָ֖ם מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃

English:

In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of King Jotham of Judah became king.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ אָ��ָ֣ז בְּמׇלְכ֔וֹ וְשֵׁשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְלֹא־עָשָׂ֣ה הַיָּשָׁ֗ר בְּעֵינֵ֛י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָ֖יו כְּדָוִ֥ד אָבִֽיו׃

English:

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was pleasing to the ETERNAL his God, as his forefather David had done,

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ בְּדֶ֖רֶךְ מַלְכֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְגַ֤ם אֶת־בְּנוֹ֙ הֶעֱבִ֣יר בָּאֵ֔שׁ כְּתֹֽעֲבוֹת֙ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹרִ֤ישׁ יְהֹוָה֙ אֹתָ֔ם מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

but followed the ways of the kings of Israel. He even consigned his son to the fire, in the abhorrent fashion of the nations that GOD had dispossessed before the Israelites.

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיְזַבֵּ֧חַ וַיְקַטֵּ֛ר בַּבָּמ֖וֹת וְעַל־הַגְּבָע֑וֹת וְתַ֖חַת כׇּל־עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָֽן׃

English:

He sacrificed and made offerings at the shrines, on the hills, and under every leafy tree.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

אָ֣ז יַעֲלֶ֣ה רְצִ֣ין מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲ֠רָ֠ם וּפֶ֨קַח בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֧הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וַיָּצֻ֙רוּ֙ עַל־אָחָ֔ז וְלֹ֥א יָכְל֖וּ לְהִלָּחֵֽם׃

English:

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].

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא הֵ֠שִׁ֠יב רְצִ֨ין מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָ֤ם אֶת־אֵילַת֙ לַֽאֲרָ֔ם וַיְנַשֵּׁ֥ל אֶת־הַיְּהוּדִ֖ים מֵֽאֵיל֑וֹת (וארמים) [וַֽאֲדֹמִים֙] בָּ֣אוּ אֵילַ֔ת וַיֵּ֣שְׁבוּ שָׁ֔ם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

English:

At that time King Rezin of Aram recovered Elath for Aram;aAram Emendation yields “Edom.” he drove out the Judahites from Elath, and Edomites came to Elath and settled there, as is still the case.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח אָחָ֜ז מַלְאָכִ֗ים אֶל־תִּ֠גְלַ֠ת פְּלֶ֤סֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר עַבְדְּךָ֥ וּבִנְךָ֖ אָ֑נִי עֲלֵ֨ה וְהוֹשִׁעֵ֜נִי מִכַּ֣ף מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָ֗ם וּמִכַּף֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַקּוֹמִ֖ים עָלָֽי׃

English:

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.”

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיִּקַּ֨ח אָחָ֜ז אֶת־הַכֶּ֣סֶף וְאֶת־הַזָּהָ֗ב הַנִּמְצָא֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה וּבְאֹֽצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח לְמֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֖וּר שֹֽׁחַד׃

English:

Ahaz took the gold and silver that were on hand in the House of GOD and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent them as a gift to the king of Assyria.

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע אֵלָיו֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר וַיַּ֩עַל֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ אַשּׁ֤וּר אֶל־דַּמֶּ֙שֶׂק֙ וַֽיִּתְפְּשֶׂ֔הָ וַיַּגְלֶ֖הָ קִ֑ירָה וְאֶת־רְצִ֖ין הֵמִֽית׃

English:

The king of Assyria responded to his request; the king of Assyria marched against Damascus and captured it. He deported its inhabitantsbits inhabitants Heb. “it.” to Kir and put Rezin to death.

פסוק י׳ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אָחָ֡ז לִ֠קְרַ֠את תִּגְלַ֨ת פִּלְאֶ֤סֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ דּוּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וַיַּ֥רְא אֶת־הַ��ִּזְבֵּ֖חַ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּדַמָּ֑שֶׂק וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אָחָ֜ז אֶל־אוּרִיָּ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֗ן אֶת־דְּמ֧וּת הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ וְאֶת־תַּבְנִית֖וֹ לְכׇֽל־מַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃

English:

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.

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיִּ֛בֶן אוּרִיָּ֥ה הַכֹּהֵ֖ן אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ כְּכֹ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַח֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אָחָ֜ז מִדַּמֶּ֗שֶׂק כֵּ֤ן עָשָׂה֙ אוּרִיָּ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֔ן עַד־בּ֥וֹא הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־אָחָ֖ז מִדַּמָּֽשֶׂק׃

English:

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.

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֤א הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ מִדַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וַיַּ֥רְא הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיִּקְרַ֥ב הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ וַיַּ֥עַל עָלָֽיו׃

English:

When the king returned from Damascus, and when the king saw the altar, the king drew near the altar, ascended it,

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַיַּקְטֵ֤ר אֶת־עֹֽלָתוֹ֙ וְאֶת־מִנְחָת֔וֹ וַיַּסֵּ֖ךְ אֶת־נִסְכּ֑וֹ וַיִּזְרֹ֛ק אֶת־דַּֽם־הַשְּׁלָמִ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־ל֖וֹ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

English:

and offered his burnt offering and grain offering; he poured his libation, and he dashed the blood of his offering of well-being against the altar.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וְאֵ֨ת הַמִּזְבַּ֣ח הַנְּחֹ֘שֶׁת֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָה֒ וַיַּקְרֵ֗ב מֵאֵת֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַבַּ֔יִת מִבֵּין֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וּמִבֵּ֖ין בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹת֛וֹ עַל־יֶ֥רֶךְ הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ צָפֽוֹנָה׃

English:

As for the bronze altar that had been before GOD, he moved it from its place in front of the temple, between the [new] altar and the House of GOD,cbetween the [new] altar and the House of GOD Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and placed it on the north side of the [new] altar.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

(ויצוהו) [וַיְצַוֶּ֣ה] הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־אָ֠חָ֠ז אֶת־אוּרִיָּ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֜ן לֵאמֹ֗ר עַ֣ל הַמִּזְבֵּ֣חַ הַגָּד֡וֹל הַקְטֵ֣ר אֶת־עֹֽלַת־הַבֹּ֩קֶר֩ וְאֶת־מִנְחַ֨ת הָעֶ֜רֶב וְֽאֶת־עֹלַ֧ת הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ וְאֶת־מִנְחָת֗וֹ וְ֠אֵ֠ת עֹלַ֞ת כׇּל־עַ֤ם הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ וּמִנְחָתָ֣ם וְנִסְכֵּיהֶ֔ם וְכׇל־דַּ֥ם עֹלָ֛ה וְכׇל־דַּם־זֶ֖בַח עָלָ֣יו תִּזְרֹ֑ק וּמִזְבַּ֧ח הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת יִֽהְיֶה־לִּ֖י לְבַקֵּֽר׃

English:

And King Ahaz commanded the priest Uriah: “On the great altardthe great altar I.e., the new one. you shall offer the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering and the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering, with the burnt offerings of all the people of the land, their grain offerings and their libations. And against it you shall dash the blood of all the burnt offerings and all the blood of the sacrifices. And I will decide about the bronze altar.”ethe bronze altar I.e., the old one, cf. v. 14.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֖עַשׂ אוּרִיָּ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֑ן כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֖ה הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אָחָֽז׃

English:

Uriah did just as King Ahaz commanded.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיְקַצֵּץ֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אָחָ֜ז אֶת־הַמִּסְגְּר֣וֹת הַמְּכוֹנֹ֗ת וַיָּ֤סַר מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶם֙ (ואת) [אֶת־]הַכִּיֹּ֔ר וְאֶת־הַיָּ֣ם הוֹרִ֔ד מֵעַ֛ל הַבָּקָ֥ר הַנְּחֹ֖שֶׁת אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּחְתֶּ֑יהָ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֹת֔וֹ עַ֖ל מַרְצֶ֥פֶת אֲבָנִֽים׃

English:

King Ahaz cut off the insets—the laver stands—and removed the lavers from them. He also removed the tank from the bronze oxen that supported it and set it on a stone pavement—

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וְאֶת־[מוּסַ֨ךְ] (מיסך) הַשַּׁבָּ֜ת אֲשֶׁר־בָּנ֣וּ בַבַּ֗יִת וְאֶת־מְב֤וֹא הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַֽחִיצ֔וֹנָה הֵסֵ֖ב בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה מִפְּנֵ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃

English:

on account of the king of Assyria.fon account of the king of Assyria I.e., because of the metal given him in tribute. He also extended to the House of GOD the sabbath passage that had been built in the palace and the king’s outer entrance.gthe sabbath passage … outer entrance Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י אָחָ֖ז אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃

English:

The other events of Ahaz’s reign, and his actions, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Judah.

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב אָחָז֙ עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו וַיִּקָּבֵ֥ר עִם־אֲבֹתָ֖יו בְּעִ֣יר דָּוִ֑ד וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ חִזְקִיָּ֥הוּ בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ {פ}

English:

Ahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David; his son Hezekiah succeeded him as king.

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