King Ahaz Leads Judah Into Deep Idolatry
During the tumultuous period of the Divided Kingdom, King Ahaz of Judah distinguished himself through his profound wickedness and blatant disregard for the Lord's commands. Rejecting the covenant of his forefathers, Ahaz embraced the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations and even those of the northern kingdom of Israel. His reign was marked by a deliberate turning away from God, culminating in the horrific act of sacrificing his own son in the fire, a detestable ritual of the pagan peoples whom the Lord had driven out before Israel.
But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and even made his son pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD dispossessed before the sons of Israel.
— 2 Kings 16:3 LSB
— 2 Kings 16:3 LSB
Timeline Box:
This historical account describes King Ahaz's reign, which began around 735 BC. While the specific date of his idolatrous acts is not recorded, they characterized his rule, which spanned autumn months like 24 Cheshvan, the 8th month of the biblical sacred calendar (2nd month of the civil year).
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