And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.

2 KINGS 16:13KJV
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2 Kings 16:13 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 16:13 mean?

2 Kings 16:13 describes King Ahaz personally offering sacrifices on an altar, including burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, and peace offerings, and performing the rituals of pouring and sprinkling blood on the altar. The verse highlights Ahaz’s active role in these religious ceremonies, which were usually reserved for priests.

King Ahaz of Judah is the main figure here, and he is carrying out sacrifices on a new altar he had built, modeled after one he saw in Damascus. This action is significant because it shows Ahaz adopting foreign religious practices and taking priestly duties into his own hands, which was unusual and controversial in the context of Israel’s worship traditions.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 16:13

  • בָּעַל (H6999, transliteration: qatar) — "burnt": This verb means "to burn" or "to offer by burning," specifically referring to the burning of offerings on the altar. It emphasizes the act of making a burnt offering, which was a central part of Israelite worship.
  • עֹלָה (H5930, transliteration: olah) — "offering": This word refers to the "burnt offering," a sacrifice that was completely consumed by fire, symbolizing total dedication to God.
  • מִנְחָה (H4503, transliteration: minchah) — "offering": This term means "grain offering" or "meat offering" (not referring to animal flesh, but to grain or flour), showing that Ahaz offered both animal and non-animal sacrifices.
  • יַיִן (H5262, transliteration: nesech) — "drink offering": This word refers to the pouring out of wine as part of the sacrificial ritual, an act that accompanied other offerings.
  • דָּם (H1818, transliteration: dam) — "blood": The sprinkling of blood was a key ritual act, symbolizing atonement and the sealing of the covenant between God and the people.
  • מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196, transliteration: mizbeach) — "altar": The altar is the central place for these rituals, and here it is a new altar modeled after a foreign design, which adds to the significance of Ahaz’s actions.

Why 2 Kings 16:13 matters

  • 2 Kings 16:13 shows that King Ahaz was not just adopting foreign religious practices but was also taking on priestly roles, which was against the established order in Judah where only priests were to perform such rituals.
  • The verse highlights a turning point where the king’s actions blur the lines between royal and priestly authority, leading to religious changes that had lasting effects on Judah’s worship.
  • This verse connects to the wider story of Ahaz’s reign, where his choices to imitate foreign worship practices are presented as a negative example, setting the stage for later reforms by future kings.

Where else these words appear

“poured” Hebrew H5258 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 35:14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
  • Psalms 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
  • Jeremiah 19:13 And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.

“sprinkled” Hebrew H2236 · used in 33 verses

  • Exodus 9:8 And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
  • Leviticus 3:13 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.
  • 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.

“offering” Hebrew H5262 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 35:14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
  • Numbers 28:24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
  • 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.

“offerings” Hebrew H8002 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
  • Leviticus 9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
  • Joshua 22:27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.