Difference between revisions of "Ahaz"

<p> <strong> AHAZ </strong> , son and successor of Jotham, king of Judah, came to the throne about b.c. 734. The only notable event of his reign, so far as we know, was the invasion made by his northern neighbours, Pekah of Israel and Rezin of Damascus. These two kings had made an alliance against the Assyrians, and were trying to compel Ahaz to join the coalition. His refusal so exasperated them that they planned his deposition and the appointment of a creature of their own to the throne. Ahaz did not venture to take the field, but shut himself up in Jerusalem and strengthened its fortifications. It was perhaps at this time of need that he sacrificed his son as a burnt-offering to Jahweh. Isaiah tried to encourage the faint-hearted king, pointing out that his enemies had no prospect of success or even of long existence. But Ahaz had more faith in political measures than in the prophetic word. He sent a message to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, submitting himself unreservedly to him. The embassy carried substantial evidence of vassalage in the shape of all the gold and silver from the palace treasury and from the [[Temple]] (&nbsp; 2 Kings 16:1-20 , &nbsp; Isaiah 7 ). </p> <p> Tiglath-pileser was already on the march, and at once laid siege to Damascus, thus freeing Jerusalem from its enemies. Two years later the Assyrian king entered Damascus, and was visited there by Ahaz. The result of the visit was the construction of a new altar for the Temple at Jerusalem, and apparently the introduction of Assyrian divinities (&nbsp;2 Kings 16:10 ff.). </p> <p> [[H. P]]  Smith. </p>

<p> [[Ahaz]] ( ''Â'K'' ''Ăz'' ), ''Seizer'' or [[Possessor]] . 1. The eleventh king of Judah; he was contemporary with the prophets Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah. He reigned 16 years. If, as it is stated in &nbsp;2 Kings 16:2, [[A. V]]  Ahaz was 20 years old when he ascended the throne, he must have been the father of Hezekiah when eleven years of age. &nbsp;2 Kings 18:2. Here, however, the [[Septuagint]] and the [[Syriac]] read "twenty-five years old." &nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:1. He was distinguished for his idolatry and contempt of the true God; and against him many of the prophecies of Isaiah are directed. He died b.c. 726; and such was his impiety, that he was not allowed burial in the sepulchre of the kings. &nbsp;2 Kings 16:1-2; &nbsp;2 Kings 16:20; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:1-27; &nbsp;Isaiah 7:1; &nbsp;Isaiah 25:2. A descendant of Jonathan. &nbsp;1 Chronicles 8:35; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 9:42. </p>

<p> Son of Jotham, and twelfth king of Judah. He ascended the throne at twenty years of age, and reigned sixteen years, &nbsp;2 Kings 16:1,2,20 . [[B. C]]  738. He was distinguished for his idolatry and contempt of the true God; and against him many of the prophecies of Isaiah are directed, &nbsp;Isaiah 7.1-25 . He made his own children pass through the fire to idols; he introduced the Syrian gods into Jerusalem, altered the temple after the Syrian model, and even closed it altogether. Having thus forfeited the aid of Jehovah, he met various repulses in battle with Pekah and Rezin; the Edomites revolted, and the Philistines harassed his borders. He turned yet more away from God in his distress, and sought aid from Pul, king of Assyria. This fatal step made him tributary to Pul, and to Tig-lath-pileser his successor. Ahaz was reduced to great extremities, in buying off the Assyrians; but became more infatuated still in idolatry, and dying in his impiety at the of thirty-six, was refused a burial with the kings his ancestors, &nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:1-27 . </p>