2 Kings 16:14

KJV

And he brought also the brasen altar, which [was] before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he brought {H7126} also the brasen {H5178} altar {H4196}, which was before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}, from the forefront {H6440} of the house {H1004}, from between the altar {H4196} and the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, and put {H5414} it on the north {H6828} side {H3409} of the altar {H4196}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The bronze altar, which was before ADONAI, he brought from in front of the house, from between his own altar and the house of ADONAI, and put it on the north side of his own altar.

Berean Standard Bible

He also took the bronze altar that stood before the LORD from the front of the temple (between the new altar and the house of the LORD) and he put it on the north side of the new altar.

American Standard Version

And the brazen altar, which was before Jehovah, he brought from the forefront of the house, from between his altar and the house of Jehovah, and put it on the north side of his altar.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 16:14 records a pivotal moment in King Ahaz's reign, detailing his audacious act of removing the divinely ordained bronze altar from its central, sacred position in the Temple courtyard. This seemingly architectural rearrangement was, in fact, a profound theological statement of apostasy, symbolizing the demotion of Yahweh's prescribed worship and the elevation of foreign, pagan practices. It marked a deliberate turning away from the covenant God of Israel, illustrating Ahaz's syncretistic agenda and his profound disregard for divine commands concerning proper worship and atonement.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the narrative of King Ahaz's wicked reign over Judah, a period characterized by profound idolatry and a stark contrast to the righteous kings who preceded him, like David. The preceding verses (2 Kings 16:1-9) establish Ahaz's alliance with Assyria and his rejection of the Lord's counsel in the face of the Syro-Ephraimite War. Immediately prior to this verse, Ahaz has returned from Damascus, where he met with Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria. Captivated by a pagan altar he observed there, Ahaz sent detailed plans back to Jerusalem, commanding Urijah the priest to construct a replica (2 Kings 16:10-13). Verse 14, therefore, describes the physical manifestation of Ahaz's spiritual apostasy, as he literally displaces the altar of the Lord to make room for his new, foreign-inspired altar, effectively reordering the very heart of Israelite worship.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Ahaz reigned over Judah from approximately 735 to 715 BC, a tumultuous period dominated by the rising power of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Faced with the Syro-Ephraimite coalition, Ahaz rejected the prophet Isaiah's counsel to trust in the Lord (Isaiah 7:1-9) and instead sought an alliance with Assyria, becoming a vassal king. This political submission often entailed cultural and religious assimilation, where vassal states adopted aspects of their overlord's religion as a sign of loyalty. Ahaz's fascination with the Damascene altar, likely an Assyrian-style altar, was not merely an aesthetic preference but a symbolic gesture of allegiance to Assyria and its gods, directly challenging Yahweh's exclusive claim on Judah's worship. In the ancient Near East, altars were central to religious life, serving as the primary site for sacrifices, offerings, and communion with deities, making Ahaz's manipulation of the Temple's altars a profound act of religious and political rebellion.
* **Key Themes:** The actions of King Ahaz in this chapter, particularly the moving of the bronze altar, powerfully illustrate several key themes prevalent throughout the books of Kings and the broader Old Testament. Foremost among these is **Apostasy and Syncretism**, as Ahaz deliberately turns away from the exclusive worship of Yahweh, attempting to blend Israelite rituals with pagan practices, a direct violation of the first commandment found in [Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - No Other Gods"). This act also highlights a profound **Disregard for Divine Ordinances**, as the layout and function of the Temple, including the placement of the bronze altar, were meticulously prescribed by God Himself (as seen in [Exodus 27:1-8](/exodus/27-1 "Exodus 27:1-8 - Design of the Bronze Altar") and fulfilled in [1 Kings 8](/1_kings/8 "1 Kings 8 - Dedication of Solomon's Temple")). Ahaz's preference for human innovation and foreign customs over God's clear commands underscores the dangerous theme of **Human Wisdom vs. Divine Revelation**, where personal aesthetic or political expediency replaces the revealed truth of God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Brasen altar (Hebrew, _mizbeach hanechoshet'_):** Literally "the altar of bronze." This term refers specifically to the large altar of burnt offering, initially constructed for the Tabernacle (Exodus 27:1-8) and later for Solomon's Temple (2 Chronicles 4:1). Its material, bronze, signified its durability and capacity to withstand the intense heat of sacrifice, and it was the primary place where animal sacrifices were offered for atonement and communion with God. Its prominent position "before the LORD" indicated its indispensable role as the divinely appointed means of approaching a holy God in the Old Covenant system. Ahaz's demotion of this altar was a direct assault on the very mechanism of atonement and access to God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he brought also the brasen altar, which [was] before the LORD,"**: This clause identifies the object of Ahaz's manipulation: the sacred bronze altar, which had stood in its divinely appointed place, signifying its centrality to Israel's worship and its direct relationship to God's presence. The phrase "before the LORD" emphasizes its consecrated status and its role as the primary point of encounter between God and His people through sacrifice.
* **"from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD,"**: This detailed description pinpoints the original, divinely ordained location of the bronze altar. It stood prominently in the courtyard, directly in front of the Temple building ("the house of the LORD"), serving as the immediate gateway for worshippers to approach God's dwelling place. Its position "between the altar and the house of the LORD" clarifies that it was the *original* altar, now being displaced by Ahaz's new, larger altar. This removal was not a minor adjustment but a symbolic desecration of sacred space and a rejection of established divine order.
* **"and put it on the north side of the altar."**: This final clause reveals the new, demoted position of the bronze altar. "The altar" here refers to the new, foreign-style altar that Ahaz had commissioned from Damascus. By moving the sacred bronze altar to its "north side," Ahaz relegated it to a secondary, subservient position, effectively marginalizing Yahweh's prescribed worship in favor of his syncretistic innovation. The north side was often associated with less prominent or even inauspicious positions in ancient temple layouts, further underscoring the demotion.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in 2 Kings 16:14 is **Symbolism**. The physical act of moving the bronze altar is deeply symbolic of King Ahaz's spiritual and theological rebellion. The altar, divinely designed and placed, represented the very heart of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh, serving as the means of atonement and access to God. By displacing it from its central position "before the LORD" and relegating it to the "north side" of a newly constructed, foreign altar, Ahaz was symbolically demoting Yahweh and His exclusive claims on Judah's worship. This act visually communicates Ahaz's rejection of God's authority, his embrace of syncretism, and his preference for human innovation and political expediency over divine command. The altar's new position signifies the marginalization of true worship and the elevation of idolatry.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
King Ahaz's actions in 2 Kings 16:14 represent a profound theological transgression, illustrating the dangers of religious syncretism and the human tendency to compromise divine truth for worldly gain or convenience. By demoting the bronze altar, Ahaz not only violated God's explicit commands regarding the Temple's design and worship but also symbolically undermined the very concept of atonement and access to God through sacrifice. This act was a public declaration that Yahweh's prescribed way of worship was no longer supreme or sufficient in his eyes, paving the way for further idolatry and spiritual decline in Judah. It serves as a stark warning against allowing external influences or personal preferences to corrupt the purity and centrality of God's revealed will in worship.

* [Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "The First Commandment")
* [Deuteronomy 12:29-32](/deuteronomy/12-29 "Warning Against Idolatry")
* [Jeremiah 7:30-31](/jeremiah/7-30 "Abominations in the Temple")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
King Ahaz's demotion of the bronze altar serves as a timeless warning for believers today. It highlights the subtle yet dangerous temptation to marginalize God's truth and His prescribed ways of worship in favor of what is culturally appealing, personally convenient, or politically expedient. Just as Ahaz physically moved the altar, we can metaphorically "move" Christ from the center of our lives and worship when we prioritize worldly success, personal comfort, or human traditions over His supreme authority and the finished work of the cross. This passage calls us to examine our own hearts and practices: Is Christ truly central in our faith, our families, and our churches? Are we worshipping God according to His revealed Word, or are we allowing syncretistic tendencies to dilute the purity of our devotion? Vigilance is required to ensure that the atoning work of Jesus, symbolized by the altar, remains the undisputed foundation and focus of our faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be tempted to "demote" God's truth or His commands in favor of worldly trends or personal preferences?**
* **How can I ensure that Christ's atoning work remains central to my understanding of salvation and my daily walk with God?**
* **What are some modern-day "foreign altars" that compete for centrality in our worship or spiritual focus, either individually or corporately?**
* **How does this account of King Ahaz's apostasy challenge me to uphold biblical purity in worship and doctrine?**

### FAQ
**What was the original significance of the "brazen altar" and why was its position so important?**

Answer: The "brazen altar" (or bronze altar) was the altar of burnt offering, a central piece of furniture in the Tabernacle and later in Solomon's Temple. Its significance was paramount: it was the designated place where animal sacrifices were offered to God for the atonement of sins, enabling a sinful people to approach a holy God. Its position "before the LORD" (2 Kings 16:14) and "at the entrance of the tent of meeting" (Exodus 40:6) signified its role as the primary point of access and reconciliation between God and humanity. It was the first point of contact for worshipers entering the sacred space, emphasizing that access to God was only possible through blood sacrifice. Its divinely ordained centrality underscored the importance of atonement as the foundation of the covenant relationship.

**Why did King Ahaz move the original altar, and what does "north side of the altar" imply?**

Answer: King Ahaz moved the original bronze altar to make room for a new, larger altar that he had modeled after one he saw in Damascus, likely an Assyrian-style altar (2 Kings 16:10-13). His motivation was likely a combination of political expediency and religious syncretism. As a vassal to Assyria, adopting elements of their religion could be seen as a gesture of loyalty and an attempt to secure political favor. Religiously, it demonstrated his willingness to blend the worship of Yahweh with foreign cults, a direct violation of God's commands against idolatry. Placing the original altar on the "north side of the altar" (referring to the new, foreign altar) implied a profound demotion. It relegated the altar of Yahweh to a secondary, less prominent, and subservient position, symbolizing Ahaz's rejection of Yahweh's exclusive sovereignty and his embrace of foreign deities and practices. It was a physical manifestation of his spiritual apostasy.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The demotion of the bronze altar by King Ahaz, the very symbol of atonement and access to God under the Old Covenant, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate centrality and sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice. The Old Testament altar, with its repeated animal sacrifices, pointed forward to the once-for-all perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Ahaz's act was a rejection of God's ordained means of drawing near, but in Christ, we find the true and eternal means. Jesus is not merely an altar; He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), the [High Priest who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice"). Unlike the temporary bronze altar that could be moved and demoted by a wicked king, Christ's atoning work is immutable and eternally central. His sacrifice on the cross provides [full and final atonement](/hebrews/10-10-14 "Hebrews 10:10-14 - Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice"), establishing a [new and living way](/hebrews/10-19-20 "Hebrews 10:19-20 - Access Through Christ's Blood") to God that no human innovation or apostasy can displace. He is the ultimate fulfillment of all that the altar represented, ensuring that access to God is forever secured and cannot be marginalized.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Chronicles 4:1

¶ Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.

Exodus 40:6

And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

Exodus 40:29

And he put the altar of burnt offering [by] the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.

2 Kings 16:11

And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made [it] against king Ahaz came from Damascus.

Matthew 23:35

That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

2 Chronicles 1:5

Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.