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.
King Ahaz traveled to Damascus to meet with Tiglath-Pileser, the king of Assyria, and saw an altar there. King Ahaz sent detailed instructions to Urijah the priest, describing exactly how the altar looked and how it was made, including all the craftsmanship details.
King Ahaz saw a pagan altar in Damascus and decided to have a copy made for Jerusalem's temple, showing his attraction to foreign religious practices.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred around 732 BC when King Ahaz of Judah sought military help from Assyria against attacks from Israel and Syria. As part of becoming an Assyrian vassal, Ahaz was likely expected to show respect for Assyrian religious practices. Damascus had recently been conquered by Tiglath-Pileser III, and Ahaz's visit there was both diplomatic and submissive.
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