2 Kings 16:3 - Easy To Read Version Ahaz lived like the kings of Israel. He even sacrificed his son in fire. [187] He copied the terrible sins of the nations that the Lord forced to leave the country at the time the Israelites came. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 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. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition But he walked in the ways of Israel's kings, yes, and made his son pass through the fire [and offered him as a sacrifice], in accord with the abominable [idolatrous] practices of the [heathen] nations whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites. American Standard Version (1901) 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 nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel. Common English Bible Instead, he walked in the ways of Israel’s kings. He even burned his own son alive, imitating the detestable practices of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. Catholic Public Domain Version Instead, he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. Moreover, he even consecrated his son, making him pass through fire, in accord with the idols of the nations that the Lord destroyed before the sons of Israel. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. Moreover he consecrated also his son, making him pass through the fire according to the idols of the nations: which the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel. |
There were men who served other gods by selling their bodies for sex. [178] So the people of Judah did many bad things. The people that had lived in the land before them did those same evil things. And God took the land away from those people and gave it to the people of Israel.
The people stopped following the commands of the Lord their God. They made two gold statues of calves. They made Asherah poles. [209] They worshiped all the stars of heaven and served Baal. [210]
They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They used magic and witchcraft [211] to try to learn the future. They sold themselves to do what the Lord said was evil. They did this to make the Lord angry.
But even the people of Judah did not obey the commands of the Lord their God. The people of Judah lived just like the people of Israel.
They began doing the same things that other people did. And the Lord had forced those people to leave their land when the Israelites came. The Israelites also chose to be ruled by kings, {not by God}.
“Manasseh king of Judah has done these hated things and has done more evil than the Amorites before him. Manasseh also has caused Judah to sin because of his idols. [260]
Manasseh did the things that the Lord said were wrong. Manasseh did the terrible things the other nations did. (And the Lord forced those nations to leave their country when the Israelites came.)
Manasseh sacrificed his own son and burned him on the altar. [255] Manasseh used different ways of trying to know the future. He visited mediums [256] and wizards. [257]
But the people did not listen to God. Manasseh did more evil things than all the nations {that lived in Canaan before Israel came}. And the Lord destroyed those nations when the people of Israel {came to take their land}.
Topheth was a place in the Valley of Hinnom’s Son where people killed their children and burned them on an altar to honor the false god Molech. [289] Josiah defiled (ruined) that place so people could not use that place again.
But Jehoram lived like the kings of Israel and did the things that the Lord said were wrong. Jehoram lived like the people from Ahab’s family. Jehoram lived like this because his wife was Ahab’s daughter.
Ahaziah also lived the way Ahab’s family lived. He lived that way because his mother encouraged him to do wrong things.
Manasseh did the things that the Lord said were wrong. He followed the terrible and sinful ways of the nations that the Lord had forced out of the land before the people of Israel.
Manasseh also burned his own children for a sacrifice {\cf2\super [403]} in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. {\cf2\super [404]} Manasseh also used magic by doing soothsaying, divination, and sorcery. {\cf2\super [405]} He talked with mediums {\cf2\super [406]} and wizards. {\cf2\super [407]} Manasseh did many things that the Lord said was wrong, and this made the Lord angry.
They mixed with the other people,\par and did what those people were doing.\par
All you want is to worship false gods\par under every green tree.\par You kill children by every stream,\par and sacrifice them in the rocky places.\par
“In the Valley of Ben Hinnom, {\cf2\super [272]} those people built high places {\cf2\super [273]} to the false god Baal. {\cf2\super [274]} They built those worship places so that they could burn their sons and daughters as child sacrifices. I never commanded them to do such a terrible thing. I never even thought the people of Judah would do such a terrible thing.
You slaughtered {\cf2\super [122]} my sons and then passed them \{through the fire\} to those false gods.
You did all the terrible things they did. But you also did things that were even worse!
I let them make themselves filthy with their gifts. They even began to sacrifice their own firstborn children. In this way, I would destroy those people. Then they would know that I am the Lord.’
You are giving the same kind of gifts. You are putting your children in the fire \{as a gift to your false gods\}. You are still making yourself filthy with those filthy idols today! Do you really think that I should let you come to me and ask me for advice? I am the Lord and Master. By my life I promise, I won’t answer your questions and give you advice!
“You must not give any of your children through {the fire} to Molech. [329] If you do this, you will show that you don’t respect the name of your God! I am the Lord.
“You must also tell the people of Israel these things: A person in your country might give one of his children to the false god Molech. [346] That person must be killed! It does not matter if that person is a citizen of Israel or a foreigner living in Israel, you must throw stones at that person and kill him.
Will the Lord be pleased\par with 1,000 rams or 10,000 rivers of oil?\par Should I give my first child\par as payment for my crimes?\par Should I give the child\par that came from my body\par as payment for my sins?\par
Don’t do that to the Lord your God! {Don’t worship God like that! Why?} Because those people do all kinds of bad things that the Lord hates. They even burn their children as sacrifices to their gods!
Don’t sacrifice your sons or daughters in the fires on your altars. [117] Don’t try to learn what will happen in the future by talking to a fortune teller or by going to a magician, a witch or a sorcerer.