Ahaziah of Judah
Summary
The sixth king of Judah who reigned for only one year, deeply influenced by his wicked mother Athaliah and the house of Ahab. He was killed by Jehu during his purge of Ahab's dynasty.
- The record places Ahaziah of Judah in Divided Kingdom.
- 2 verses name Ahaziah of Judah, in 1 book.
- 4 moments stand in order on this page, each with its verse.
On this page
Start here
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for to his destruction they were his counselors after the death of his father.
2 Chronicles 22:4→- 4 key events in order
- 2 verses name Ahaziah of Judah, across 1 book
In Scripture
- Verses
- 2
- Books
- 1
Ahaziah of Judah
- Role
- 6th King of Judah
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
- Dates
- 841 BC
- Tribe
- Judah
- Father
- Jehoram of Judah
- Mother
- Athaliah
The life in order
from the events the row records, with the first and last verse that names the person among the passages this page stands on
1What the record holds, in its own order
- Evil counsel of his mother2 Chronicles 22:3Ahaziah also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in wickedness.
- Alliance with Joram of Israel2 Chronicles 22:5Ahaziah also followed their counsel and went with Joram son of Ahab king of Israel to fight against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. But the Arameans wounded Joram;
- Killed by Jehu2 Chronicles 22:9Then Jehu looked for Ahaziah, and Jehu’s soldiers captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. So Ahaziah was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart.” So no one was left from the house of Ahaziah with the strength to rule the kingdom.
- Buried with honor2 Chronicles 22:9Then Jehu looked for Ahaziah, and Jehu’s soldiers captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. So Ahaziah was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart.” So no one was left from the house of Ahaziah with the strength to rule the kingdom.
Biography
Ahaziah was the youngest son of Jehoram and the only survivor after the Philistine and Arabian raid that carried off his older brothers. His mother Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, was his chief counselor and led him into the same sins as the house of Ahab. He allied himself with Joram of Israel (his uncle) in battle against Syria at Ramoth-gilead, and when Jehu was anointed to destroy Ahab's house, Ahaziah was caught in the purge.
He was wounded by Jehu's arrow and fled to Megiddo where he died, having reigned only one year. His brief and disastrous reign illustrates how evil counsel from one's own family can lead to swift ruin.
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for to his destruction they were his counselors after the death of his father.
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Loyal to family alliances, given honorable burial due to his grandfather's legacy
Weaknesses
Complete dependence on wicked maternal counsel, idolatry, alliance with Israel's apostate dynasty
Lessons
The people we allow to counsel us shape the course of our lives. Ahaziah had every advantage of lineage but chose wicked advisors and perished with them.
Spiritual significance
Ahaziah's life shows the immense destructive power of ungodly counsel, especially from family. He was caught in judgment meant for another dynasty because he had so thoroughly aligned himself with wickedness.
Ahaziah of Judah in Scripture
Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, so some of these verses may speak of another person called Ahaziah of Judah.
Old Testament1 book · 2 mentions
2 Kings2 mentions
- 2 Kings 9:27When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too!” So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot on the Ascent of Gur, near Ibleam, and he fled to Megiddo and died there.
- 2 Kings 13:1In the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash son of Ahaziah over Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria seventeen years.
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