the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Ahaz
Morrish Bible Dictionary
or 1. King of Judah (B.C. 742-727), son and successor of Jotham (apparently, the same as ACHAZ in Matthew 1:9 ). He erected molten images for Baalim, made his children pass thorough the fire, and gave himself up to open idolatry. 2 Kings 16:2-20; 2 Chronicles 28:2-27 . Being harassed and weakened by Pekah king of Israel, Rezin king of Damascus, and others, he called to his aid Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, to whom he gave the treasures of Jerusalem; who after dispersing those who warred against Ahaz, himself 'distressed' him and made him tributary. This brought the great desolator of Israel, the Assyrian, into the land. Ahaz displaced the altar of burnt offering by one made like an altar he had seen at Damascus when on a visit to Tiglath-pileser. Isaiah was prophet in the days of Ahaz, but the king heeded not his instructions. The house of David was ripening for judgement: 120,000 were slain in one day and 200,000 women and children were carried to Samaria, but were released by means of Oded a prophet. God's mercy lingered over Judah, and to Ahaz was the sign given that "a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isa. 7: 14. Though all was failing in Judah as well as in Israel, God had One in prospect through whom blessing would be finally secured. Both in Kings and Chronicles it states that Ahaz was 20 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 16 years; Hezekiah his son was 25 years old when he succeeded Ahaz. Apparently there is an error in the ages given: either Ahaz was older, or Hezekiah was not so old, for he would have been born when his father was 11 years of age. In one Hebrew MS, the LXX, etc., 25 years is given in the Chronicles as the age of Ahaz.
2. Son of Micah. 1 Chronicles 8:35 .
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Morrish, George. Entry for 'Ahaz'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/mbd/a/ahaz.html. 1897.
