Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for sixteen years. But he didn't do what was right in the LORD's eyes, unlike his ancestor David.
This verse introduces King Ahaz as a ruler who failed to follow God's ways, contrasting him with the godly example of King David.
📚 Historical Context
Ahaz ruled the southern kingdom of Judah from about 735-715 BC during a turbulent time when Assyria was expanding its empire. Unlike his godly predecessors, Ahaz would later make alliances with pagan nations and introduce foreign religious practices into Judah. The reference to 'David his father' means David was his ancestor, as was common terminology for referring to earlier kings in the royal lineage.
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