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2 Kings 16:18

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And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.

And the covert {H4329}{H4329} for the sabbath {H7676} that they had built {H1129} in the house {H1004}, and the king's {H4428} entry {H3996} without {H2435}, turned {H5437} he from the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068} for {H6440} the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}.

and, because of the king of Ashur, he removed from the house of ADONAI the colonnade used on Shabbat that had been built for it and the king's entranceway outside it.

And on account of the king of Assyria, he removed the Sabbath canopy they had built in the temple and closed the royal entryway outside the house of the LORD.

And the covered way for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s entry without, turned he unto the house of Jehovah, because of the king of Assyria.

Commentary

2 Kings 16:18 KJV Commentary

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse describes another act of spiritual desecration by King Ahaz of Judah, who reigned from 735 to 715 BC. Ahaz was a notoriously wicked king, known for adopting pagan practices and even sacrificing his own son (2 Kings 16:3). During his reign, Judah faced military threats from the Arameans (Syria) and the northern kingdom of Israel. Instead of trusting in the LORD, Ahaz desperately sought an alliance with Tiglath-Pileser III, the powerful king of Assyria (2 Kings 16:7-9).

His visit to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser deeply influenced him. He saw an altar there and promptly sent its design back to Jerusalem, commanding the priest Urijah to build a replica in the Temple, effectively replacing the original brazen altar (2 Kings 16:10-16). Verse 18 details further changes to the sacred Temple precincts, specifically done "for the king of Assyria," indicating Ahaz's complete subservience to Assyrian religious and political influence.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Apostasy and Idolatry: Ahaz's actions are a profound example of apostasy, turning away from the worship of Yahweh to embrace foreign deities and customs. His fear of earthly enemies led him to abandon the true God.
  • Desecration of Sacred Space: The Temple of the LORD, consecrated for divine worship and the dwelling place of God's presence (1 Kings 8:10-11), was systematically defiled by Ahaz. The "covert for the sabbath" (a covered walkway or structure used during Sabbath observances) and "the king's entry without" (a special entrance for the king) were altered or removed to appease a pagan ruler, undermining the sanctity of the Temple rituals and its very purpose.
  • Political Compromise and Subservience: Ahaz's alliance with Assyria was not merely political; it involved religious compromise. He sought to curry favor with Tiglath-Pileser by adopting Assyrian religious elements and altering the Temple to be less offensive or more accommodating to the Assyrian worldview. This highlights the dangers of prioritizing worldly alliances over faithfulness to God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "covert for the sabbath" (Hebrew: מֻסַךְ הַשַּׁבָּת, musakh ha-shabbat) refers to a covered structure or portico, likely used for royal or priestly processions and sheltering during Sabbath services. Its alteration or removal signified a disruption of established religious practices and a disregard for the special nature of the Sabbath in Israelite worship. The verb "turned he from" (Hebrew: הֵסֵב, hesev) implies a deliberate act of diverting, removing, or changing the use of these structures, emphasizing Ahaz's active role in the Temple's desecration.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful warning against the dangers of spiritual compromise and the temptation to seek worldly solutions instead of trusting in God. Like Ahaz, we can be tempted to modify our faith, our values, or our worship to gain favor with powerful influences, fit in with cultural norms, or escape difficult circumstances. This account reminds us:

  • Beware of Compromise: True faith calls for uncompromising devotion to God, even when it is politically or socially inconvenient.
  • Maintain Spiritual Purity: We must guard the integrity of our faith and worship, ensuring that our devotion is solely to the Lord and not tainted by worldly influences or fear of man.
  • Trust in God Alone: Ahaz's failure to trust God led him down a path of apostasy and ultimately brought greater distress upon Judah. We are called to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding or worldly alliances.
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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • 1 Kings 10:5 (2 votes)

    And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.

  • 2 Kings 11:5 (2 votes)

    And he commanded them, saying, This [is] the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king's house;

  • Ezekiel 46:2 (2 votes)

    And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of [that] gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.