Editing Ahaz (section)

==Reign==
Ahaz's reign commenced at the age of 20, in the 17th year of the reign of [[Pekah]] of [[Northern Kingdom of Israel|Israel]]. It is described in {{bibleverse|2|Kings|16|NIV}}; {{bibleverse||Isaiah|7-9|NIV}}; and {{bibleverse|2|Chronicles|28|NIV}}.

===Destruction of Northern Kingdom===
Immediately upon his accession, Ahaz had to meet a coalition formed by northern Israel, under Pekah, and Damascus (Syria), under [[Rezin]]. These kings wished to compel him to join them in opposing the Assyrians, who were arming a force against the Northern Kingdom under [[Tiglath-Pileser III]] (Pul). [[Isaiah]] counsels Ahaz to trust in God rather than foreign allies, and tells him to ask for a sign to confirm that this is a true prophecy (verse 7:11). Ahaz refuses, saying he will not test God (7:12). Isaiah replies that Ahaz will have a sign whether he asks for it or not, and the sign will be the birth of a child, and the child's mother will call it [[Immanuel]], meaning "God-with-us" (7:13–14).<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=2Vo-11umIZQC&dq=isaiah+7%3A11+commentary&pg=PA533 "Isaiah 7", ''Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible''], (James D. G. Dunn, John William Rogerson, eds.) 2003, {{ISBN|9780802837110}}<span>, p. 505</span></ref>

To protect himself Ahaz called in the aid of the Assyrians. Tiglath-Pileser sacked [[Damascus]] and annexed Aram.<ref name="Grabbe">Lester L. Grabbe, ''Ancient Israel: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It?'' (New York: T&T Clark, 2007): 134</ref> According to {{bibleverse|2|Kings|16:9|NIV}}, the population of Aram was deported and Rezin executed. Tiglath-Pileser then attacked Israel and "took [[List of minor biblical places#Ijon|Ijon]], [[Abel-beth-maachah|Abel Beth Maacah]], [[Janohah|Janoah]], [[Kedesh]] and [[Tel Hazor|Hazor]]. He took [[Gilead]] and [[Galilee]], including all the land of [[Tribe of Naphtali|Naphtali]], and deported the people to Assyria." Tiglath-Pileser also records this act in one of his inscriptions.<ref>James B. Pritchard, ed., ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament'' (3rd ed.; Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press, 1969) 283.</ref>

Through Assyria's intervention, and as a result of its invasion and subjection of the kingdom of Damascus and the Kingdom of Israel, Ahaz was relieved of his troublesome neighbors; but his protector henceforth claimed and held suzerainty over his kingdom. This war of invasion lasted two years (734–732 BC), and ended in the capture and annexation of Damascus to Assyria and of the territory of Israel north of the border of Jezreel. Ahaz in the meanwhile furnished auxiliaries to Tiglath-Pileser. This appeal to Assyria met with stern opposition from the prophet Isaiah, who counseled Ahaz to rely upon the Lord and not upon outside aid. Ahaz, during his whole reign, was free from troubles with which the neighboring rulers were harassed, who from time to time revolted against Assyria. Thus it was that, in 722, Samaria was taken and northern Israel wholly incorporated into the Assyrian empire.<ref name=je>[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/971-ahaz "Ahaz, King of Judah", ''Jewish Encyclopedia'']</ref>

===Religious observance===
Ahaz yielded readily to the glamour and prestige of the Assyrians in religion as well as in politics. In 732, he went to Damascus to swear homage to Tiglath-Pileser and his gods; and, taking a fancy to an altar which he saw there, he had one like it made in Jerusalem, which, with a corresponding change in ritual, he made a permanent feature of the Temple worship. Changes were also made in the arrangements and furniture of the Temple, "because of the king of Assyria" ({{bibleverse|2|Kings|16:18|HE}}). Furthermore, Ahaz fitted up an astrological observatory with accompanying sacrifices, after the fashion of the ruling people. In other ways Ahaz lowered the character of the national worship.

{{bibleverse|2|Kings|16:3|HE}} records that Ahaz offered his son by fire to [[Moloch]] (or ''made his son pass through fire''), a practice condemned by {{bibleverse||Leviticus|18:21|HE}}.<ref name=je /> The words may refer to a ceremony of purification or a sacrificial offering.<ref>[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/2_kings/16.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on 2 Kings 16], accessed 14 January 2018</ref> The account in {{bibleverse|2|Chronicles|28:3|HE}} refers to ''sons'' (plural).

His government is considered by the [[Deuteronomist|Deuteronomistic historian]] as having been disastrous for the religious state of the country, and a large part of the reforming work of his son Hezekiah was aimed at undoing the evil that Ahaz had done.<ref name=je/>