2 Kings 16:3
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. 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.
The verse describes Ahaz, king of Judah, walking in the evil idolatrous way of the kings of Israel by making his son to pass through the fire according to the abominations of the heathen nations whom the Lord cast out from before Israel. His idolatry included making molten images for Baalim, burning incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and sacrificing and burning incense in high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. His accession to the throne brought conditions more appalling than any that had existed before in Judah.
Many who had formerly withstood idolatrous practices were persuaded to take part in the worship of heathen deities, while princes proved untrue to their trust, false prophets arose with messages to lead astray, and even some priests taught for hire. Yet the leaders in apostasy still kept up the forms of divine worship and claimed to be numbered among God's people. Some Israelites adopted the heathen practice of making their children pass through fire but did not carry the practice as far as the heathen nations, and God punished them by causing the fire to consume their children. His course proves literally true that his leadership caused the people to err and destroyed the way of their paths. The disobedience is part of the history of disobedience held up in parable to present the future as the result of that course of action, one link in thousands of years of forging fetters that bound them in a bondage no human power could break.