1. Eleventh king of Judah, son of Jotham, reigned 741-726, about sixteen years. At the time of his accession, Rezin, king of Damascus and Pekah, king of Israel had recently formed a league against Judah, and they proceeded to lay siege to Jerusalem. Upon this, Isaiah hastened to give advice and encouragement to Ahaz, and the allies failed in their attack on Jerusalem. Isaiah 7-9.

But, the allies inflicted a most severe injury on Judah by the capture of Elath, a flourishing port on the Red Sea, while the Philistines invaded the west and south. 2 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 28. Ahaz, having forfeited God's favor by his wickedness, sought deliverance from these numerous troubles by appealing to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, who forced him from his most formidable enemies. But Ahaz had to purchase this help at a costly price; he became tributary to Tiglath-pileser.