And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.

2 KINGS 16:11KJV
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2 Kings 16:11 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 16:11 mean?

2 Kings 16:11 describes a priest carrying out King Ahaz’s instructions for a new altar while the king was away. Urijah has the altar ready before Ahaz returns from Damascus, showing how the king’s wishes directed the work at the temple in Jerusalem.

The narrator tells the story; no one speaks directly in this verse. Following the design Ahaz sent in verse 10, Urijah builds a structure for offerings rather than a simple table. The KJV phrase “against king Ahaz came” means “before King Ahaz came.”

Why 2 Kings 16:11 matters

  • Ahaz’s instructions were detailed. Verse 10 says he sent Urijah both a model of the altar and a pattern showing how it was made; verse 11 says Urijah built according to what Ahaz sent.

  • The new altar changed the arrangement at the temple. In verses 14–15, Ahaz moves the existing bronze altar and orders offerings to be made on the new one.

  • Urijah’s role extends beyond construction. In verse 16, the priest follows the king’s instructions concerning the offerings, showing that his cooperation continued after the altar was built.

Where else these words appear

“Urijah” Hebrew H223 · used in 33 verses

  • 2 Samuel 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
  • 2 Samuel 11:16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
  • 2 Kings 16:15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.

“Ahaz” Hebrew H271 · used in 39 verses

  • 2 Kings 15:38 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Kings 17:1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.

“Damascus” Hebrew H1834 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 14:15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
  • 2 Kings 16:10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an 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.
  • Isaiah 17:3 The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.