Bible Strands
2 Kings 16:10
Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria. On seeing the altar in Damascus, King Ahaz sent Uriah the priest a model of the altar and complete plans for its construction.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King Ahaz travels to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, following the Assyrian capture of the city. After observing the local altar, he dispatches architectural models and detailed instructions to Uriah the priest.
The words — לִקְרַאת (Li/k.rat) signifies to meet or approach, and אַשּׁוּר ('a.Shur) identifies the Assyrian empire.
The thread — Uriah the priest later appears as a reliable witness in Isaiah 8:2. The verse's depiction of adopting foreign worship structures echoes the condemnation in Ezekiel 23:16 of lusting after external religious models, while Romans 12:2 establishes the contrasting standard of refusing worldly conformity.
Why it lands — It requires readers to identify when political necessity overrides covenant practice. The text demands a clear assessment of whether religious actions originate from divine command or external pressure.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath–pileser 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.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 8:2 And I will appoint for Myself trustworthy witnesses—Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.”
- Ezekiel 23:16 At the sight of them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.
- Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
- Exodus 24:4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Exodus 39:43 And Moses inspected all the work and saw that they had accomplished it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.
- Deuteronomy 12:30 be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, “How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.”
- 2 Kings 15:29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.
- 1 Chronicles 28:11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, storehouses, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat.
- 1 Chronicles 28:19 “All this,” said David, “all the details of this plan, the LORD has made clear to me in writing by His hand upon me.”
- 2 Chronicles 28:23 He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him, and he said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But these gods were the downfall of Ahaz and of all Israel.