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.

2 KINGS 16:15KJV
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2 Kings 16:15 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 16:15 mean?

2 Kings 16:15 describes how King Ahaz ordered Urijah the priest to use a new, large altar for all the regular sacrifices and offerings, while the original bronze altar would be set aside for the king’s personal use in seeking guidance. This verse shows Ahaz changing the traditional worship practices in the temple to fit his own preferences.

King Ahaz is speaking to Urijah the priest, telling him to make the new “great altar” the main place for daily sacrifices, including those for the people and for the king himself. The original bronze altar, which had been central in Israel’s worship, is now reserved only for Ahaz to “enquire by,” meaning to seek answers or guidance. This change is part of a larger story where Ahaz adopts foreign religious customs, shifting away from the established ways of worship in Jerusalem.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 16:15

  • “Great” (גָּדוֹל, gadol): This word stresses the size or importance of the new altar, highlighting that Ahaz is making a significant change, not just a minor adjustment.
  • “Enquire” (בָּקַשׁ, baqash): This word means to seek or ask, often in the sense of seeking divine guidance. By reserving the bronze altar for this purpose, Ahaz separates his own religious practices from those of the people.

Why 2 Kings 16:15 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Ahaz is not just adding a new altar but replacing the traditional one for regular worship, which would have been a dramatic and controversial shift for the people and priests.
  • The focus on the king’s personal use of the bronze altar shows how Ahaz is blending or replacing Israel’s worship with practices from other nations, a key theme in his reign.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain later conflicts about worship and faithfulness in Israel, as it marks a turning point in how the temple was used and how the king related to God.