16:1-2 Ahaz the son of Jotham, becomes king at the age of twenty two. He reigns for sixteen years and is a corrupt king. God is displeased with him because he does not live righteously.
16:3-4 Instead, Ahaz worships false gods. Ahaz even burns his own son to worship to this false god. Ahaz' evil actions are compared to the kings of Israel and we learn that God is very displeased with them as well.
16:5-6 Israel and Syria start a war against Judah are unable to defeat Ahaz.
16:7-9 Ahaz purchases the support of the Assyrians through Tiglath-Pilesar and the Assyrians defeat Syria. The Assyrians kill the king of Syria and take their people captive. Instead of relying on faith, counsel and guidance from God, Ahaz takes valuables from the house of the Lord to afford the Assyrians allegiance.
16:10-16 Essentially, Ahaz has sold himself and the kingdom to the Assyrians. This is the mistake we make when we venture too far from God! We forget that we are not for sale - not under an circumstances as long as we allow ourselves to be claimed by our God. Ahaz commands his servants to recreate the altars of the false gods in Syria, in the land of Judah.
16:17-18 The house of the Lord is partially deconstructed. Ahaz has no love of loyalty for God who established the kingdom and protected it from being utterly destroyed but its enemies (on behalf of David).
16:19-20 Ahaz dies and his son Hezekiah becomes king.
