AHAZ, king of Judah. After the death of Menahem, Pekah, king of Israel, and Rezin (rather Rasun), king of Syria, allied against Assyria and invaded Judah. At the same time the Edom ites recovered Elath on the Gulf of Akabah and Judah was isolated. Notwithstanding the counsel of Isaiah, Ahaz called in the aid of Tiglath-pileser I., who, after attacking the Philistines, destroyed the power of Syria, and exacted heavy tribute from Judah. It was as a vassal that Ahaz presented himself to the Assyrian king at Damascus, and brought back religious inno vations, on the nature of which see W. R. Smith, Relig. of Sem ites, pp. 485 sqq. and commentaries on II. Kings xvi. 17.