Babylonia. It has, however, been supposed to be the name of a place (Ezra
8:15) now called Hit, on the Euphrates, east of Damascus.
- AHAZ possessor. (1.) A grandson of Jonathan (1 Chronicles 8:35; 9:42).
(2.) The son and successor of Jotham, king of Judah (2 Kings 16; Isaiah
7-9; 2 Chronicles 28). He gave himself up to a life of wickedness and
idolatry. Notwithstanding the remonstrances and warnings of Isaiah,
Hosea, and Micah, he appealed for help against Rezin, king of Damascus,
and Pekah, king of Israel, who threatened Jerusalem, to Tiglath-pileser, the
king of Assyria, to the great injury of his kingdom and his own humilating
subjection to the Assyrians (2 Kings 16:7, 9; 15:29). He also introduced
among his people many heathen and idolatrous customs (Isaiah 8:19; 38:8;
2 Kings 23:12). He died at the age of thirty-five years, after reigning
sixteen years (B.C. 740-724), and was succeeded by his son Hezekiah.
Because of his wickedness he was “not brought into the sepulchre of the
kings.”
- AHAZIAH held by Jehovah. (1.) The son and successor of Ahab. He
followed the counsels of his mother Jezebel, and imitated in wickedness
the ways of his father. In his reign the Moabites revolted from under his
authority (2 Kings 3:5-7). He united with Jehoshaphat in an attempt to
revive maritime trade by the Red Sea, which proved a failure (2 Chronicles
20:35-37). His messengers, sent to consult the God of Ekron regarding his
recovery from the effects of a fall from the roof-gallery of his palace, were
met on the way by Elijah, who sent them back to tell the king that he
would never rise from his bed (1 Kings 22:51; 2 Kings 1:18).
(2.) The son of Joram, or Jehoram, and sixth king of Judah. Called
Jehoahaz (2 Chronicles 21:17; 25:23), and Azariah (2 Chronicles 22:6).
Guided by his idolatrous mother Athaliah, his reign was disastrous (2
Kings 8:24-29; 9:29). He joined his uncle Jehoram, king of Israel, in an
expedition against Hazael, king of Damascus; but was wounded at the pass
of Gur when attempting to escape, and had strength only to reach
Megiddo, where he died (2 Kings 9:22-28). He reigned only one year.