2 Kings 16 | |
---|---|
Book | Second Book of Kings |
Hebrew Bible part | Nevi'im |
Order in the Hebrew part | 4 |
Category | Former Prophets |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 12 |
2 Kings 16 is the sixteenth chapter of the second part of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the Second Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. [1] [2] The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and Judah by a compiler in the seventh century BCE with a supplement added in the sixth century BCE. [3] This chapter records the events during the reign of Ahaz, the king of Judah. [4]
This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language. It is divided into 20 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), and Codex Leningradensis (1008). [5] [lower-alpha 1]
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century) and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century). [7] [lower-alpha 2]
This chapter is organized chiastically: [9]
Centering on Ahaz's interest in the altar of Damascus, the narrator highlights the typology of this passage, contrasted the images of Solomon and Jeroboam at altars in the First Book of Kings (1 Kings 8 , 12:32–33 ), to Ahaz standing before the altar, a replica of that in Damascus, becoming 'another Jeroboam', setting up an alternative worship to that of Solomon's temple, so Judah repeats the sin of Israel and would suitably be doomed at the end. [9]
Ahaz is judged more severely than any king of Judah other than Manasseh, as he followed the ways of Israel's kings rather than David's. Ahaziah of Judah did the same (2 Kings 8:27), but with the "excuse" of being part of Ahab's family, whereas no excuse is given for Ahaz. [9] Going further that imitating Israel's alternative worship, Ahaz revived the customs of the Canaanite nations that Israel had originally displaced (16:3) causing 'idolatrous shrines sprinkled throughout the land'. [9] Meanwhile, the kingdoms Israel and Aram, in alliance against Assyria, attacked Ahaz from the north (Isaiah 7), and Rezin of Syria took a town of Judah (2 Kings 16:6 ), 'driving the inhabitants into a mini-exile'. [9] Not turning to YHWH, Ahaz turned to Tiglath-Pileser III for help and declared himself as the "servant and son" of the Assyrian king (16:7). The Assyrians ransacked Damascus and drove the Arameans into exile. Thus, both Israel and Judah were pressured into 'compromising alliances with Gentiles': Israel allied with Aram, 'its traditional enemy', while Judah allied with Assyria, bringing the image of "the sons of God 'marrying' the daughters of men" (Genesis 6:1–4 ), and then "a flood" of Gentiles swept 'both Judah and Israel into exile' (Genesis 6 -9 ). [9]
The introductory regnal account of Ahaz emphasizes on his wickedness, [10] that despite his encounters with the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 7:1–9:6), [4] [11] he acted like the kings of Israel (cf. 2 Kings 8:18), failed to follow David's example (cf. 2 Kings 14:3 ; 1 Kings 15:11 ). [10] The evidence is that the "abominable" worship practices of the Canaanites (cf. Deuteronomy 20:18) including "passing his son through fire" (verses 3–4; cf Deuteronomy 12:31; 18:10; 2 Kings 17:17), tying to the practices of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:24 ) and Manasseh (2 Kings 21:2–6 ). [12] [13] Facing the attack of the Syro-Ephraimitic forces, Ahaz didn't accept the advice of Isaiah to seek YHWH's protection, but appealed to Tiglath-Pileser, who didn't need Ahaz's invitation to attack Aram. Ahaz's approach made Israel obligated to the Assyrians, whereas Tiglath-Pileser didn't feel the same way and even imposed further tribute on Ahaz for the rescue. [14]
The Syro-Ephraimitic army could not afford to lay prolonged siege of Jerusalem while Aram's border was open to Assyrians' assault. [14] That was foreseen by Isaiah when giving his advice to Ahaz (Isaiah 7–9). [14]
This section focuses on the new altar that Ahaz made following the design of the one he saw in Damascus, when he went there to meet (perhaps to give his oath of allegiance) to Tiglath-pileser who had set up his headquarters in that city. [4] The new altar took the spot of the bronze one commissioned by Solomon (1 Kings 8:64), which is shifted to the north side of the new one, and took over its functions for regular offerings (cf. Numbers 29:39). The heavy bronze instruments that were installed by Solomon in the temple court (1 Kings 7:27—39 ) and other structures in the temple were changed by Ahaz 'because of the king of Assyria". [4] The altars on the roof of Ahaz's upper chamber were later destroyed by king Josiah (2 Kings 23:12 . [24]
Much of Ahaz's foreign policy is not known from the Books of Kings, but from the Book of Isaiah and Assyrian inscriptions (ANET 282–284 [25] ). The " Nimrud Tablet K.3751", which describes the first 17 years of Tiglath-Pileser III's reign, contains first known archeological reference to Judah (Yaudaya or KUR.ia-ú-da-a-a) and the name of "Ahaz" (written as "Jeho-ahaz"), along with his tributes to the Assyrian king in gold and silver. [26]
Several bullae bearing the name of Ahaz have been found:
Many inscriptions from the reign of Tiglath-Pileser III, the king of Assyria, have been found, most of them from his ancient palace in Nimrud, ancient Kalhu, including: (1) Annals (arranged chronologically); (2) Summary Inscriptions (arranged in a predominantly geographical pattern); and (3) Miscellaneous Texts (labels, dedicatory inscriptions, as well as other fragments). [31] [32]
The account of Rezin is found among Tiglath-Pileser's inscriptions, particularly those related to a three-year Assyrian campaign in the Levant from 734 to 732 BCE, as in the following quote:
This is comparable to the account in the 2 Kings 16:9:
One annals of Tiglath-Pileser III mentioned Pekah and Hoshea, two last kings of Israel:
This is comparable to the account in 2 Kings 15:30:
The Kingdom of Israel, or the Kingdom of Samaria, was an Israelite kingdom in the Southern Levant during the Iron Age. The kingdom controlled the areas of Samaria, Galilee and parts of Transjordan. Its capital, for the most part, was Samaria.
Ahaz an abbreviation of Jehoahaz II, "Yahweh has held" was the twelfth king of Judah, and the son and successor of Jotham. Ahaz was 20 when he became king of Judah and reigned for 16 years.
Pekah was the eighteenth and penultimate king of Israel. He was a captain in the army of king Pekahiah of Israel, whom he killed to become king. Pekah was the son of Remaliah.
Immanuel is a Hebrew name that appears in the Book of Isaiah (7:14) as a sign that God will protect the House of David.
Hoshea was the nineteenth and last king of the Israelite Kingdom of Israel and son of Elah. William F. Albright dated his reign to 732–721 BCE, while E. R. Thiele offered the dates 732–723 BCE.
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Uzziah, also known as Azariah, was the tenth king of the ancient Kingdom of Judah, and one of Amaziah's sons. Uzziah was 16 when he became king of Judah and reigned for 52 years. The first 24 years of his reign were as a co-regent with his father, Amaziah.
Matthew 1:9 is the ninth verse of the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible. The verse is part of the non-synoptic section where the genealogy of Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, is listed, or on non-Pauline interpretations the genealogy of Jesus. The purpose of the genealogy is to show descent from the line of kings, in particular David, as the Messiah was predicted to be the son of David, and descendant of Abraham.
The Kingdom of Aram-Damascus was an Aramean polity that existed from the late-12th century BCE until 732 BCE, and was centred around the city of Damascus in the Southern Levant. Alongside various tribal lands, it was bounded in its later years by the polities of Assyria to the north, Ammon to the south, and Israel to the west.
The Syro-Ephraimite War took place in the 8th century BC, when the Neo-Assyrian Empire was a great regional power. The tributary nations of Aram-Damascus and the Kingdom of Israel decided to break away. The Kingdom of Judah, ruled by King Ahaz, refused to join the coalition. In 735 BC Aram-Damascus, under Rezin, and Israel, under Pekah, attempted to depose Ahaz through an invasion. Judah was being defeated and, according to 2 Chronicles 28, lost 120,000 troops in just one day. Many significant officials were killed, including the king's son Maaseiah. Many others were taken away as slaves. Telling of the same war, 2 Kings 16:5 states that Rezin and Pekah besieged Jerusalem but failed to capture it.
Rezin of Aram was an Aramean King ruling from Damascus during the 8th century BC. During his reign, he was a tributary of King Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria.
Isaiah 7 is the seventh chapter of the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet Isaiah and is one of the Books of the Prophets.
Hosea 5 is the fifth chapter of the Book of Hosea in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet Hosea son of Beeri and this chapter is about God's judgments against the priests, the people, and the princes of Israel, for their multiple sins, until they repent, a topic which continues to chapter 6. It is a part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets.
2 Kings 18 is the eighteenth chapter of the second part of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the Second Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and Judah by a Deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century BCE, with a supplement added in the sixth century BCE. This chapter records the events during the reign of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, a part of the section comprising 2 Kings 18:1 to 20:21, with a parallel version in Isaiah 36–39.
2 Kings 15 is the fifteenth chapter of the second part of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the Second Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and Judah by a Deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century BCE, with a supplement added in the sixth century BCE. This chapter records the events during the reigns of Azariah (Uzziah) and his son, Jotham, the kings of Judah, as well as of Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah and Pekah, the kings of Israel. Twelve first verses of the narrative belong to a major section 2 Kings 9:1–15:12 covering the period of Jehu's dynasty.
2 Kings 17 is the seventeenth chapter of the second part of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the Second Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and Judah by a Deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century BCE, with a supplement added in the sixth century BCE. This chapter records the events during the reigns of Hoshea the last king of Israel, the capture of Samaria and the deportation of the northern kingdom population by the Assyrians.
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2 Chronicles 28 is the twenty-eighth chapter of the Second Book of Chronicles the Old Testament in the Christian Bible or of the second part of the Books of Chronicles in the Hebrew Bible. The book is compiled from older sources by an unknown person or group, designated by modern scholars as "the Chronicler", and had the final shape established in late fifth or fourth century BCE. This chapter belongs to the section focusing on the kingdom of Judah until its destruction by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar and the beginning of restoration under Cyrus the Great of Persia. The focus of this chapter is the reign of Ahaz, king of Judah.
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