Ahaz

"Possessor." The son and successor of Jotham, king of Judah.1 He gave himself up to a life of wickedness and idolatry. Notwithstanding the remonstrances and warnings of Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah, he appealed for help against Rezin, king of Damascus, and Pekah, king of Israel, who threatened Jerusalem, to Tiglath-pileser, the king of Assyria, to the great injury of his kingdom and his own humiliating subjection to the Assyrians.2 He also introduced among his people many heathen and idolatrous customs.3 He died at the age of thirty-five years, after reigning sixteen years, and was succeeded by his son Hezekiah. Because of his wickedness he was "not brought into the sepulcher of the kings."

Also a grandson of Jonathan.4

❧

References

Notes

  1. 2 Kings 16; Isa. 7-9; 2 Chr. 28.
  2. 2 Kings 16:7, 9; 15:29.
  3. Isa. 8:19; 38:8; 2 Kings 23:12.
  4. 1 Chr. 8:35; 9:42.

Source

  • Easton, M.G. (1897). Easton's Bible Dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers.

This article incorporates text from Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897) by M.G. Easton, which is in the public domain.