John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel . etc.] Worshipping the calves as they did; which, as it was contrary to the religious sentiments in which he was educated, so against his political interest, which was the only, or at least the principal thing, which swayed with the kings of Israel to continue that idolatry: yea, and made his son to pass through the fire ; between two fires to Molech, by way of lustration; which might be true of Hezekiah his son, and others of his sons, for he had more he burnt with fire, as appears from ( 2 Chronicles 28:3), both ways were used in that sort of idolatry, (see Gill on “ Leviticus 18:21”), according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel ; the old Canaanites; so the Carthaginians, a colony of the Phoenicians, used in time of calamity to offer human sacrifices, and even their children, to appease their deities f182 .
Theodoret says, he had seen in some cities, in his time, piles kindled once a year, over which not only boys, but men, would leap, and infants were carried by their mothers through the flames; which seemed to be an expiation or purgation, and which he takes to be the same with the sin of Ahaz.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - Few and evil were the days of Ahaz. Those whose hearts condemn them will go any where in a day of distress, rather than to God. The sin wa its own punishment. It is common for those who bring themselves int straits by one sin, to try to help themselves out by another.
Original Hebrew וילך1980 בדרך1870 מלכי4428 ישׂראל3478 וגם1571 את853 בנו1121 העביר5674 באשׁ784 כתעבות8441 הגוים1471 אשׁר834 הורישׁ3423 יהוה3068 אתם853 מפני6440 בני1121 ישׂראל׃3478
