#ahaz

[for-onedoor]

[todaysjewishholiday]

18 Menachem Av 5784 (21-22 August 2024)

According to tradition, the seven lamps of the menorah in the Beit haMikdash were lit every evening before sunset, and left to burn through the night, but one of the lights, the ner hamaaravi, would keep burning even after the other lamps went out. Thus, the kohen assigned to light the lamps of the menorah was able to light the other six lamps by kindling a taper in the still-burning flame. This continuously burning lamp is the inspiration for both the ner tamid (eternal light) that hangs in front of the Torah ark in a synagogue and the shammes in a hannukiah from which the other flames are kindled.

Legend also has it that the wickedness of king Ahaz was so great that on the eighteenth of Av early in his reign the miracle of the ner hamaaravi was withdrawn and the menorah went out completely. From that time forward the lamp burned out entirely during the night and had to be lit completely the next day.

Ahaz adopted Assyrian religious practices and worship of the Assyrian pantheon after seeking political support from the Assyrian Empire against his neighbors, including the Northern Kingdom of Samaria. He made Judah a tributary state of the Assyrians, starting a period of national subjugation to foreign empires which continued through the end of the second temple period and the dissolution of the Jewish community in Judaea following the Bar Kokhba revolt.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

A Message to Ahaz

1 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

2 And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.

3 Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;

4 And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,

6 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:

7 Thus saith the Lord God, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.

9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

10 Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying,

11 Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.

12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.

13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?

14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

17 The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.

20 In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;

22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.

23 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns.

24 With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.

25 And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle. — Isaiah 7 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain Cross References: Genesis 14:15; Genesis 18:8; Numbers 16:9; Deuteronomy 1:39; Deuteronomy 28:49; 1 Kings 12:16; 2 Kings 15:25; 2 Kings 18:13; 2 Kings 18:17; 2 Chronicles 20:20; Song of Solomon 8:11; Isaiah 5:17; Isaiah 8:12; Isaiah 8:15; Isaiah 14:30; Isaiah 55:13; Ezekiel 12:20; Matthew 1:23; Matthew 7:16; Matthew 24:6; Luke 2:12; Acts 4:25-26

[wisdomfish]

Biblical figures whose seals or bullae have been found include Kings Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh – the three successive kings of Judah who reigned ca. 732-642 BC. Other official figures include Azariah son of Hilkiah (1 Chronicles 6:13-14, Ezra 7:1), Gemariah son of Shaphan (Jeremiah 36:11), Jerahmeel the king's son (Jeremiah 36:26), and most notably Berechiah (Baruch) the son of Neriah, the scribe who wrote on behalf of Jeremiah. ~ Peter J. Williams

[lordgodjehovahsway]

2 Kings 16: Ahaz Begins His Reign As The King Of Judah

1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. 

2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 

3 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 

4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.

5 Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, but they could not overpower him. 

6 At that time, Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram by driving out the people of Judah. Edomites then moved into Elath and have lived there to this day.

7 Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, “I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” 

8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. 

9 The king of Assyria complied by attacking Damascus and capturing it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir and put Rezin to death.

10 Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction. 

11 So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned. 

12 When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings on it. 

13 He offered up his burnt offering and grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and splashed the blood of his fellowship offerings against the altar. 

14 As for the bronze altar that stood before the Lord, he brought it from the front of the temple—from between the new altar and the temple of the Lord—and put it on the north side of the new altar.

15 King Ahaz then gave these orders to Uriah the priest: “On the large new altar, offer the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Splash against this altar the blood of all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance.” 

16 And Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had ordered.

17 King Ahaz cut off the side panels and removed the basins from the movable stands. He removed the Sea from the bronze bulls that supported it and set it on a stone base. 

18 He took away the Sabbath canopy that had been built at the temple and removed the royal entryway outside the temple of the Lord, in deference to the king of Assyria.

19 As for the other events of the reign of Ahaz, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 

20 Ahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king.

[carltonblaylock]

Babylon – 12th Year of King Ahaz

2 Kings 17:1-41 17 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. 2 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel who were before him. 3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him; and Hoshea became his vassal, and paid him tribute money. 4 And the king of Assyria uncovered a conspiracy…

[graceandpeacejoanne]

HER STORY: Kings and Queens, Jezebel

Is this a story about a powerful and ambitious Phoenician princess who was vilified because she was a woman? Or of another culture? Or was there something more sinister that lurked within her? #Jezebel #Ahaz #Elijah #Baal

Just the word “jezebel” evokes a whole evil, erotic, seductive mystique, doesn’t it? I looked “jezebel” up in the dictionary, and here’s what Webster-Merriam has to say: “an impudent, shameless, or morally unrestrained woman.” According to other definitions, A jezebel is a wicked, evil, scheming female who is manipulates her victims into giving her wealth, status and power. She is often…

[timhatchlive]

When We Are At Our Worst God Is At His Best

Having recalled Isaiah's calling in the Temple vision in chapter 6 we move back to the narrative of his mission. Now he has been commissioned by God to speak to a people who will not hear. Yet there are a few moments when they will feign religious observance. Isaiah 7 is one of those moments. 

Isaiah 7:1–2 (ESV) In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. 2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.

What brings them to hear? They are surrounded by their enemies. Ahaz's heart is shaking and the people's heart is shaking and the nation looks defeated. Ahaz, we might remember is a wicked king. Notice what 2 Kings records about him. 

2 Kings 16:2–4 (ESV) Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God, as his father David had done, 3 but he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

Ahaz practiced the vilest actions of any king before him.  He sacrificed his children and spread idolatry everywhere. No wonder God was going to judge these people. 

Yet even in this moment of distress, God offers hope!

Isaiah 7:3–4 (ESV) And the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field. 4 And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.

Do not fear these nations, God says through Isaiah. They are as good as burned up before the eyes of God. Then Isaiah offers Ahaz an incredible moment:

Isaiah 7:10–12 (ESV) Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.”

Think of this. God wants to give Ahaz assurance He will act on his behalf. And he lets Ahaz request a sign! But Ahaz, being the dead religious person he is feigns spirituality here saying he doesn't want to "test" the Lord. 

And then this famous Christmas passage:

Isaiah 7:13–14 (ESV) And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

This passage is quoted every Christmas to refer to Christ's birth. Rightly so, for it has ultimate fulfillment in Mary's belly. But before it ever was about Mary it was about the hope that even in the darkest moments of our lives, God is still looking to save us.

Are you as bad as Ahaz? Unless you've killed your kids, the answer is no. So what makes you think God cannot forgive you? Moreover, what makes you think God doesn't WANT to forgive you? He does. He will. Because when you are at your worst, God is at His best. 

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[for-onedoor]

[genderstarbucks]

Hazeneu!!

Hazeneu is a gender characterized by feeling hazy, unclear, and undefined. While also having an innate or instinctual understanding of it as being neutral in nature.

The neutral version to hazemasc and hazefem

[mogai-headcanons]

Volo from Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a voidpunk NLM cupioromantic omnisexual aroallo nonbinary agender dryagender ahaze gendervoid arundogender genderpunk nyctogender horrorcosmium dreamcoric oddcoric eldritchonum incomprevoid detagender mysterigender lachrymosian occulian obscurian cryptoculumen missanure giratinagender arceusgender evilqueer merchant who uses he/him, they/them, and it/its pronouns!

dni link

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Ahaz Reigns in Judah

1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father:

2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.

3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

Judah Defeated

5 Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.

6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.

7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.

8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.

10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God?

11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.

12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,

13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the Lord already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.

14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.

15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.

18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

19 For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord.

20 And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.

21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.

Ahaz's Idolatry

22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz.

23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.

24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.

26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead. — 2 Chronicles 28 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain. Cross References: Genesis 31:54; Exodus 34:17; Leviticus 5:19; Leviticus 18:21; Deuteronomy 28:25; Deuteronomy 34:3; 1 Samuel 17:1; 2 Kings 15:27; 2 Kings 16:1; 2 Kings 16:5; 2 Kings 16:7,8 and 9; 2 Kings 16:17; 2 Kings 16:19-20; 2 Kings 18:1; 2 Chronicles 25:14; 2 Chronicles 29:9; Isaiah 7:17; Luke 12:45; James 2:13; Revelation 16:11; Revelation 18:5

[ultrachoppedpenguinbouquet]

King Ahaz

[rastronomicals]

3:02 AM EDT June 26, 2024:

Throne of Ahaz - "Black Sabbath" From the album   Nativity in Black III: A Tribute to Black Sabbath (2003)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

[heartofashepherd]

The Virgin Birth of the KING: A Promise of Hope and a Sure Judgment (Isa...

[tom4jc]

Isaiah 7:4 Do Not Fear The Firebrands

and say to him: ‘Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah.’ Isaiah 7:4 Threats of violence can be found nearly everywhere. Threats of shootings, bombings and many other forms of violence are on the rise. People are often very angry about something and take that anger out on…