2 Kings 16:2
Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.
The accession of Ahaz brought Isaiah and his associates face to face with conditions more appalling than any that had yet existed in Judah. It introduced a time when many who had formerly withstood idolatrous practices were persuaded to take part in the worship of heathen deities. It introduced a time when princes proved untrue to their trust.
It introduced a time when false prophets arose with messages to lead astray. It introduced a time when even some of the priests taught for hire. It introduced a time when the leaders in apostasy still kept up the forms of divine worship and claimed to be numbered among the people of God.
The verse belongs to the history held up in a parable to show the future resulting from a course of action. That history was one of thousands of years forging fetters that bound in a bondage no human power could break.