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He followed in the footsteps of[a] the kings of Israel. He passed his son through the fire,[b] a horrible sin practiced by the nations[c] whom the Lord drove out from before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

At that time King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel attacked Jerusalem.[d] They besieged Ahaz,[e] but were unable to conquer him.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 16:3 tn Heb “he walked in the way of.”
  2. 2 Kings 16:3 sn This may refer to child sacrifice, though some interpret it as a less drastic cultic practice. For discussion see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 266-67.
  3. 2 Kings 16:3 tn Heb “like the abominable practices of the nations.”
  4. 2 Kings 16:5 tn Heb “went up to Jerusalem for battle.”
  5. 2 Kings 16:5 tn That is, Jerusalem, Ahaz’s capital city.
  6. 2 Kings 16:5 tn Heb “they were unable to fight.” The object must be supplied from the preceding sentence. Elsewhere when the Niphal infinitive of לָחָם (lakham) follows the verb יָכֹל (yakhol), the infinitive appears to have the force of “prevail against.” See Num 22:11; 1 Sam 17:9; and the parallel passage in Isa 7:1.