2 Kings 16:10

¶ And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that [was] at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

And king {H4428} Ahaz {H271} went {H3212} to Damascus {H1834} to meet {H7125} Tiglathpileser {H8407} king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}, and saw {H7200} an altar {H4196} that was at Damascus {H1834}: and king {H4428} Ahaz {H271} sent {H7971} to Urijah {H223} the priest {H3548} the fashion {H1823} of the altar {H4196}, and the pattern {H8403} of it, according to all the workmanship {H4639} thereof.

When King Achaz went to Dammesek to meet Tiglat-Pil'eser king of Ashur and saw the altar that was in Dammesek, he sent a drawing and model of the altar to Uriyah the cohen, with details of its construction and decoration.

Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria. On seeing the altar in Damascus, King Ahaz sent Uriah the priest a model of the altar and complete plans for its construction.

And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

Commentary

Context of 2 Kings 16:10

This verse is set during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, a period marked by significant political and spiritual turmoil. Judah was under pressure from a coalition of Syria (under King Rezin) and Israel (under King Pekah), who sought to overthrow Ahaz and install a puppet king. Instead of trusting in the Lord for deliverance, as the prophet Isaiah urged (see Isaiah 7:7), Ahaz chose to appeal to Tiglath-Pileser III, the powerful king of Assyria, for military aid. His journey to Damascus was to formalize this alliance and pay tribute to the Assyrian monarch.

While in Damascus, the Syrian capital, Ahaz encountered an elaborate altar. Rather than being repulsed by this pagan structure, he was fascinated by its design and immediately sent its precise "fashion" and "pattern" back to Urijah the priest in Jerusalem, intending to replicate it for use in the Temple courtyard.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Compromised Faith and Idolatry: Ahaz’s actions exemplify a profound lack of faith in God. His decision to seek help from Assyria instead of relying on divine intervention is compounded by his embrace of foreign religious practices. The replication of a pagan altar in Jerusalem represents a blatant act of idolatry and syncretism, blending the worship of Yahweh with pagan customs.
  • Influence of Foreign Cultures: The verse highlights the dangerous allure of surrounding cultures and their religious practices. Ahaz was not only drawn to the political power of Assyria but also to the aesthetics of their worship, demonstrating how worldly alliances can lead to spiritual corruption.
  • Corruption of Sacred Spaces: By introducing a foreign altar into the Temple precincts, Ahaz desecrated a space dedicated to the pure worship of God. This act undermined the distinctiveness of Israel’s covenant relationship with the Lord and demonstrated contempt for divine commands regarding worship.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses the terms "fashion" (Hebrew: damût, דְּמוּת) and "pattern" (Hebrew: tavnit, תַּבְנִית). Both words emphasize a precise, detailed blueprint or likeness. Ahaz wasn't just casually admiring the altar; he was meticulous in wanting to reproduce it exactly. This precision underscores his deliberate intent to adopt foreign religious practices and integrate them into the worship of God in Jerusalem, revealing the depth of his spiritual rebellion.

Practical Application

King Ahaz's story serves as a powerful warning for believers today. It reminds us of the constant temptation to compromise our faith by:

  • Seeking worldly solutions: When faced with challenges, we must be careful not to turn to human power or worldly methods before seeking God’s guidance and trusting in His provision.
  • Adopting cultural trends: The influence of popular culture can subtly, or overtly, lead us away from biblical principles and pure worship. We are called to be in the world but not of the world.
  • Diluting our worship: True worship should be offered according to God's revealed will, not by incorporating elements from other spiritual traditions or humanistic philosophies. The integrity of our faith and worship is paramount.
Ahaz’s actions led to further spiritual decline in Judah (see 2 Kings 16:19), highlighting the significant consequences of spiritual compromise.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 12:2

    And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

  • Isaiah 8:2

    And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

  • Ezekiel 23:16

    And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.

  • Ezekiel 23:17

    And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.

  • Psalms 106:39

    Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.

  • Exodus 24:4

    And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

  • Matthew 15:9

    But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
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