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== Early life and family ==

== Early life and family ==

Ahaz was the son and successor of King [[Jotham]], and was born when his father was twenty-one years old. His full name was Jehoahaz, but either he or the historians who remembered him in the [[Bible]] dropped the "Jeho-" root of his name—because he rejected [[Yahweh]] as his [[God]] by looting the Temple and closing it's doors.

Ahaz was the son and successor of King [[Jotham]], and was born when his father was twenty-one years old. His full name was Jehoahaz, but either he or the historians who remembered him in the [[Bible]] dropped the "Jeho-" root of his name—because he rejected [[Yahweh]] as his [[God]] by looting the Temple and closing its doors.

The chronological data in the the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles reveal that Ahaz sired his son [[Hezekiah]] upon [[Abigail]], daughter of [[Zechariah]] the [[high priest]], when he was ten or eleven years old.  Though it may seem improbable for anyone to become a father at such a young age, there is ample evidence that it was both possible and probable for a crown prince at that time in history.

The chronological data in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles reveal that Ahaz sired his son [[Hezekiah]] upon [[Abigail]], daughter of [[Zechariah]] the [[high priest]], when he was ten or eleven years old.  Though it may seem improbable for anyone to become a father at such a young age, there is ample evidence that it was both possible and probable for a crown prince at that time in history.

While Ahaz's age at the birth of his son is unusually young, even by ancient standards, it should be remembered that the importance of producing an heir in a hereditary monarchy has led to many unusual marriage practices amongst the royalty of various nations throughout history. The general trend has been to arrange marriage of the son to a woman of high birth and the royal couple would marry young.

While Ahaz's age at the birth of his son is unusually young, even by ancient standards, it should be remembered that the importance of producing an heir in a hereditary monarchy has led to many unusual marriage practices amongst the royalty of various nations throughout history. The general trend has been to arrange marriage of the son to a woman of high birth and the royal couple would marry young.

The normal age range for the onset of puberty in boys is 10.6 to 12.2 years.  Obesity is one of several factors that has been found to accelerate the onset of puberty by months or years earlier than normal.<ref>Bone Age and Onset of Puberty in Normal Boys, Armando Flor-Cisneros, James N. Roemmich, Alan D. Rogol, and Jeffrey Baron, Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2006 July 25; 254-255: 202–206.</ref> It is possible that his social position as crown prince made Ahaz more likely to experience early puberty due to a high quality diet.  

The normal age range for the onset of puberty in boys is 10.6 to 12.2 years.  Obesity is one of several factors that has been found to accelerate the onset of puberty by months or years earlier than normal.<ref>Bone Age and Onset of Puberty in Normal Boys, Armando Flor-Cisneros, James N. Roemmich, Alan D. Rogol, and Jeffrey Baron, Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2006 July 25; 254-255: 202–206.</ref> It is possible that his social position as crown prince made Ahaz more likely to experience early puberty due to a high quality diet.  

The Bible gives ages and lengths of reign in years, leaving some room for play in the unit of time.  Ahaz could have been one month shy of his twenty-first birthday when he took the throne on the 1st of [[Nissan]], the inauguration day for kings of Judah,<ref>Floyd Nolan Jones, The Chronology of the Old Testament, Master Books Edition, Third Printing, 1993-2005, p. 130</ref> and still been "twenty years of age."  Since exactly 16 years passed until Hezekiah's inauguration on Nissan 1 at age 25, we find that 16+20-25 gives us eleven years with 11 months of play. Therefore Ahaz sired Hezekiah between the age of 10 years and three months, and the age of 11 years and two months.  This is very close to the normal range for the onset of puberty in boys.

The Bible gives ages and lengths of reign in years, leaving some room for play in the unit of time.  Ahaz could have been one month shy of his twenty-first birthday when he took the throne on the 1st of [[Nissan]], the inauguration day for kings of Judah,<ref>Floyd Nolan Jones, The Chronology of the Old Testament, Master Books Edition, Third Printing, 1993-2005, p. 130</ref> and still been "twenty years of age."  Since exactly 16 years passed until Hezekiah's inauguration on Nissan 1 at age 25, we find that 16+20-25 gives us eleven years with 11 months of play. Therefore, Ahaz sired Hezekiah between the age of 10 years and three months, and the age of 11 years and two months.  This is very close to the normal range for the onset of puberty in boys.

The question is whether it would be socially acceptable or likely for Ahaz to have been married at such a young age. Egypt had been a major influence on the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel since Solomon's day.  The Northern Kingdom of Israel was essentially a client state of Egypt from its inception.<ref>1 Kings 11:40</ref> [[Jeraboam]] returned from Egypt after Solomon's death and led the ten tribes into rebellion against the House of David.  As soon as the ten tribes of Israel made him king, he set up golden calves from the Egyptian Apis cult for the Israelites to worship - his goal being to reduce the influence of Jerusalem over his people.

The question is whether it would be socially acceptable or likely for Ahaz to have been married at such a young age. Egypt had been a major influence on the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel since Solomon's day.  The Northern Kingdom of Israel was essentially a client state of Egypt from its inception.<ref>1 Kings 11:40</ref> [[Jeraboam]] returned from Egypt after Solomon's death and led the ten tribes into rebellion against the House of David.  As soon as the ten tribes of Israel made him king, he set up golden calves from the Egyptian Apis cult for the Israelites to worship - his goal being to reduce the influence of Jerusalem over his people.

=== Chronological problems ===

=== Chronological problems ===

As problematical as Ahaz' siring of a son at eleven might have seemed, the timeline of [[Edwin R. Thiele]] presents a worse obstacle. According to Thiele, Ahaz was born in 755 BC, and Hezekiah began to reign in 729 BC, at the age of twenty-five. Therefore Hezekiah would have to have been born in 754 BC—when Ahaz was only a year old. That ''would'' be medically impossible.

As problematical as Ahaz' siring of a son at eleven might have seemed, the timeline of [[Edwin R. Thiele]] presents a worse obstacle. According to Thiele, Ahaz was born in 755 BC, and Hezekiah began to reign in 729 BC, at the age of twenty-five. Therefore, Hezekiah would have to have been born in 754 BC—when Ahaz was only a year old. That ''would'' be medically impossible.

Even if Ahaz was five years older when he began to reign, he would have had to sire Hezekiah at the age of six—still too young. Wood, following Thiele's numbers, suggests<ref name=Wood/> that Hezekiah was ''[[viceroy]]'' under Ahaz beginning in 729 BC and became ''sole ruler'' at 724 BC, at the age of twenty-five (so that Hezekiah could deal with [[Sennacherib]]'s invasion in 710 BC, in the "fourteenth year of his reign"). But the best that Thiele can accomplish is still to have Hezekiah born when Ahaz was eleven years old.

Even if Ahaz was five years older when he began to reign, he would have had to sire Hezekiah at the age of six—still too young. Wood, following Thiele's numbers, suggests<ref name=Wood/> that Hezekiah was ''[[viceroy]]'' under Ahaz beginning in 729 BC and became ''sole ruler'' at 724 BC, at the age of twenty-five (so that Hezekiah could deal with [[Sennacherib]]'s invasion in 710 BC, in the "fourteenth year of his reign"). But the best that Thiele can accomplish is still to have Hezekiah born when Ahaz was eleven years old.

In any case, the Chronicler specifically states that Ahaz was buried in Jerusalem, but ''was not'' buried in the sepulchers of the kings.<ref name=Chronicles/><ref name=ISBE/><ref name=GeoCities/> His son Hezekiah succeeded him.

In any case, the Chronicler specifically states that Ahaz was buried in Jerusalem, but ''was not'' buried in the sepulchers of the kings.<ref name=Chronicles/><ref name=ISBE/><ref name=GeoCities/> His son Hezekiah succeeded him.

Concerning that last: [[James Ussher|Ussher]] specifically states<ref name=Ussher/> that Hezekiah was viceroy under Ahaz during the last year of Ahaz' reign. [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]] seems to suggest that Ahaz made Hezekiah his viceroy beginning in the ''fifth'' year of his, Ahaz', reign, and lasting for seven-eighths of that reign.  

Concerning that last: [[James Ussher|Ussher]] specifically states<ref name=Ussher/> that Hezekiah was viceroy under Ahaz during the last year of Ahaz' reign. Thiele seems to suggest that Ahaz made Hezekiah his viceroy beginning in the ''fifth'' year of his, Ahaz', reign, and lasting for seven-eighths of that reign.  

== References ==

== References ==