Ahaziah's Evil Reign
Study note
The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah king because all his older brothers had been killed. His mother Athaliah was his advisor, and she counseled him to do evil. The family of Ahab became his advisors after his father's death, leading him to destruction.
1 The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah king in place of his father Jehoram. He was Jehoram's youngest son, because raiders who came with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.
2 Ahaziah was 42 years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for one year. His mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri. Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
3 He also followed the sinful ways of Ahab's family because his mother pushed him to do evil. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.
4 He did what the Lord considered evil, just like the house of Ahab. After his father died, Ahab's relatives became his advisors, and they led him down a path to ruin. Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.
Ahaziah's Death
Study note
Following their advice, Ahaziah went with King Joram of Israel to fight against the Syrians at Ramoth-gilead. When Joram was wounded, Ahaziah went to visit him. This visit led to Ahaziah's death, because God had planned for Jehu son of Nimshi to destroy the house of Ahab. When Jehu was carrying out God's judgment on Ahab's family, he found and killed Ahaziah too.
5 Following their advice, he went with Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel, to fight against King Hazael of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. Joram was wounded in the battle. He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.
6 Joram went back to the city of Jezreel to heal from his wounds. Ahaziah king of Judah went down to Jezreel to visit Joram because he had been hurt. And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.
7 God used this visit to bring about Ahaziah's downfall. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had chosen to wipe out Ahab's family. And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
8 While Jehu was carrying out God's judgment on Ahab's family, he found the officials of Judah and Ahaziah's relatives who had been serving Ahaziah. He killed them all. And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.
9 Then Jehu searched for Ahaziah. His men caught Ahaziah hiding in Samaria. They brought him to Jehu and killed him. They buried him out of respect, because they said, "He was the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with his whole heart." After this, no one in Ahaziah's family was strong enough to hold on to the throne. And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.
Athaliah Seizes Power; Joash Is Hidden
Study note
When Athaliah learned her son was dead, she tried to destroy the entire royal line of Judah so she could rule as queen. But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, secretly rescued the baby prince Joash. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom in the temple for six years while Athaliah ruled the land. This preserved the line of David from extinction.
10 Athaliah was Ahaziah's mother. She saw her son was dead. She tried to kill every royal family member of Judah. But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.
11 But Jehoshabeath, the king's daughter, secretly grabbed Joash, one of the young princes who was about to be murdered. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom. Jehoshabeath was the daughter of King Jehoram and the wife of Jehoiada the priest. She kept the child hidden from Athaliah, so Athaliah could not kill him. But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.
12 Joash stayed hidden with them inside God's temple for six years while Athaliah ruled the land. And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.