The accession of Ahaz to the throne brought Isaiah and his associates face to face with conditions more appalling than any that had hitherto existed in the realm of Judah. Many who had formerly withstood the seductive influence of idolatrous practices were now being persuaded to take part in the worship of heathen deities. Princes in Israel were proving untrue to their trust; false prophets were arising with messages to lead astray; even some of the priests were teaching for hire. Yet the leaders in apostasy still kept up the forms of divine worship and claimed to be numbered among the people of God.

Da Akaz var blevet konge, kom Esajas og hans medarbejdere til at arbejde under de frygteligste forhold, som nogensinde havde eksisteret i Judas rige. Nu blev mange af dem, der hidtil havde gjort modstand mod den forførende afgudsdyrkelse, overtalt til at tilbede de hedenske guder. Israels fyrster svigtede deres ansvar. Der fremstod falske profeter, som førte folket vild, og selv nogle af præsterne underviste mod betaling. Trods disse tilstande opretholdt frafaldets ledere gudstjenestens former og gjorde krav på at tilhøre Guds folk.