He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, showing deliberate disobedience and gross idolatry in Judah.
He (King Ahaz) “sacrificed and burned incense on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree” (v.4). This verse occurs during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah (735-715 BC), who was the son of King Jotham and the father of the righteous King Hezekiah. Though he ruled over the southern kingdom of Judah, he rejected the covenant faithfulness that the LORD had continually commanded His people to observe. The phrase “high places” refers to worship sites set upon elevated platforms, often borrowed from Canaanite religious practice. These sites commonly included altars or stone pillars where sacrifices could be made. Ahaz is specifically described here as performing religious rites “on the hills and under every green tree,” revealing his persistent dedication to idolatry among many locations throughout Judah.
The act of burning incense was an act meant to symbolize worship and prayer rising to the deity being honored. By burning incense on high places and hills, Ahaz actively embraced pagan gods instead of worshipping Yahweh in the manner ordained by Scripture (Deuteronomy 12:2-4). These high places were part of a long-running problem in Judah, as many kings before Ahaz had tolerated or encouraged these illicit worship sites (1 Kings 14:23; 2 Kings 14:4). Ahaz not only continued these evil customs but placed his own stamp of approval on them, even engaging in detestable rites that included child sacrifice (2 Chronicles 28:1-4; 2 Kings 16:3). This was a grave violation of God’s law because the LORD had commanded His people to destroy pagan altars and worship only at the place He chose (Deuteronomy 12:2-3).
From a broader viewpoint, Ahaz’s actions foreshadowed the looming judgment on Judah for their widespread idolatry. Although some of his predecessors had tried to remove these pagan sites, Ahaz’s behavior reversed the improvements his father and grandfather had attempted. Later, his son Hezekiah would make more earnest efforts to abolish these high places and restore pure worship to the LORD (2 Kings 18:3-4). Yet at this juncture in history, Ahaz plunged even deeper into paganism, setting a dire example for the nation and betraying the covenant that bound them to the one true God.
Set to dark mode
2 Kings 16:4 meaning
He (King Ahaz) “sacrificed and burned incense on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree” (v.4). This verse occurs during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah (735-715 BC), who was the son of King Jotham and the father of the righteous King Hezekiah. Though he ruled over the southern kingdom of Judah, he rejected the covenant faithfulness that the LORD had continually commanded His people to observe. The phrase “high places” refers to worship sites set upon elevated platforms, often borrowed from Canaanite religious practice. These sites commonly included altars or stone pillars where sacrifices could be made. Ahaz is specifically described here as performing religious rites “on the hills and under every green tree,” revealing his persistent dedication to idolatry among many locations throughout Judah.
The act of burning incense was an act meant to symbolize worship and prayer rising to the deity being honored. By burning incense on high places and hills, Ahaz actively embraced pagan gods instead of worshipping Yahweh in the manner ordained by Scripture (Deuteronomy 12:2-4). These high places were part of a long-running problem in Judah, as many kings before Ahaz had tolerated or encouraged these illicit worship sites (1 Kings 14:23; 2 Kings 14:4). Ahaz not only continued these evil customs but placed his own stamp of approval on them, even engaging in detestable rites that included child sacrifice (2 Chronicles 28:1-4; 2 Kings 16:3). This was a grave violation of God’s law because the LORD had commanded His people to destroy pagan altars and worship only at the place He chose (Deuteronomy 12:2-3).
From a broader viewpoint, Ahaz’s actions foreshadowed the looming judgment on Judah for their widespread idolatry. Although some of his predecessors had tried to remove these pagan sites, Ahaz’s behavior reversed the improvements his father and grandfather had attempted. Later, his son Hezekiah would make more earnest efforts to abolish these high places and restore pure worship to the LORD (2 Kings 18:3-4). Yet at this juncture in history, Ahaz plunged even deeper into paganism, setting a dire example for the nation and betraying the covenant that bound them to the one true God.