2nd Kings Chapter Sixteen

 Ki 16:1  In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. 

2Ki 16:2  Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, like David his father. 

2Ki 16:3  But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel. 

2Ki 16:4  And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 

2Ki 16:5  Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. 

2Ki 16:6  At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath; and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there, unto this day. 

2Ki 16:7  So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me. 

2Ki 16:8  And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of Jehovah, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. 

2Ki 16:9  And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him; and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin. 

2Ki 16:10  And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw the 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. 

2Ki 16:11  And Urijah the priest built an altar: according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so did Urijah the priest make it against the coming of king Ahaz from Damascus. 

2Ki 16:12  And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king drew near unto the altar, and offered thereon. 

2Ki 16:13  And he burnt his burnt-offering and his meal-offering, and poured his drink-offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace-offerings, upon the altar. 

2Ki 16:14  And the brazen altar, which was before Jehovah, he brought from the forefront of the house, from between his altar and the house of Jehovah, and put it on the north side of his altar. 

2Ki 16:15  And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt-offering, and the evening meal-offering, and the king's burnt-offering, and his meal-offering, with the burnt-offering of all the people of the land, and their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt-offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: but the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by. 

2Ki 16:16  Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. 

2Ki 16:17  And king Ahaz cut off the panels of the bases, and removed the laver from off them, and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stone. 

2Ki 16:18  And the covered way for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he unto the house of Jehovah, because of the king of Assyria. 

2Ki 16:19  Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 

2Ki 16:20  And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead. 

Verses 1-9 Summary: Ahaz of Judah is an evil king. His idolatry included the high places and child sacrifice (*his own son). Rezin of Syria and Pekah of israel attack Judah. Ahaz pays tribute with Tiglath-pileser of Assyria for his help . The Assyrian king attacks Syria and kills Rezin. 

*Likely Molech/Moloch worship

Verses 10-20 Summary: Ahaz visits Tiglath-pileser and takes note of his altar. He commands that a similar altar to be built for himself. Then multiple other "modifications" are made of the temple implements to accommodate the foreign king. Ahaz dies and Hezekiah becomes king.

2nd Chronicles 28 (Additional facts about Ahaz): He increased Baal worship. Syria and Israel rout Judah. Hundreds of thousand of Judeans are affected by this conquering. Obed travels to Israel and delivers a curse by God against them for killing their relatives and capturing so many as slaves. Israel repents and cares for the captured and send them home. Edomites and Philistines pillage Judah. Tiglathpilsener oppresses Judah as well! 

5. What lesson can we learn from 2nd Chronicles 28:19? 
2Ch 28:19  For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.
We must first recognize the power that these kings had. They led by example first, then persuasion. Then if necessary they used force. These steps were either in accordance to God's plan, somewhere in the middle, or in the case of Ahaz, a complete disregard for Jehovah. 
Like today, people outside of his courts could respond to evil by not doing it. But if the king leads with an evil heart and you live close, it would have been difficult to resist.
Where are the priests like Jehoiada, willing to risk life and limb for God? It doesn't take long for people to forget.