2 Kings 16:18

And on account of the king of Assyria, he removed the Sabbath canopy they had built in the temple and closed the royal entryway outside the house of the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator records King Ahaz’s structural reforms in Jerusalem following his dismantling of temple furnishings, noting his actions were taken in response to Assyrian authority. The account places these changes during Ahaz’s reign as he reconfigured the temple complex.

The words — מוּסַךְ (mi.sakh) denotes a covered structure or canopy, and מְבֹוא (me.Vo') specifies an entrance or gateway. The text identifies these as the Sabbath canopy and the royal entryway located outside the house of the LORD.

The thread — The regulation of temple access and royal boundaries recurs in 2 Kings 11:5 and Ezekiel 46:2, where sacred space and gateway protocols are strictly defined. These references contrast Ahaz’s modifications with later prescribed arrangements for worship and royal conduct.

Why it lands — The text documents how political submission directly altered worship architecture and restricted access to the temple. Readers must evaluate whether compromising sacred boundaries for political convenience violates the established order of God’s dwelling.

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

וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>מוּסַ֨ךְmi.sakh[the] covered structure of הַשַּׁבָּ֜תha./sha.Batthe/ sabbath אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which בָּנ֣וּba.Nupeople had built בַבַּ֗יִתva./Ba.yitin the/ house וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>מְב֤וֹאme.Vo'[the] entrance of הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha./Me.lekhthe/ king הַֽחִיצ֔וֹנָהha./chi.Tzo.nah<the>/ outer הֵסֵ֖בhe.Sevhe removed בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house of יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahweh מִפְּנֵ֖יmi./pe.Nei<from>/ because of מֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekh[the] king of אַשּֽׁוּר׃'a.ShurAssyria

King James Version

And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s entry without, turned he from the house of the Lord for the king of Assyria.

Cross-references

1 Kings 10:5 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.
2 Kings 11:5 and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace,
Ezekiel 46:2 The prince is to enter from the outside through the portico of the gateway and stand by the gatepost, while the priests sacrifice his burnt offerings and peace offerings. He is to bow in worship at the threshold of the gate and then depart, but the gate must not be shut until evening.