Ahaz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ahaz
Ahaz from Guillaume Rouillé's Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum, 1553
King of Judah
Reign	732–716 BC
Predecessor	Jotham
Successor	Hezekiah
Spouse	Abijah
House	House of David
Father	Jotham

Ahaz was a king of Judah, an ancient kingdom. He was the twelfth king and ruled for about 16 years. Ahaz became king when he was 20 years old. His father was King Jotham, and his son, Hezekiah, became king after him.

Some historical records, like the Second Book of Kings in the Bible, describe Ahaz as a king who did not always follow the traditional ways of his people. Historians have different ideas about the exact years Ahaz reigned. One scholar, Edwin R. Thiele, suggests he ruled from 732 to 716 BC. Another, William F. Albright, places his reign earlier, from 744 to 728 BC.

Ahaz is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. He appears in other ancient texts like the book of Isaiah.

Ahaz's Time as King

Ahaz started his reign when he was 20 years old. This was during the 17th year of Pekah's rule in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His time as king is described in several ancient writings, including parts of the Bible.

Facing Neighboring Kingdoms

When Ahaz became king, he immediately faced a big challenge. Two neighboring kings, Pekah of Israel and Rezin of Damascus (Syria), formed an alliance. They wanted Ahaz to join them in fighting against the powerful Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians were preparing their army under King Tiglath-Pileser III.

The prophet Isaiah advised Ahaz to trust in God instead of seeking help from other countries. Isaiah even offered Ahaz a special sign to prove his words were true. Ahaz refused to ask for a sign. Isaiah then told him that a sign would still be given: a child named Immanuel would be born, meaning "God-with-us."

Asking Assyria for Help

To protect his kingdom, Ahaz decided to ask the Assyrians for help. Tiglath-Pileser III, the Assyrian king, attacked Damascus and took control of the area. The people of Aram were moved away, and King Rezin was killed.

Tiglath-Pileser then attacked Israel. He captured many cities and regions, including Gilead and Galilee. The people from these areas were taken to Assyria. Tiglath-Pileser himself wrote about these events in his own historical records.

Because Assyria helped Ahaz, his troublesome neighbors were no longer a threat. However, this help came at a cost. Assyria now had power over Judah. This war lasted for two years, from 734 to 732 BC. Ahaz even sent soldiers to help Tiglath-Pileser. Isaiah, the prophet, strongly disagreed with Ahaz's decision to rely on Assyria.

During his entire reign, Ahaz did not have to deal with the same problems as other rulers who rebelled against Assyria. This is why, in 722 BC, the city of Samaria was captured, and the Northern Kingdom of Israel became part of the Assyrian Empire.

Changes in Religious Practices

Ahaz was very impressed by the Assyrians, not just their power but also their religious practices. In 732 BC, he traveled to Damascus to show his loyalty to Tiglath-Pileser and his gods. While there, he saw an altar he liked. He ordered a copy of it to be made in Jerusalem. This new altar and its rituals became a permanent part of the Temple worship.

Ahaz also made other changes to the Temple's layout and items, seemingly to please the Assyrian king. He even set up a place for studying the stars and performing sacrifices, similar to the Assyrian customs. These actions changed the traditional worship in Judah.

Some ancient texts suggest that Ahaz performed a ceremony that involved his son passing through fire. This practice was considered wrong by the laws of his people. Many historians believe Ahaz's actions had a negative impact on the religious life of Judah. His son, Hezekiah, later worked hard to reverse these changes.

Ahaz's End of Reign

Ahaz died when he was 36 years old. His son, Hezekiah, became the next king. Because of his actions, Ahaz was not buried in the royal tombs where other kings were laid to rest.

An important detail about Ahaz's neglect of traditional worship is seen right after his death. On the very first day of the month of Nisan, his son Hezekiah ordered the priests and Levites to open and repair the doors of the Temple. They also had to clean the holy place, a task that took 16 days. This shows how much work was needed to restore the Temple after Ahaz's reign.

Ahaz in Ancient Writings

According to some ancient Jewish writings, Ahaz was a king who continued his wrong actions even when faced with difficulties. He did not change his ways. These writings suggest he tried to weaken the religious foundations of Israel. He supposedly closed schools and places of worship to prevent religious teaching. However, these texts also mention that Ahaz would humbly listen to the prophet Isaiah's criticisms.

Discoveries About Ahaz

Historians and archaeologists have found some interesting artifacts that confirm Ahaz's existence.

King Ahaz's Seal

In the mid-1990s, a small clay seal, called a bulla, was found. This bulla is about 0.4 inches wide. It has the imprint of the papyrus scroll it once sealed and the marks of the string that held it. It even has a fingerprint on one side! Bullae like this are very hard to fake. This one was preserved because it was baked by fire, likely when a house or city burned down.

The writing on the bulla says: "Belonging to Ahaz (son of) Yehotam, King of Judah." Most experts believe this seal is real. It belonged to King Ahaz of Judah, who ruled from 732 to 716 BC.

Other Mentions of Ahaz

Another artifact, an orange stone seal from the 8th century BC, also mentions Ahaz. Its inscription reads: "Belonging to Ushna servant of Ahaz." While Ushna is not a known figure, the seal clearly refers to Ahaz, king of Judah. This artifact is now part of Yale University's collection.

Another important source comes from the records of Tiglath-Pileser III, the Assyrian king. These records mention the tributes and payments he received from Ahaz, king of Judah.

In 2015, archaeologist Eilat Mazar discovered a royal bulla belonging to Ahaz's son, King Hezekiah. This bulla reads: "Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah." It dates to between 727 and 698 BC. These discoveries help us learn more about King Ahaz and his time.

See Also

• List of biblical figures identified in extra-biblical sources