Who is…
Ahaz

Hebrew: אָחָז —transliteration: Achaz —meaning: “possessor” or “he has grasped”

This is the name of 2 royal men mentioned in the Old Testament.

  1. Prince Ahaz

    He is a grandson of Prince Jonathan who is a son of King Saul (1 Chronicles 8:35; 9:42). Jonathan was a close friend of David.

  2. King Ahaz

    He is the son and wicked successor of King Jotham, ruler of the Kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 16; Isaiah 7-9; 2 Chronicles 28).

    He is a Davidic king and his life is recorded in the books of Kings and Chronicles. See: 2 Kings 15:38—16:20 and 2 Chronicles 27:9—28:27.

    He lived 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, doing great harm to his kingdom and resulting in his own humilating subjection to the Assyrians (2 Kings 16:7, 9; 15:29).

    He also introduced his people to many heathen and idolatrous customs (Isaiah 8:19; 38:8; 2 Kings 23:12).

    Death of King Ahaz

    He died at the age of 35 years, after reigning 16 years (740-724 B.C.), and was succeeded by his son Hezekiah.

    Because of his wickedness he was “not brought into the sepulchre of the kings.”

    Relatives of King Ahaz

More information

Article Version: September 24, 2021