מלכים ב, פרק ט״ז, פסוק א׳

The transition of power to Ahaz marks a dramatic turning point for the Kingdom of Judah, ushering in an era defined by severe spiritual and military crises. His rule begins during the seventeenth year of the reign of Pekah, the king of the neighboring Kingdom of Israel [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This timeline naturally follows the reign of Ahaz's father, Jotham, who ruled for sixteen years starting in Pekah's second year [מצודת דוד].

Ahaz's time on the throne is characterized by deep wickedness and widespread idol worship. As a direct punishment for these severe sins, God stirs the kings of Aram and Israel to wage war against Judah [אברבנאל]. Yet, the historical record of this conflict presents a striking contrast. The Book of Chronicles details a devastating military defeat, complete with mass casualties and many captives taken by the enemy forces. In contrast, the Book of Kings softens the narrative significantly, focusing only on the enemies' inability to fully conquer Ahaz.

This difference in the accounts is highly intentional. The Book of Kings deliberately omits the massive scale of the disaster out of respect for Ahaz's family line. Despite his personal corruption, Ahaz was sandwiched between two deeply righteous kings: his father, Jotham, and his son, Hezekiah [אלשיך]. Furthermore, the fact that the invading armies ultimately failed to destroy Jerusalem itself was not a testament to Ahaz's military strength. Rather, it was because God had mercy on Judah and chose not to let the kingdom be completely wiped out [אברבנאל].