Introducing Ahaz

Isaiah 7 turns to the encounter between Ahaz and Isaiah.  Ahaz reigns after Jotham and so we have jumped from Uzziah to Ahaz and possibly the year 734BC.

We are told that Jotham "did right in the sight of the LORD" (1 Kings 15:34) as his father, Uzziah had done.  But we also know that Uzziah had not been faithful in every way (hence he died under the curse of leprosy for his disobedience and arrogance).

Nevertheless, the narrative is regarding the reign of Ahaz of whom we are told, "did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God...he walked in the way of the kings of Israel; indeed he made his son pass through the fire, according tot eh abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel.  And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree" (1 Kings 15:3-4).

Here we will see the playing out of Isaiah 6:9-10.  God will promise to give Ahaz a sign in order to trust in Him alone for Judah's protection.  Ahaz will not see, hear, or understand - and he will rebel.