Achaz
The Name Achaz
Achaz is the Hellenized form of the Hebrew name Ahaz, meaning "he has grasped" or "possessor." This Greek spelling appears in Matthew 1:9 in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, where the evangelist traces the lineage from Abraham through the kings of Judah to Joseph, the husband of Mary. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew form Ahaz is used consistently throughout 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28.
Achaz in the Genealogy of Christ
Matthew's genealogy places Achaz as the son of Jotham and the father of Hezekiah (Matthew 1:9). This genealogy serves a crucial theological purpose, establishing Jesus as the rightful heir to David's throne. The inclusion of Achaz, despite his notorious unfaithfulness, demonstrates that God's redemptive plan worked through imperfect and even wicked rulers. The lineage from David to Christ was maintained not by human merit but by divine promise (2 Samuel 7:12-16).
The Reign of King Ahaz
Ahaz ruled Judah from approximately 735 to 715 BC, and his reign was one of the most spiritually devastating in Judah's history. He practiced idolatry on a massive scale, including offering sacrifices at high places, burning incense under green trees, and even passing his son through fire in the manner of the surrounding nations (2 Kings 16:3-4). He set up altars to foreign gods throughout Jerusalem and closed the doors of the temple (2 Chronicles 28:24).
The Syro-Ephraimite Crisis
The defining political event of Ahaz's reign was the Syro-Ephraimite crisis. When Syria and Israel allied against Judah, the prophet Isaiah urged Ahaz to trust God and even offered him a divine sign (Isaiah 7:10-11). Ahaz refused, feigning piety by saying he would not test the Lord (Isaiah 7:12). God gave the sign anyway, the famous Immanuel prophecy: "The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Instead of trusting God, Ahaz appealed to Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria for help, making Judah a vassal state (2 Kings 16:7-8).
A Lesson in God's Faithfulness
Despite Ahaz's failures, God remained faithful to His covenant with David. The messianic line continued through Ahaz to his son Hezekiah, one of Judah's greatest reformers (2 Kings 18:3-6). That Achaz appears in the genealogy of Jesus is a powerful testimony that God's purposes cannot be thwarted by human sin. The very king who rejected God's sign of Immanuel became a link in the chain leading to the ultimate Immanuel, Jesus Christ.
Biblical Context
Achaz appears in Matthew 1:9 in the genealogy of Jesus. As King Ahaz, he is a major figure in 2 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 28, and Isaiah 7, during the Syro-Ephraimite crisis of the 730s BC. His reign marked a low point in Judah's spiritual history.
Theological Significance
Achaz's inclusion in Christ's genealogy demonstrates that God's redemptive plan does not depend on human righteousness. Despite Ahaz's idolatry and rejection of God's prophetic sign, the messianic promise continued through his line. The Immanuel prophecy given during his reign points forward to Jesus Christ.
Historical Background
Ahaz reigned during a tumultuous period when the Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-pileser III was expanding westward. Archaeological evidence includes the seal impression of Ahaz found in Jerusalem and Assyrian records mentioning 'Jehoahaz of Judah' as a tributary king. The Syro-Ephraimite coalition against Judah is confirmed by both biblical and Assyrian sources.