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2 Kings 16:12

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Kings 16:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king drew near unto the altar, and offered thereon.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king drew near unto the altar, and offered thereon.
2 Kings 16:12 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Kings 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him; and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried [the people of] it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.
10And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.
11And Urijah the priest built an altar: according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so did Urijah the priest make it against the coming of king Ahaz from Damascus.
12And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king drew near unto the altar, and offered thereon.
13And he burnt his burnt-offering and his meal-offering, and poured his drink-offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace-offerings, upon the altar.
14And 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.
15And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt-offering, and the evening meal-offering, and the king`s burnt-offering, and his meal-offering, with the burnt-offering of all the people of the land, and their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt-offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: but the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar, etc.] Looked at it, and liked it, being exactly according to the pattern he had sent: and the king approached the altar, and offered thereon; either by a priest, or it may be in his own person, having no regard to the laws and appointments of God, and especially as his sacrifices were not offered to him, but to the gods of Damascus and Syria, (<142823>2 Chronicles 28:23).”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Offered - A sacrifice, and that not to God, but to the Syrian idols, to whom that altar was appropriated. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 16:13”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“16:12-13 The king initiated the new altar by making the traditional offerings upon it (see Lev 1–3; Num 15:1-10; 28:9-15, 24, 31; 2 Kgs 6:8-23; 7:11-20). Sadly, such offerings upon a pagan altar by a leader devoid of spiritual character constituted a mockery of their deep spiritual meaning.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“approached: Kg1 13:1; Ch2 26:16-19, Ch2 28:23, Ch2 28:25 offered thereon: Num 18:4-7 4 Kings (2 Kings) 16:13”
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Related study paths

Read 2 Kings 16 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification