Biblical Profile: Ahaz

Ahaz

Ahaz reigned in Judah during a turbulent period (743–715 BC). His father Jotham (2 Kgs 15:32-38; 2 Chr 27:1-9) and son Hezekiah (2 Kgs 18:1-8) were praised for their obedience to the Lord, but Ahaz was evil, even sacrificing one of his sons to false gods.

Ahaz’s reign was marked with conflict. King Pekah of Israel and King Rezin of Aram (Syria) wanted him to join a coalition against Assyria, but he refused. So Pekah and Rezin turned against Judah and won substantial victories, which severely frightened Ahaz. Isaiah the prophet encouraged Ahaz to rely on the Lord, but Ahaz refused (Isa 7).

Revealing his lack of trust in the true God, Ahaz appealed to Tiglath-pileser III for help (2 Kgs 16:7-9). Ahaz made Judah dangerously dependent on Assyria, and Judah effectively became a vassal state. The Assyrian king subsequently defeated the Arameans in a two-year campaign (734–732 BC) and killed Rezin. He subdued Israel and incorporated great tracts of Pekah’s land into the Assyrian Empire (15:29).

Ahaz became an eager servant of Assyria. He adopted many religious innovations based on Assyrian models. Ahaz visited Tiglath-pileser III in Damascus, where he saw an Assyrian altar and sent a model of it to Jerusalem, where a similar altar was built, replacing the original bronze altar (16:10-18). Several other Temple alterations also indicate Ahaz’s defection from faith in the Lord.

Ahaz illustrates why the people of Judah were finally exiled. He did not comport himself appropriately as a king (Deut 17:14-20), and he did not worship the Lord. Upon his death, he was succeeded by his son Hezekiah (2 Kgs 16:20).

Passages for Further Study

2 Kgs 15:38–16:20; 2 Chr 27:9–28:27; Isa 7:1-25