10 And king Ahaz goeth to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Asshur 'at' Damascus, and seeth the altar that 'is' in Damascus, and king Ahaz sendeth unto Urijah the priest the likeness of the altar, and its pattern, according to all its work, 11 and Urijah the priest buildeth the altar according to all that king Ahaz hath sent from Damascus; so did Urijah the priest till the coming in of king Ahaz from Damascus. 12 And the king cometh in from Damascus, and the king seeth the altar, and the king draweth near on the altar, and offereth on it, 13 and perfumeth his burnt-offering, and his present, and poureth out his libation, and sprinkleth the blood of the peace-offerings that he hath, on the altar. 14 As to the altar of brass that 'is' before Jehovah—he bringeth 'it' near from the front of the house, from between the altar and the house of Jehovah, and putteth it on the side of the altar, northward. 15 And king Ahaz commandeth him—Urijah the priest—saying, 'On the great altar perfume the burnt-offering of the morning, and the present of the evening, and the burnt-offering of the king, and his present, and the burnt-offering of all the people of the land, and their present, and their libations; and all the blood of the burnt-offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice, on it thou dost sprinkle, and the altar of brass is to me to inquire 'by'.' 16 And Urijah the priest doth according to all that king Ahaz commanded.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 16:10-16
Commentary on 2 Kings 16:10-16
(Read 2 Kings 16:10-16)
God's altar had hitherto been kept in its place, and in use; but Ahaz put another in the room of it. The natural regard of the mind of man to some sort of religion, is not easily extinguished; but except it be regulated by the word, and by the Spirit of God, it produces absurd superstitions, or detestable idolatries. Or, at best, it quiets the sinner's conscience with unmeaning ceremonies. Infidels have often been remarkable for believing ridiculous falsehoods.