Let’s delve into the lives of two kings of Judah, Jotham and his son Ahaz, and see just how drastically one life can diverge from another.
King Uzziah, Jotham’s father, suffered from leprosy, making him ritually impure and unable to fully carry out his royal duties. And so, Jotham stepped up, governing Judah for twenty-five years while his father was still alive. Now, Jotham wasn't just a placeholder. He was, according to tradition, an exceptionally righteous man. So righteous, in fact, that some say his merit, combined with the merit of two other incredibly pious individuals, would be enough to atone for every sin committed from the beginning of time until the very end! Imagine that.
But then comes Ahaz, Jotham's son. Oh, what a contrast! Where Jotham shone with piety, Ahaz was, well, quite the opposite. As one source puts it, "From first to last he was a sinner." He actively dismantled the true worship of God, banning the study of Torah, the sacred Jewish teachings. He even went so far as to erect an idol right in the upper room of the Beit HaMikdash, the Temple in Jerusalem! And to top it all off, he flagrantly ignored Jewish marriage laws.
What makes Ahaz's actions even more disturbing is that he wasn't ignorant. He knew exactly who God was and what He was capable of. How do we know? Well, the prophet Isaiah, Yeshayahu, challenged Ahaz directly. Isaiah told him, "Ask for a sign from God! Ask that the dead should arise, that Korah should come up from Sheol (the underworld), or that Elijah should descend from Heaven!" The implication is clear: Isaiah believed God would grant such a request for Ahaz.
And Ahaz’s response? It's a chilling one. He essentially said, "I know you have the power to do all these things, but I don't want God's Name to be glorified through me." Incredible, isn't it? He wasn't afraid or skeptical. He simply refused to give God glory. Refused. (Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, 4:256-257)
So, what do we take away from this stark contrast between father and son? It's a powerful reminder that righteousness and wickedness are choices. Jotham chose a path of devotion and earned legendary status. Ahaz, fully aware of the divine, consciously chose a path of rebellion. It begs the question: what choices are we making, and what kind of legacy will we leave behind?