AHAZ, king of Judah, succeeded his father Jotham; and his reign was in every respect. unfortunate and in glorious. He was scarcely seated on his throne, when his kingdom was invaded by the united forces of Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah king of Israel. Ahaz was struck with the utmost consternation, but was encou raged by the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah, vii.) The allied princes being unable to take the city of Jerusalem, to which they had laid siege, turned their arms against the city of Elath, and some other towns, destroyed the inhabitants, plundered the country, and departed laden with spoil. Alter the departure of Rezin to Damascus, Ahaz attacked the king of Israel, but was defeated with great slaughter. Pekah carried oil an immense num ber of captives to Samaria ; but, at the remonstrance of the prophet Oded, he sent them back to Judea. The following year, Rezin and Pckah again returned, and laid waste the kingdom of Judah. At the same time, the Edomites and Philistines made incursions into the territories of Ahaz. In this extremity, lie had recourse to the king of Assyria; and, in order to procure his as sistance, he sent him alt the gold and silver which he could collect from his treasury, and from the temple.
Tiglath Pileser accepted his presents, and promised to comply with his request; but, instead of coming to pro tect him against his enemies, he contented himself with ravaging Syria, slew king Rezin, removed the inhabit ants of Damascus to Upper Media, and replaced them with Assyrians. Ahaz went to visit him in Damascus, from which he sent the model of an altar, to be used in the temple at Jerusalem. He imitated all the idolatrous practices of the kings of Israel, and worshipped the false deities of every nation. He put a stop to the worship and sacrifices in the temple, stripped it of its treasures, removed its sacred utensils, and erected altars to idols in every corner of Jerusalem, and in every quarter of Judah. He died at the age of 36, alter having reigned 16 years; and was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the sepulchres of the kings, in the year before Christ 7'6. 2 Kings, xvi. 2 Chron. xxviii. Joseph. Antiq. 1. ix. c. 11. and 12. .'Incient Universal History, vol. 4. b. i. c. 7. Fri deaux, vol. I. b. i. (q)