Ahaz אָחָז
King of Judah, son of Jotham
Who is Ahaz in the Bible?
Ahaz was the eleventh king of Judah and son of Jotham, reigning for 16 years beginning at age 20 (2 Kings 16:1-2). Unlike his father, Ahaz rejected God's ways and engaged in widespread idolatry, including burning his own son as an offering and worshiping at pagan altars (2 Chronicles 28:1-4). When Syria and Israel attacked Jerusalem during his reign, the prophet Isaiah urged him to trust in God's protection, but Ahaz instead sought military alliance with Assyria by offering tribute to King Tiglath-pileser (Isaiah 7:1-12). Ahaz's reign is significant as a cautionary example of a king who turned from God despite divine warnings through the prophet Isaiah, ultimately leading Judah deeper into spiritual unfaithfulness.
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
"And Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David his father. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place."
- 2 Kings 16:1
"In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham became king of Judah."
- 2 Kings 16:2
"Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God."
- 2 Kings 16:5
"Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to wage war against Jerusalem. 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 from the hands of the kings of Aram and Israel, who are rising 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
"And Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place."
- 2 Chronicles 28:1
"Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD."
- 2 Chronicles 28:16
"At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the king of Assyria."
- 2 Chronicles 28:19
"For the LORD humbled Judah because Ahaz king of Israel had thrown off restraint in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD."
- 2 Chronicles 28:21
"Although Ahaz had taken a portion from the house of the LORD, from the royal palace, and from the princes and had presented it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him."
Isaiah 5 verses
- Isaiah 1:1
"This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah."
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 7:1
"Now in the days that Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram marched up to wage war against Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Pekah son of Remaliah the king of Israel, but he could not overpower the city."
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 7:3
"Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct that feeds the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field,"
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 7:10
"Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying,"
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 7:12
"But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.”"
Study Isaiah →
Hosea 1 verse
- Hosea 1:1
"This is the word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel."
Study Hosea →
Micah 1 verse
- Micah 1:1
"This is the word of the LORD that came to Micah the Moreshite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—what he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem:"
Study Micah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אָחָז | ʾāḥāz | Achaz , the name of a Jewish king and of an Israelite |
| Greek | Greek | Ἀχάζ | — | — |