Who was Ahaz in the Bible?

What does the Bible say about Ahaz?

Ahaz was the son of Jotham and the eleventh king of Judah. He reigned for 16 years in Jerusalem, beginning at the age of 20. Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but followed the ways of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering and sacrificed to idols on the high places. (2Ki.16.1-4; 2Ch.28.1-4) During his reign, Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel, attacked Jerusalem but could not conquer it. (2Ki.16.5; Isa.7.1) The prophet Isaiah encouraged Ahaz to trust in the Lord, but Ahaz instead sought help from Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, offering him tribute. (2Ki.16.7-9; Isa.7.3-12). Ahaz adopted pagan practices, including building a new altar based on a design from Damascus and offering sacrifices on it. He cut up the temple articles and closed the doors of the Lord's temple. (2Ki.16.10-18; 2Ch.28.24) Ahaz faced military defeats and became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord. (2Ch.28.5-8,16-25). Hezekiah, Ahaz's son, succeeded him as king. Hezekiah repaired and purified the temple, which had been neglected during Ahaz's reign. (2Ch.29.3-19) The reign of Ahaz was marked by idolatry and unfaithfulness to God, leading to political turmoil and religious decline in Judah. (2Ki.16.2-4; 2Ch.28.1-4,22-25).

Where does Ahaz appear in the Bible?

Ahaz is referenced in 33 verses across 6 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

• 1 Chronicles 3:13
• 2 Chronicles 27:9
• 2 Chronicles 28:1
• 2 Chronicles 28:16
• 2 Chronicles 28:19
• 2 Chronicles 28:21
• 2 Chronicles 28:22
• 2 Chronicles 28:24
• 2 Chronicles 28:27
• 2 Chronicles 29:19
• 2 Kings 15:38
• 2 Kings 16:1
• 2 Kings 16:2
• 2 Kings 16:7
• 2 Kings 16:8
• 2 Kings 16:10
• 2 Kings 16:11
• 2 Kings 16:15
• 2 Kings 16:16
• 2 Kings 16:17
• 2 Kings 16:19
• 2 Kings 16:20
• 2 Kings 17:1
• 2 Kings 20:11

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Ahaz.