DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2014 September 5
Fantastic Heads or Devil's Heads (1841)
Vaclav Levy (1820-1870)
Academic and Fantastic Art Styles
Carved in the Rocks Near Klacelka Cave, Near Libechov, Outside the Village of Zelizy, Czech Republic
Image Source: Wikipedia
Explanation: 2 Kings 16 describes the reign of Ahaz in Judah. The illustration above, though not specifically representing the ideas in this chapter, nevertheless well represent the grotesque and horrific nature of the false gods which Ahaziah promoted in the kingdom of Judah. By embracing such worship, the soul likewise becomes distorted. [Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2]. [Chronologically and Thematically Related Scriptures: 2 Kings 15:38; 2 Chronicles 27:9; 2 Chronicles 28:1-8; 2 Chronicles 28:9-15; Isaiah 7:1-2; Isaiah 7:3-19; 2 Chronicles 28:17-19; 2 Chronicles 28:16, 21; 2 Kings 15:29; 2 Chronicles 28:20; 2 Chronicles 28:22-25; 2 Kings 15:30-31; 2 Chronicles 28:26-27; 2 Chronicles 29:1; Isaiah 7, 8, 9, 10].
Ahaz began to reign in Judah when he was 20; and he reigned for 16 years. He lived in the evil ways of the kings of Israel; he sacrificed his son; and he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places (1-4). When Rezin, King of Syria, came against Jerusalem he besieged the city but could not overcome it. However, he was able to conquer Elath and recover it for Syria; and he drove the Jews from Elath. As a counter move, Ahaz used the silver and gold from the Temple and the treasures of his own house to hire Tiglathpileser, king of Assyria, to drive Rezin away from Judah. This was yet another despoliation of the Temple for military gain. Tiglathpileser conquered Damascus, sent captives to Kir, and killed Rezin (5-9). While Tiglathpileser was in Damascus Ahaz visited him. There he saw an altar which captured his attention. So Ahaz sent a description of it to Urijah the priest in Jerusalem; and, before Ahaz returned, Urijah made a copy of the altar and installed it in the Temple, in front of the main altar (the bronze altar). When Ahaz returned, he made many offerings on the new altar. And he designated the bronze altar for his use and the new altar for the use of the people (10-16). Ahaz also made other adjustments in the Temple. He moved and reshaped various items in the Temple. When he died his son Hezekiah reigned in his stead (17-20).
2 Kings 16
1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
2 Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.
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 heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.
4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
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.
6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.
7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser 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, which rise up against me.
8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.
9 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.
10 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.
11 And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.
12 And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.
13 And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.
14 And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.
15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.
16 Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.
17 And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.
18 And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.
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?
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.
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