Ahaz Chooses Not To Serve God

Jotham had been dedicated to serving God, even though his people were not.  As a result, his reign was pretty uneventful, although toward the end, Issrael and the Syrians began to encroach on Judah.  His son ascended the throne at his death, as II Kings 16:1 tells us, ”In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.” 

Ahaz had only been about four when his father became king, and had never seen what life outside of God’s blessings was like.  When he became king, he simply went along with the people who clung to worshipping in the high places, and before long, began to adopt the religious beliefs of the people around them, as we see in II Chronicles 28:1-4.  “Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.  Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.  He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. “

Because of his sin, and that of the people, God cauwsed the Syrians to attack him, hoping to make him realize how much they needed God’s help, as II Chronicles 28:5a tells us.  “Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus…”  While they were not able to depose him or seize Judah, the Syrians seized Elath, driving out the Jewish occupants, according to II Kings 16:5-6.  “Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.  At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.”

While the Syriand were attacking from the south and east, Israel attacked from the north, as II Chronicles 28:5b-8 describes.  “And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.  And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.  And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.”

Israel killed a hundred twenty thousane of Judah’s army, and took two hundred thousand women and children as captives.  Even some of Ahaz’ family and officers were killed.  God intervened, forcing Israel to return the captives, as II Chronicles 28:9-15 describes.  “But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.  And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?  Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.

Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,  And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.

So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.  And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.”

The attacks by Syria and Israel convinced the Philistines and Edomites Judah was unable to defend itself, and they attacked as well.  Attacked from every side, Ahaz hired the Assyrians to help him, as II Chronicles 28:16-19 informs us.  “At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.  For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.  The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.  For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.”