Ahaz
The Wicked King Judah
Also known as: Ahaz
Ahaz, son of Jotham, reigned as king over Judah during a turbulent period marked by external threats and internal decay. He led the nation into deep spiritual crisis by introducing widespread idolatry, including sacrificing his sons in fire in the Valley of Hinnom according to Canaanite custom. During the Syro-Ephraimite war, when Aram and Israel threatened Judah, he rejected the prophet Isaiah's urging to trust in the Lord and refused to accept a divine sign. Instead, he submitted to Assyria’s king Tiglath-Pileser III and handed over treasures from the temple and royal palace as tribute—a political strategy that brought Judah into an Assyrian vassal relationship. He desecrated the Lord's temple by building pagan altars, altering the temple furnishings, and finally shutting the temple doors. His reign marks a spiritual low point in Judah’s history, but God’s faithfulness to the Davidic covenant was revealed when his son Hezekiah carried out sweeping religious reforms.
Family
Key events
Ahaz Becomes King of Judah
Ahaz became king of Judah when he was twenty years old and reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. Unlike his ancestor David, he did not do what was right in the Lord's eyes.
1In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham became king of Judah.
בִּשְׁנַת֙ שְׁבַֽע־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה לְפֶ֖קַח בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֑הוּ מָלַ֛ךְ אָחָ֥ז בֶּן־יוֹתָ֖ם מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃
2Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God, as his father David had done.
בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ אָחָ֣ז בְּמָלְכ֔וֹ וְשֵׁשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְלֹא־עָשָׂ֣ה הַיָּשָׁ֗ר בְּעֵינֵ֛י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָ֖יו כְּדָוִ֥ד אָבִֽיו׃
1Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done.
בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ אָחָ֣ז בְּמָלְכ֔וֹ וְשֵׁשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְלֹא־עָשָׂ֧ה הַיָּשָׁ֛ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה כְּדָוִ֥יד אָבִֽיו׃
2Instead he followed the ways of the kings of Israel, and he even made cast images for the Baals.
וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ בְּדַרְכֵ֖י מַלְכֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְגַ֧ם מַסֵּכ֛וֹת עָשָׂ֖ה לַבְּעָלִֽים׃
Child Sacrifice and Idolatry
He made his sons pass through the fire according to the abominable practices of the nations whom the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on every hill and under every green tree.
3Instead he followed the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made his own son pass through the fire, following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ בְּדֶ֖רֶךְ מַלְכֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְגַ֤ם אֶת־בְּנוֹ֙ הֶעֱבִ֣יר בָּאֵ֔שׁ כְּתֹֽעֲבוֹת֙ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹרִ֤ישׁ יְהוָה֙ אֹתָ֔ם מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
4He sacrificed and burned incense at the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.
וַיְזַבֵּ֧חַ וַיְקַטֵּ֛ר בַּבָּמ֖וֹת וְעַל־הַגְּבָע֑וֹת וְתַ֖חַת כָּל־עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָֽן׃
3He burned incense in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom and burned his sons in the fire, following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
וְה֥וּא הִקְטִ֖יר בְּגֵ֣יא בֶן־הִנֹּ֑ם וַיַּבְעֵ֤ר אֶת־בָּנָיו֙ בָּאֵ֔שׁ כְּתֹֽעֲבוֹת֙ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר֙ הֹרִ֣ישׁ יְהוָ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
4He sacrificed and burned incense at the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.
וַיְזַבֵּ֧חַ וַיְקַטֵּ֛ר בַּבָּמ֖וֹת וְעַל־הַגְּבָע֑וֹת וְתַ֖חַת כָּל־עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָֽן׃
The Syro-Ephraimite War
King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel marched up against Jerusalem to attack Ahaz, but they were unable to conquer it. Ahaz and his people were seized with great fear.
5Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to attack Jerusalem. They laid siege to Ahaz but could not overpower him.
אָ֣ז יַעֲלֶ֣ה רְצִ֣ין מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲ֠רָם וּפֶ֨קַח בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֧הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וַיָּצֻ֙רוּ֙ עַל־אָחָ֔ז וְלֹ֥א יָכְל֖וּ לְהִלָּחֵֽם׃
6At that time Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram and drove the Judeans out of Elath. Then the Edomites came to Elath and have lived there to this day.
בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא הֵ֠שִׁיב רְצִ֨ין מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָ֤ם אֶת־אֵילַת֙ לַֽאֲרָ֔ם וַיְנַשֵּׁ֥ל אֶת־הַיְהוּדִ֖ים מֵֽאֵיל֑וֹת *וארמים **וַֽאֲדוֹמִים֙ בָּ֣אוּ אֵילַ֔ת וַיֵּ֣שְׁבוּ שָׁ֔ם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ פ
1In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up against Jerusalem to make war on it, but they could not prevail against it.
וַיְהִ֡י בִּימֵ֣י אָ֠חָז בֶּן־יוֹתָ֨ם בֶּן־עֻזִּיָּ֜הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֗ה עָלָ֣ה רְצִ֣ין מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲ֠רָם וּפֶ֨קַח בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֤הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עָלֶ֑יהָ וְלֹ֥א יָכֹ֖ל לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם עָלֶֽיהָ׃
2When word came to the house of David, "Aram has joined forces with Ephraim," the heart of the king and the heart of his people shook like the trees of the forest before the wind.
וַיֻּגַּ֗ד לְבֵ֤ית דָּוִד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר נָ֥חָֽה אֲרָ֖ם עַל־אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיָּ֤נַע לְבָבוֹ֙ וּלְבַ֣ב עַמּ֔וֹ כְּנ֥וֹעַ עֲצֵי־יַ֖עַר מִפְּנֵי־רֽוּחַ׃
Isaiah's Sign – The Immanuel Prophecy
The prophet Isaiah urged Ahaz to ask for a sign from the Lord, but Ahaz refused under the guise of piety. Nevertheless, Isaiah gave the sign that a virgin would conceive and bear a son named Immanuel, which means "God with us".
10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz:
וַיּ֣וֹסֶף יְהוָ֔ה דַּבֵּ֥ר אֶל־אָחָ֖ז לֵאמֹֽר׃
11"Ask the LORD your God for a sign—as deep as the realm of the dead or as high as the heavens."
שְׁאַל־לְךָ֣ א֔וֹת מֵעִ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ הַעְמֵ֣ק שְׁאָ֔לָה א֖וֹ הַגְבֵּ֥הַּ לְמָֽעְלָה׃
12But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test."
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָחָ֑ז לֹא־אֶשְׁאַ֥ל וְלֹֽא־אֲנַסֶּ֖ה אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃
13Then Isaiah said, "Listen now, house of David! Is it not enough for you to wear out human patience? Must you weary my God as well?
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֖א בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד הַמְעַ֤ט מִכֶּם֙ הַלְא֣וֹת אֲנָשִׁ֔ים כִּ֥י תַלְא֖וּ גַּ֥ם אֶת־אֱלֹהָֽי׃
14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call him Immanuel.*
לָ֠כֵן יִתֵּ֨ן אֲדֹנָ֥י ה֛וּא לָכֶ֖ם א֑וֹת הִנֵּ֣ה הָעַלְמָ֗ה הָרָה֙ וְיֹלֶ֣דֶת בֵּ֔ן וְקָרָ֥את שְׁמ֖וֹ עִמָּ֥נוּ אֵֽל׃
15He will eat curds and honey by the time he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right.
חֶמְאָ֥ה וּדְבַ֖שׁ יֹאכֵ֑ל לְדַעְתּ֛וֹ מָא֥וֹס בָּרָ֖ע וּבָח֥וֹר בַּטּֽוֹב׃
16For before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.
כִּ֠י בְּטֶ֨רֶם יֵדַ֥ע הַנַּ֛עַר מָאֹ֥ס בָּרָ֖ע וּבָחֹ֣ר בַּטּ֑וֹב תֵּעָזֵ֤ב הָאֲדָמָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֣ה קָ֔ץ מִפְּנֵ֖י שְׁנֵ֥י מְלָכֶֽיהָ׃
Ahaz Seeks Help from Assyria
Instead of trusting in God, Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser III, king of Assyria, asking for help against his enemies. He took gold and silver from the Lord's temple and the royal treasury as tribute, but the Assyrian aid ultimately became a burden rather than a deliverance.
7So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria with this message: "I am your servant and your son. Come up and rescue me from the hand of the king of Aram and the hand of the king of Israel, who are attacking me."
וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח אָחָ֜ז מַלְאָכִ֗ים אֶל־תִּ֠גְלַת פְּלֶ֤סֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר עַבְדְּךָ֥ וּבִנְךָ֖ אָ֑נִי עֲלֵ֨ה וְהוֹשִׁעֵ֜נִי מִכַּ֣ף מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָ֗ם וּמִכַּף֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַקּוֹמִ֖ים עָלָֽי׃
8Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a bribe to the king of Assyria.
וַיִּקַּ֨ח אָחָ֜ז אֶת־הַכֶּ֣סֶף וְאֶת־הַזָּהָ֗ב הַנִּמְצָא֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה וּבְאֹֽצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח לְמֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֖וּר שֹֽׁחַד׃
9The king of Assyria listened to him. He marched against Damascus, captured it, deported its people to Kir, and put Rezin to death.
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע אֵלָיו֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר וַיַּעַל֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ אַשּׁ֤וּר אֶל־דַּמֶּ֙שֶׂק֙ וַֽיִּתְפְּשֶׂ֔הָ וַיַּגְלֶ֖הָ קִ֑ירָה וְאֶת־רְצִ֖ין הֵמִֽית׃
16At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help.
בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא שָׁלַ֞ח הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ אָחָ֛ז עַל־מַלְכֵ֥י אַשּׁ֖וּר לַעְזֹ֥ר לֽוֹ׃
17The Edomites had also come and attacked Judah and carried off captives,
וְע֥וֹד אֲדוֹמִ֖ים בָּ֑אוּ וַיַּכּ֥וּ בִיהוּדָ֖ה וַיִּשְׁבּוּ־שֶֽׁבִי׃
18while the Philistines raided the towns of the foothills and the Negev of Judah. They captured Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their surrounding villages, and settled there.
וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֣ים פָּשְׁט֗וּ בְּעָרֵ֨י הַשְּׁפֵלָ֣ה וְהַנֶּגֶב֮ לִֽיהוּדָה֒ וַֽ֠יִּלְכְּדוּ אֶת־בֵּֽית־שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ וְאֶת־אַיָּל֜וֹן וְאֶת־הַגְּדֵר֗וֹת וְאֶת־שׂוֹכ֤וֹ וּבְנוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ וְאֶת־תִּמְנָ֣ה וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ וְאֶת־גִּמְז֖וֹ וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֶ֑יהָ וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ שָֽׁם׃
19The LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had promoted lawlessness in Judah and been utterly unfaithful to the LORD.
כִּֽי־הִכְנִ֤יעַ יְהוָה֙ אֶת־יְהוּדָ֔ה בַּעֲב֖וּר אָחָ֣ז מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֤י הִפְרִ֙יעַ֙ בִּֽיהוּדָ֔ה וּמָע֥וֹל מַ֖עַל בַּיהוָֽה׃
20Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came against him and oppressed him instead of strengthening him.
וַיָּבֹ֣א עָלָ֔יו תִּלְּגַ֥ת פִּלְנְאֶ֖סֶר מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיָּ֥צַר ל֖וֹ וְלֹ֥א חֲזָקֽוֹ׃
21For Ahaz took treasures from the temple of the LORD, from the royal palace, and from the officials, and gave them to the king of Assyria—but it did him no good.
כִּֽי־חָלַ֤ק אָחָז֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה וְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְהַשָּׂרִ֑ים וַיִּתֵּן֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר וְלֹ֥א לְעֶזְרָ֖ה לֽוֹ׃
Desecration of the Temple
After seeing a pagan altar in Damascus, Ahaz ordered priest Uriah to build a copy of it and place it in the temple. He altered the temple's furnishings, removed decorations and equipment, and finally closed the doors of the Lord's temple.
10Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. When he saw the altar that was in Damascus, King Ahaz sent Uriah the priest a sketch of the altar and a detailed plan of its construction.
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אָחָ֡ז לִ֠קְרַאת תִּגְלַ֨ת פִּלְאֶ֤סֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ דּוּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וַיַּ֥רְא אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּדַמָּ֑שֶׂק וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אָחָ֜ז אֶל־אוּרִיָּ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֗ן אֶת־דְּמ֧וּת הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ וְאֶת־תַּבְנִית֖וֹ לְכָֽל־מַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃
11So Uriah the priest built an altar according to all the instructions King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, and he finished it before King Ahaz returned from Damascus.
וַיִּ֛בֶן אוּרִיָּ֥ה הַכֹּהֵ֖ן אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ כְּכֹ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַח֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אָחָ֜ז מִדַּמֶּ֗שֶׂק כֵּ֤ן עָשָׂה֙ אוּרִיָּ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֔ן עַד־בּ֥וֹא הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־אָחָ֖ז מִדַּמָּֽשֶׂק׃
12When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and offered sacrifices on it.
וַיָּבֹ֤א הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ מִדַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וַיַּ֥רְא הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיִּקְרַ֥ב הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ וַיַּ֥עַל עָלָֽיו׃
13He burned his whole offering and his grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his fellowship offerings on the altar.
וַיַּקְטֵ֤ר אֶת־עֹֽלָתוֹ֙ וְאֶת־מִנְחָת֔וֹ וַיַּסֵּ֖ךְ אֶת־נִסְכּ֑וֹ וַיִּזְרֹ֛ק אֶת־דַּֽם־הַשְּׁלָמִ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־ל֖וֹ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
14As for the bronze altar that stood before the LORD, he moved it from the front of the temple—from between the new altar and the house of the LORD—and set it on the north side of the new altar.
וְאֵ֨ת הַמִּזְבַּ֣ח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָה֒ וַיַּקְרֵ֗ב מֵאֵת֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַבַּ֔יִת מִבֵּין֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וּמִבֵּ֖ין בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹת֛וֹ עַל־יֶ֥רֶךְ הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ צָפֽוֹנָה׃
15Then King Ahaz gave this command to Uriah the priest: "On the great altar burn the morning whole offering and the evening grain offering, the king's whole offering and his grain offering, and the whole offering of all the people of the land, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings. Sprinkle on it all the blood of the whole offerings and all the blood of the sacrifices. But the bronze altar I will use for seeking guidance."
*ויצוהו **וַיְצַוֶּ֣ה הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־אָ֠חָז אֶת־אוּרִיָּ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֜ן לֵאמֹ֗ר עַ֣ל הַמִּזְבֵּ֣חַ הַגָּד֡וֹל הַקְטֵ֣ר אֶת־עֹֽלַת־הַבֹּקֶר֩ וְאֶת־מִנְחַ֨ת הָעֶ֜רֶב וְֽאֶת־עֹלַ֧ת הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ וְאֶת־מִנְחָת֗וֹ וְ֠אֵת עֹלַ֞ת כָּל־עַ֤ם הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ וּמִנְחָתָ֣ם וְנִסְכֵּיהֶ֔ם וְכָל־דַּ֥ם עֹלָ֛ה וְכָל־דַּם־זֶ֖בַח עָלָ֣יו תִּזְרֹ֑ק וּמִזְבַּ֧ח הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת יִֽהְיֶה־לִּ֖י לְבַקֵּֽר׃
16And Uriah the priest did everything King Ahaz commanded.
וַיַּ֖עַשׂ אוּרִיָּ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֑ן כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֖ה הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אָחָֽז׃
17King Ahaz cut off the side panels of the movable stands and removed the basin from each of them. He took the Sea down from the bronze oxen that supported it and set it on a stone base.
וַיְקַצֵּץ֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אָחָ֜ז אֶת־הַמִּסְגְּר֣וֹת הַמְּכֹנ֗וֹת וַיָּ֤סַר מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶם֙ *ואת־**אֶת־הַכִּיֹּ֔ר וְאֶת־הַיָּ֣ם הוֹרִ֔ד מֵעַ֛ל הַבָּקָ֥ר הַנְּחֹ֖שֶׁת אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּחְתֶּ֑יהָ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֹת֔וֹ עַ֖ל מַרְצֶ֥פֶת אֲבָנִֽים׃
18He also removed from the house of the LORD the covered Sabbath walkway that had been built there, and the king's outer entryway—all because of the king of Assyria.
וְאֶת־*מיסך **מוּסַ֨ךְ הַשַּׁבָּ֜ת אֲשֶׁר־בָּנ֣וּ בַבַּ֗יִת וְאֶת־מְב֤וֹא הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הֽ͏ַחִיצ֔וֹנָה הֵסֵ֖ב בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה מִפְּנֵ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃
24Ahaz gathered up the furnishings of the house of God, cut them to pieces, and shut the doors of the LORD's temple. He set up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem,
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֨ף אָחָ֜ז אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י בֵית־הֽ͏ָאֱלֹהִ֗ים וַיְקַצֵּץ֙ אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י בֵית־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיִּסְגֹּ֖ר אֶת־דַּלְת֣וֹת בֵּית־יְהוָ֑ה וַיַּ֨עַשׂ ל֧וֹ מִזְבְּח֛וֹת בְּכָל־פִּנָּ֖ה בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
25and in every town in Judah he built high places to burn incense to other gods, provoking the LORD, the God of his fathers, to anger.
וּבְכָל־עִ֨יר וָעִ֤יר לִֽיהוּדָה֙ עָשָׂ֣ה בָמ֔וֹת לְקַטֵּ֖ר לֵֽאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וַיַּכְעֵ֕ס אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֹתָֽיו׃