2 Kings 16:10 Meaning and Explanation
“And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Visiting Damascus to meet the Assyrian king, Ahaz saw a pagan altar there and sent its design to Urijah the priest to be copied.
What Does 2 Kings 16:10 Mean?
Summoned to Damascus to pay homage, Ahaz is impressed by an altar he sees there, likely one tied to Assyrian worship. He sends its exact pattern back to Urijah the priest in Jerusalem, eager to reproduce a foreign religious symbol at the heart of God's temple. What captures his admiration is the worship of his new overlord.
We become like what we admire. Ahaz has bowed to Assyria politically, and now his eyes and his worship follow. The God of Israel had given Moses the pattern for the altar; Ahaz prefers a pattern borrowed from the nations. When a person's allegiance shifts, their devotion soon reshapes itself to match. The verse warns how easily fascination with the world begins to reorder the sacred.
2 Kings 16:10 in the Original Language
tabnit (תַּבְנִית), 'pattern' -- a model or design; the same word used for the heavenly pattern God showed Moses for the tabernacle.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 16:10
What does 2 Kings 16:10 mean?
Visiting Damascus to meet the Assyrian king, Ahaz saw a pagan altar there and sent its design to Urijah the priest to be copied.