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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 it's 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.  While 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 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.

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.