Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 16:8
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.
8. silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord ] Ahaz appears to have dealt very irreverently with the treasures of the temple. The Chronicler says he ‘gathered together the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God’. This looks as if he melted down the gold and silver to send to Tiglath-pileser.
for a present ] The word is not that term for present which literally signifies ‘blessing’ (see note on v. 15). This word has rather the sense of a ‘bribe’. In Exo 23:8 it is ‘the gift that blindeth the wise’. In Deu 27:25 it is ‘the reward taken for slaying the innocent’. In 1Sa 8:3 it is a ‘ bribe ’. In Eze 22:12 it is a gift taken for shedding blood. So that the present of Ahaz is not represented by this word as of a noble character.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Compare the marginal reference and 1Ki 15:18. Political necessity was always held to justify the devotion of the temple treasure to secular purposes.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord,…. Which Uzziah and Jotham had put there; for all that was found there in the times of Amaziah was taken away by Jehoash king of Israel, 2Ki 14:14
and in the treasures of the king’s house; whatever gold and silver he had of his own:
and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria; to obtain his help and assistance.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(8) Ahaz took the silver and gold.He was well aware that the only conditions on which protection would be vouchsafed were acceptance of the Assyrian suzerainty with the payment of a huge tribute, and an embassy was despatched laden with all the treasures of the palace and the Temple. The ambassadors had no difficulty in attaining their object, which perfectly fell in with the schemes of the great king. The invincible army was set in motion, Damascus was taken, and its inhabitants led captive, and Gilead and Galilee suffered the same fate (Robertson Smith). (Comp. 2Ki. 15:29.) According to Schrader, the expedition to Philistiain 734 B.C., was directed against Pekah, who probably saved himself by an instant submission. It was only after Tiglath had settled matters with the northern kingdom, and so isolated Damascus, that he turned his arms against Rezin. Two whole years were spent in reducing him (733-732 B.C. ) In an inscription dating from his seventeenth year, Tiglath Pileser mentions that he received tribute from Eniel, king of Hamath, Muthumbaal, king of Arvad, Sanibu of Ammon, Salamanu of Moab, Mitinti of Asca-lon, Jahuhazi (Jehoahaz, i.e., Ahaz) of Judah, Qausmalaka of Edom, Hanun of Gaza, and other princes. This probably relates to the expedition of 734 B.C. , in which year, therefore, Ahaz (Jehoahaz) must have put himself under the protection of Assyria (Schrader, K.A.T., p. 257 seq.).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Ahaz took the silver and gold He did to the king of Assyria what Jehoash had done for a like purpose to the king of Syria. See 2Ki 12:18.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 16:8 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.
Ver. 8. And sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. ] Who being ambitious of a universal monarchy, was glad of the opportunity, when he saw the gold especially.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
house. Some codices, with two early printed editions, and Septuagint, read “treasures of the house”.
a present. Tiglath-pileser regarded it (in his inscriptions) as tribute.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the silver: 2Ki 16:17, 2Ki 16:18, 2Ki 12:17, 2Ki 12:18, 2Ki 18:15, 2Ki 18:16, 2Ch 16:2, 2Ch 28:20, 2Ch 28:21
to the king: Psa 7:15, Psa 7:16, Isa 7:17, Isa 8:7, Isa 8:8
Reciprocal: Gen 43:11 – carry down 2Ki 15:19 – Menahem 2Ki 17:3 – and Hoshea 1Ch 28:12 – the treasuries 2Ch 12:9 – took away Isa 7:20 – shave Isa 10:13 – robbed Joe 3:5 – ye Mic 1:14 – give
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 16:8. And Ahaz took the silver, &c. The treasures of the house of the Lord, and of the kings house, had been sent some years before by Jehoash to the king of Syria, 2Ki 12:18. It seems, however, they had been well replenished again by the piety of his successors, Amaziah, Azariah, and especially Jotham. But what authority had Ahaz to dispose thus of the public money, and exhaust the treasures of both church and state, to gratify his new patron and guardian? We can only answer, that it is common for those, who have brought themselves into straits by one sin, to endeavour to extricate themselves by another. And those that have alienated themselves from God, will make no difficulty in alienating from him any other of his rights. In this instance, the sin itself was its own punishment; for, though the king of Assyria hearkened unto Ahaz, and, for his own ends, made a descent on Damascus, and took it, thereby giving a powerful diversion to the king of Syria, and obliging him to forego his design against Jerusalem; yet Ahaz made but an ill bargain, seeing he not only robbed the temple, and expended his own treasures, but enslaved both himself and his people to the king of Assyria.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
16:8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the {f} house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent [it for] a present to the king of Assyria.
(f) Thus he did not spare the temple of God from being spoiled to gain help from men and would not once lift his heart to God to desire his help or hear his prophet’s counsel.