Ahaz ben Yotam (II Kings 16, I Chronicles 3:13, II Chronicles 28)
Twelfth king of Yehuda who succeeds his father. Ahaz commits trespasses against God, including passing his son through fire. Ahaz's kingdom is attacked by the combined forces of Pekah king of Israel and Retzin king of Aram. The prophet Yeshayahu appears to Ahaz and pleads with him to remain calm, promising him that Aram and Ephraim (another name for the Kingdom of Israel) will fail in their bid to conquer Yehuda. Ahaz refuses to accept this message of encouragement from the prophet. Yeshayahu also warns Ahaz that the punishment for his idolatry is yet to come at the hands of Assyria. Indeed, Ahaz withstands the siege against Jerusalem, although according to the account related in Chronicles 28, Yehuda does suffer serious losses in its confrontation with Aram and Israel . Ahaz appeals to Tiglat Pileser king of Assyria to rescue him from his two enemies, which Tiglat Pileser does by attacking Damascus and killing Retzin. Ahaz visits his patron in Damascus where he is very taken by an altar he sees there. Ahaz forwards the specifications of the structure to Uriah, a Kohen in Jerusalem who follows the plans in building a new altar. Upon his return, Ahaz offers sacrifices on his new altar. Ahaz further dismantles parts of the Beit HaMikdash in order to keep them from the king of Assyria. Ahaz is succeeded by his son Hizkiyahu. Altars that were made by Ahaz are later destroyed by King Yoshiyahu during his religious reforms (II Kings 23:12).
Adapted from Tanakh Profiles - www.tanakhprofiles.org