Endnote 4 – What’s a Pleasing Sacrifice?

This point is also made by the religious reforms and innovations introduced by Ahaz (2 Kings 16:10–18) and Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1–9), who (like Hezekiah and Josiah) brought the cult into line with their political agendas, in this case influenced by their vassal relationship with Assyria. Notice the statement in 2 Kings 16:18 that Ahaz “did this because of the king of Assyria.”