2 Kings 16

King Ahaz of Judah began a wicked reign, engaging in idolatry and child sacrifice. Faced with an invasion from Syria and Israel, he sought aid from Tiglathpileser of Assyria, offering temple treasures. After Assyria conquered Damascus, Ahaz replicated a foreign altar in the Jerusalem temple and altered its sacred furnishings, further demonstrating his apostasy.

King Ahaz of Judah commenced his reign at age twenty, diverging from the righteous path of his ancestor David by adopting the idolatrous practices of the kings of Israel, including child sacrifice and worship at high places. When King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah of Israel besieged Jerusalem, Ahaz, unable to overcome them, appealed to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria for assistance. He sent tribute from the temple and royal treasuries to secure this alliance. Tiglathpileser responded by conquering Damascus, capturing its inhabitants, and slaying Rezin, thus relieving Judah. Following this, Ahaz traveled to Damascus to meet the Assyrian king, where he observed a foreign altar. Upon his return, Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest to construct a replica of this altar in the temple, upon which Ahaz himself offered sacrifices. He further desecrated the temple by relocating the original brazen altar and dismantling various sacred vessels and structures, aligning the temple's configuration with his new foreign allegiances.

In the seventeenth year of Pekah's reign in Israel, Ahaz, son of Jotham, began his sixteen-year rule over Judah at the age of twenty. Unlike his ancestor David, Ahaz did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD, instead walking in the ways of the kings of Israel. He engaged in detestable practices, including making his son pass through the fire, a custom of the heathen nations whom the LORD had driven out. Ahaz also sacrificed and burned incense in high places, on hills, and under every green tree, signifying widespread idolatry. Subsequently, Rezin king of Syria and Pekah king of Israel attacked Jerusalem, besieging Ahaz but failing to conquer the city. During this period, Syria recovered Elath, expelling the Jews. In response to the threat, Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, declaring himself a servant and son, and requesting deliverance from the Syrian and Israelite kings. To secure this alliance, Ahaz took silver and gold from both the house of the LORD and the king's treasury, sending them as a present to the Assyrian monarch. Tiglathpileser hearkened to Ahaz's plea, advancing against Damascus, conquering it, carrying its people captive to Kir, and slaying Rezin, thereby ending the immediate threat to Judah. Following these events, King Ahaz journeyed to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser. While there, he observed a distinctive altar and sent its detailed pattern to Urijah the priest in Jerusalem. Urijah promptly constructed an exact replica of this foreign altar before Ahaz's return. Upon his arrival, Ahaz approached the new altar, offering burnt offerings, meat offerings, and drink offerings, and sprinkling the blood of peace offerings upon it. He then moved the original brazen altar, which stood before the LORD, from its prominent position to the north side of the new altar. Ahaz further commanded Urijah to use the great new altar for all daily and royal sacrifices, reserving the brazen altar for his personal inquiry. Urijah the priest complied with all of Ahaz's commands. Additionally, Ahaz dismantled parts of the temple's furnishings, including the borders of the bases, the lavers, and the brazen sea, placing the latter on a stone pavement. He also altered the covert for the sabbath and the king's entry, seemingly to accommodate the Assyrian king. Ahaz's reign concluded with his death, and he was buried in the city of David, succeeded by his son Hezekiah.