Chapter 16: The reign of Achaz
- The year of his reign: Achaz the son of Yotam the king of Yehuda became king in the seventeenth year of reign of Pekach the son of Remaliah.
- His age at the time of his reign: Achaz was twenty years old when he became king.
- The years of his reign: Achaz reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem.
- His evil deeds: Achaz did not do what was proper in the eyes of Hashem and was unlike Dovid his father. He went in the evil ways of the kings of Israel. He had passed his son through a fire following the abominable act of idolatry [i.e. Molech[1]] of the Gentile nations who were banished from the land of Israel. He offered sacrifices and burnt incense on the Bamos and on the hills, and under every green tree.
- Placing Jerusalem under siege: Retzin the king of Aram, and Pekach the son of Remaliah the king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to wage war. They besieged Achaz, but did not wage war against him.
- Jews are banished from various cities: At that time, Retzin the king of Aram restored the city of Eilat back to Aram, and drove out the Judeans from Eilat, and the Edomites settled in Eilat in their stead, and they dwell there until this day.
- Achaz sends a tribute to the king of Ashur to help him against Aram and Israel: Achaz sent messengers to Tiglas-Pileser the king of Ashur, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel who have risen against me.” Achaz then took the silver and the gold that was in the Temple and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and he sent them to the king of Ashur as a bribe.
- The king of Ashur conquers Damascus and Aram: The king of Ashur accepted the payment, and he went to wage war against Damascus and seized it and exiled its inhabitants to Kirah. He also killed Retzin the king of Aram.
[1] Metzudos Dovid 16:3
Related Articles
Daily Tanach – Yechezkel Chapter 34: The False Shepherds and Hashem as the True Shepherd (Thursday, 25th Shevat)
Post Views: 23 Daily Tanach – Yechezkel Chapter 34 – The False Shepherds and Hashem as the True Shepherd (31 Pesukim) Rebuke of Israel’s Shepherds (Verses 1–6) Hashem commands Yechezkel to prophesy against the “shepherds of Israel”—the leaders who cared for themselves instead of their people. They consumed the fat,
Daily Tanach – Yechezkel Chapter 33: The Watchman, Personal Responsibility, Jerusalem’s Fall, and the People’s Response (Wednesday, 24th Shevat)
Post Views: 16 Yechezkel Chapter 33: The Watchman, Personal Responsibility, Jerusalem’s Fall, and the People’s Response The Parable of the Watchman (Verses 1–6) G‑d commands Yechezkel to tell the people: when a land appoints a watchman to warn of approaching danger, those who hear the shofar and ignore it bear
Daily Tanach – Yechezkel Chapter 32: Lamentations Over Pharaoh and Egypt’s Descent to the Pit (Tuesday, 23rd Shevat)
Post Views: 14 Daily Tanach – Yechezkel Chapter 32: Lamentations Over Pharaoh and Egypt’s Descent to the Pit A Lament for Pharaoh: From Lion to Crocodile (Verses 1–2) In the twelfth year, on the first day of the twelfth month, G‑d tells Yechezkel to raise a lament over Pharaoh, king
Daily Tanach – Yechezkal Chapter 31: The Parable of the Great Cedar and Egypt’s Fall (Monday, 22nd Shevat)
Post Views: 20 Yechezkel Chapter 31: The Parable of the Great Cedar and Egypt’s Fall Introduction of the Prophecy (Verses 1–2) In the eleventh year, in the third month, G‑d speaks to Yechezkel and instructs him to address Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and his multitude. G‑d asks Pharaoh: “Whom do
Daily Tanach – Yechezkal Chapter 30: Judgment on Egypt and the Reward to Babylon (Sunday, 21st Shevat)
Post Views: 18 Chapter 30: The Day of Egypt’s Collapse and Pharaoh’s Broken Arm The Coming Day of Calamity for Egypt (Verses 1–4) G‑d commands Yechezkel to prophesy and wail over “the day,” a day near at hand—one of darkness, judgment, and upheaval among the nations. A sword will come
Daily Tanach – Yechezkal Chapter 29: Judgment on Egypt and the Reward to Babylon (Thursday, 18th shevat)
Post Views: 39 Daily Tanach – Chapter 29: Judgment on Egypt and the Reward to Babylon Prophecy Against Pharaoh and Egypt (Verses 1–7) In the tenth year, on the twelfth day of the tenth month, G‑d commands Yechezkel to prophesy against Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Pharaoh is compared to a
Leave A Comment?
You must be logged in to post a comment.