Ahaz אָחָז
King of Judah, son of Jotham
Biography
Ahaz was the son of Jotham and the eleventh king of Judah. He reigned for 16 years in Jerusalem, beginning at the age of 20. Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but followed the ways of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering and sacrificed to idols on the high places. (2Ki.16.1-4; 2Ch.28.1-4)
During his reign, Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel, attacked Jerusalem but could not conquer it. (2Ki.16.5; Isa.7.1) The prophet Isaiah encouraged Ahaz to trust in the Lord, but Ahaz instead sought help from Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, offering him tribute. (2Ki.16.7-9; Isa.7.3-12).
Ahaz adopted pagan practices, including building a new altar based on a design from Damascus and offering sacrifices on it. He cut up the temple articles and closed the doors of the Lord's temple. (2Ki.16.10-18; 2Ch.28.24) Ahaz faced military defeats and became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord. (2Ch.28.5-8,16-25).
Hezekiah, Ahaz's son, succeeded him as king. Hezekiah repaired and purified the temple, which had been neglected during Ahaz's reign. (2Ch.29.3-19) The reign of Ahaz was marked by idolatry and unfaithfulness to God, leading to political turmoil and religious decline in Judah. (2Ki.16.2-4; 2Ch.28.1-4,22-25).
Family
In Scripture
7 biblical books ; 4 with study content2 Kings 5 verses
- 2 Kings 15:38
"Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David’s city, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place."
- 2 Kings 16:1
"In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign."
- 2 Kings 16:2
"Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn’t do that which was right in Yahweh his God’s eyes, like David his father."
- 2 Kings 16:5
"Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war. They besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him."
- 2 Kings 16:7
"So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me.”"
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 3:13
"Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,"
2 Chronicles 5 verses
- 2 Chronicles 27:9
"Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place."
- 2 Chronicles 28:1
"Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn’t do that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, like David his father,"
- 2 Chronicles 28:16
"At that time king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him."
- 2 Chronicles 28:19
"For Yahweh brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, because he acted without restraint in Judah and trespassed severely against Yahweh."
- 2 Chronicles 28:21
"For Ahaz took away a portion out of Yahweh’s house, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria; but it didn’t help him."
Isaiah 5 verses Study available
- Isaiah 1:1
"The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah."
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 7:1
"In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it."
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 7:3
"Then Yahweh said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you, and Shearjashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway of the fuller’s field."
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 7:10
"Yahweh spoke again to Ahaz, saying,"
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 7:12
"But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask. I won’t tempt Yahweh.”"
Study Isaiah →
Hosea 1 verse Study available
- Hosea 1:1
"Yahweh’s word that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel."
Study Hosea →
Micah 1 verse Study available
- Micah 1:1
"Yahweh’s word that came to Micah the Morashtite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem."
Study Micah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אָחָז | H0271G |
| Greek | Greek | Ἀχάζ | G0881 |