2 Kings 16 2

2 Kings 16:2 kjv

Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.

2 Kings 16:2 nkjv

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD his God, as his father David had done.

2 Kings 16:2 niv

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

2 Kings 16:2 esv

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God, as his father David had done,

2 Kings 16:2 nlt

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the LORD his God, as his ancestor David had done.

2 Kings 16 verses

2 Kings 16 2 Meaning

This verse introduces King Ahaz of Judah, specifying he began his sixteen-year reign at age twenty in Jerusalem. Crucially, it declares that Ahaz did not live by the divine standard of righteousness, actively failing to do what was considered morally and spiritually upright in the sight of the Lord his God. This is directly contrasted with the exemplary conduct of his distant ancestor, King David, who served as the benchmark for faithful adherence to God's covenant and law for the Judean monarchy.

2 Kings 16 2 Context

2 Kings 16:2 sets the stage for the highly ungodly reign of Ahaz in Judah. His introduction here establishes his character and allegiance, crucial for understanding the subsequent events of the chapter, particularly the Syro-Ephraimitic War (2 Kgs 16:5-9) and Ahaz's reliance on Assyria rather than on the Lord. His decision to bring Assyrian cultic practices into the Jerusalem Temple (2 Kgs 16:10-18) is a direct consequence of his initial declaration of unrighteousness in this verse. Within the broader narrative of 1 and 2 Kings, Ahaz is one in a long line of kings assessed by their fidelity to God's covenant, with David serving as the paradigmatic good king. This formulaic assessment emphasizes the Deuteronomistic theology, where national well-being and kingly prosperity are directly tied to obedience to Yahweh alone and rejection of idolatry. Ahaz’s reign represents a profound failure to uphold this standard, leading to further moral and spiritual decline for Judah.

2 Kings 16 2 Word analysis

• Ahaz (אָחָז – ’Āḥāz): Meaning "he has grasped" or "possessor." Ironically, this king failed to grasp or hold onto the Lord's ways, instead embracing foreign cults. He was the son of Jotham.
• twenty years old... reigned sixteen years: This provides the temporal framework of his rule. His age upon accession was typical, but his relatively short reign still led to significant spiritual deviation in Judah.
• in Jerusalem (בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם – bîrûšālayim): The capital of Judah, the spiritual and political center, home to the Temple. Reigning here implies greater accountability due to the presence of God's house and covenant symbols.
• he did not do what was right (לֹֽא־עָשָׂה֩ הַיָּשָׁר֙ – lo'-‘āśâ hayyāšār): This phrase is a powerful negation and condemnation.
  • lo’ (לֹא): A definitive "not," indicating a complete failure to meet the standard.
  • ‘āśâ (עָשָׂה): "did," "performed." Signifies active choices and deeds. Ahaz's actions were not passive oversight but deliberate acts contrary to God's will.
  • hayyāšār (הַיָּשָׁר): "the upright," "the straight," "the right." Refers to an objective standard of moral, ethical, and cultic behavior set by God through the Torah and prophetic instruction. It is absolute and divine.
• in the eyes of the Lord his God (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהָ֑יו – bə‘êney YHWH ’ělōhâw): This critical phrase emphasizes that the judgment is from God's divine perspective, not human opinion.
  • bə‘êney (בְּעֵינֵי): "in the eyes of." Denotes divine scrutiny and evaluation.
  • YHWH (יְהוָה): The personal, covenantal name of God. This highlights Ahaz's failure as a violation of his special relationship with the one true God of Israel.
  • ’ělōhâw (אֱלֹהָ֑יו): "his God." This possessive pronoun reinforces the covenant God of Ahaz, who had provided for and established His people, adding to the culpability of Ahaz's rejection.
• as David his father had done (כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר עָשָׂה֙ דָּוִ֥יד אָבִֽיוֹ – ka’ăšer ‘āśâ dāwid ’āwīw): This sets David as the divinely sanctioned benchmark for kingship in Judah.
  • ka’ăšer (כַּאֲשֶׁר): "as," "just as." A direct comparison, highlighting the contrast.
  • dāwid (דָּוִ֥יד): King David, the founder of the Judean dynasty. Though imperfect in personal conduct, his heart was fully committed to Yahweh's exclusive worship and the establishment of true religion in Israel, making him the standard of righteous adherence to the covenant.
  • ’āwīw (אָבִֽיוֹ): "his father." This refers not to Ahaz’s immediate biological father, Jotham, but to David as his royal progenitor or dynastic ancestor, signifying that Ahaz departed from the foundational, ideal model set for the kings of Judah.

2 Kings 16 2 Bonus section

This verse contains a standard historiographical formula of the Deuteronomistic History (Deut-2 Kgs) which assesses each king of Israel and Judah against the divine covenant. The phrase "did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord" contrasts with the alternative, "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord." This consistent linguistic pattern emphasizes the absolute moral and cultic standards expected by God, against which human actions are perpetually judged. Ahaz's failure here directly prefigures his greater spiritual rebellion documented later in the chapter, including his participation in child sacrifice and the deliberate introduction of pagan altar designs into the Temple in Jerusalem, further distancing Judah from their covenant Lord. His actions are portrayed as a rejection of divine providence in favor of human alliances, particularly with Assyria.

2 Kings 16 2 Commentary

2 Kings 16:2 serves as the stern theological verdict on King Ahaz, a judgment consistently applied throughout the Deuteronomistic History to successive monarchs of Judah and Israel. By stating Ahaz "did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God," the narrative immediately signals a reign marked by covenant infidelity. The comparison to David, the standard-bearer of righteous kingship, underscores the gravity of Ahaz's failure. This assessment is not merely historical observation but a theological indictment, revealing that Ahaz deliberately rejected the established divine principles for governance and worship. His reign, rather than strengthening Judah's walk with God, actively led the nation further into idolatry and compromise with foreign powers and their gods, paving the way for future divine judgment.