2 Chronicles 22

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 22

1¶ 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.

2Forty 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.

3He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.

4Wherefore 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.

5He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.

6And 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.

7And 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.

8And 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.

9And 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.

10¶ 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.

11But 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.

12And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Ahaziah became king of Judah, but followed the wicked ways of Ahab's house, influenced by his mother Athaliah. His alliance with Jehoram of Israel led to his destruction by Jehu, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off Ahab's lineage. Following Ahaziah's death, his mother Athaliah usurped the throne and attempted to destroy all the royal seed. However, young Joash was secretly preserved in the house of God.

Medium Summary

Ahaziah, son of Jehoram, ascended to the throne of Judah, but his reign was marked by wickedness, as he followed the ways of the house of Ahab under the influence of his mother, Athaliah. He allied with Jehoram of Israel in a war against Syria, where Jehoram was wounded. Ahaziah's visit to the wounded Jehoram proved to be his undoing, as it brought him into contact with Jehu, whom the LORD had appointed to execute judgment on Ahab's house. Jehu slew Ahaziah and many of his kin. Upon hearing of her son's death, Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, seized power and attempted to eradicate all the royal descendants of Judah. However, Jehoshabeath, Ahaziah's sister, rescued the infant Joash, hiding him and his nurse in the temple for six years while Athaliah reigned.

Long Summary

Ahaziah, the youngest son of Jehoram, was made king of Judah by the inhabitants of Jerusalem after his elder brothers were slain. He began his one-year reign at forty-two years old, heavily influenced by his mother Athaliah, the daughter of Omri, who counselled him to do wickedly. Consequently, Ahaziah walked in the evil ways of the house of Ahab, committing acts displeasing to the LORD. He joined Jehoram, king of Israel, in a war against Hazael of Syria at Ramothgilead, where Jehoram was wounded and returned to Jezreel for healing. Ahaziah subsequently visited the ailing Jehoram, a visit that proved to be divinely orchestrated for his destruction. During this time, Jehu, whom the LORD had anointed to execute judgment upon the house of Ahab, began his purge. Jehu found and slew the princes of Judah and Ahaziah's brethren who ministered to him. Jehu then sought Ahaziah, who was discovered hiding in Samaria, brought to Jehu, slain, and buried out of respect for his grandfather Jehoshaphat, who had faithfully sought the LORD. With Ahaziah's death, the house of Judah lost its immediate royal power. Upon learning of her son's demise, Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, arose and ruthlessly destroyed all the remaining royal seed of the house of Judah. However, Jehoshabeath, daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, secretly rescued Joash, Ahaziah's infant son, from the slaughter. She hid him and his nurse in a bedchamber within the house of God, where he remained concealed for six years while Athaliah unlawfully reigned over the land.

Core Concepts

  • Ahaziah's Wicked ReignAhaziah, king of Judah, reigned for one year, following the evil ways of the house of Ahab. His mother, Athaliah, was a primary counsellor to his wickedness, leading him to displease the LORD.
  • Influence of Ahab's HouseThe chapter highlights the corrupting influence of the house of Ahab on the Judahite monarchy. Ahaziah's mother, Athaliah, a daughter of Omri, actively counselled him to do evil.
  • Divine Judgment through JehuAhaziah's destruction is explicitly stated as "of God," occurring when he encountered Jehu. Jehu was divinely appointed to cut off the house of Ahab, and this judgment extended to Ahaziah due to his association and wicked ways.
  • Athaliah's UsurpationUpon Ahaziah's death, his mother Athaliah seized power by destroying the entire royal seed of Judah. This act represented a ruthless attempt to secure her own reign and eradicate the Davidic line.
  • Preservation of the Royal LineDespite Athaliah's destructive efforts, the Davidic lineage was miraculously preserved through the actions of Jehoshabeath. She rescued the infant Joash, hiding him in the house of God for six years, thus safeguarding the future of the kingdom.
  • Consequences of Unholy AlliancesAhaziah's alliance with Jehoram of Israel, a king from the wicked house of Ahab, directly led to his downfall. This alliance brought him into the path of Jehu's divine judgment against Ahab's dynasty.
  • The House of God as RefugeThe temple, or "house of God," served as a sanctuary for the infant Joash. It was within its sacred confines that he was hidden and protected from Athaliah's murderous purge for six years.