2 Kings 16: Group Study Handout

How to use: read 2 Kings 16 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Ahaz became king of Judah in the seventeenth year of Pekah, reigning for sixteen years. He did not act rightly in Yahweh's eyes, unlike his father David. Instead, he practiced idolatry by making his son 'pass through the fire' and sacrificing in high places.

Key verse

“But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yes, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out from before the children of Israel.”
2 Kings 16:3 (WEB)

Outline

2 Kings 16:1–2 Ahaz Becomes King of Judah
2 Kings 16:3–4 Idolatrous Practices of Ahaz
2 Kings 16:5–6 Military Threats from Israel and Syria
2 Kings 16:7–9 Alliance with Assyria
2 Kings 16:10–12 Construction of a New Altar
2 Kings 16:13–16 Worship Practices Change
2 Kings 16:17–20 Final Acts of Ahaz

Discussion questions

In v2, what does the text say about Ahaz's moral conduct compared to David?
What act does Ahaz perform in v3 that is described as an abomination?
Ahaz's request to Tiglath-Pileser in v7: what might this say about his faith in Yahweh?
The altar built by Urijah in vv. 11-12: how does it compare to Yahweh's original altar?
When have you compromised something important to seek help from a worldly source, similar to Ahaz?

Go deeper

Passages that echo 2 Kings 16: 2 Chronicles 28, 2 Kings 15, 2 Kings 17.

Before next time: read 2 Kings 17.