II Kings 8:22-29
“In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.” (II Kings 8:25-26)
“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. 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.” (II Chronicles 22:1-2)
When Jehoram or Joram, king of Judah died during the twelfth year of Jehorm or Joram of Israel’s reign, the people in Jerusalem made his youngest son Jehoahaz, also known as Ahaziah king in his place because all his other sons had been killed during the Arabian invasion. His mother was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and granddaughter of Omri. In Hebrew the word used refers to any female descendant. The translators simply translated it exactly, without adding the qualifying ‘grand’. Unfortunately, in English that can cause confusion.
In Hebrew writing, it is very easy to confuse numbers, and while II Kings says Ahaziah was twenty two when he became king, II Chronicles says he was forty two. Since we know that his father was thirty two when he became king and reigned eight years, he was only forty when he died and it is impossible for his youngest son to be forty two. The discrepancy probably arises from a clerical error in copying the records. It raises no doubt of the validity of the story.
“And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab.” (II Kings 8:27)
“He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. 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.” (II Chronicles 22:3-4)
The word translated son -in-law is correctly translated. Whether a scribe incorrectly substituted it for the word meaning a grandson, or whether he actually married one of his mother’s sisters or half sisters is not known, but considering Ahab and Jezebel’s attitude toward God’s commands either is possible.
Coming to the throne as a very young man, Jehoahaz depended on his mother Athaliah and his uncle Joram, king of Israel for advice, even adopting their older brother’s name for himself. His administration was patterned on the of king Ahab as a result. His father had done the same thing and the people were glad when he died, but Ahaziah did not recognize that it was the cause of his father’s problems. He would only reign about a year.
“And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.
And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria.” (II Kings 8:28-29a)
Following Athaliah’s and Jehoram’s advice, Ahaziah went with Jehoram to fight against Hazael, the Syrian king who had taken over Ramothe Gilead. Jehoram was wounded in the battle and was forced to return to Jezreel to recover, and Ahaziah returned home.
“And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.” (II Kings 29b)
“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.” (II Chronicles 22:7)
Almost twenty five years before, God had commanded Elijah to annoint Jehu as king over Israel to destroy Ahab’s family. Although Jehoram was still suffering from his wounds by the Syrians, when Ahaziah came to see him, he enlisted his help in an effort to destroy Jehu. It was God’s plan to eliminate Ahaziah.
It is interesting that his uncle whose name he took only reigned about two years in Israel, and Ahaziah only reigned in Judah about a year.
“In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.” (II Kings 8:25-26)
“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. 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.” (II Chronicles 22:1-2)
When Jehoram or Joram, king of Judah died during the twelfth year of Jehorm or Joram of Israel’s reign, the people in Jerusalem made his youngest son Jehoahaz, also known as Ahaziah king in his place because all his other sons had been killed during the Arabian invasion. His mother was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and granddaughter of Omri. In Hebrew the word used refers to any female descendant. The translators simply translated it exactly, without adding the qualifying ‘grand’. Unfortunately, in English that can cause confusion.
In Hebrew writing, it is very easy to confuse numbers, and while II Kings says Ahaziah was twenty two when he became king, II Chronicles says he was forty two. Since we know that his father was thirty two when he became king and reigned eight years, he was only forty when he died and it is impossible for his youngest son to be forty two. The discrepancy probably arises from a clerical error in copying the records. It raises no doubt of the validity of the story.
“And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab.” (II Kings 8:27)
“He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. 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.” (II Chronicles 22:3-4)
The word translated son -in-law is correctly translated. Whether a scribe incorrectly substituted it for the word meaning a grandson, or whether he actually married one of his mother’s sisters or half sisters is not known, but considering Ahab and Jezebel’s attitude toward God’s commands either is possible.
Coming to the throne as a very young man, Jehoahaz depended on his mother Athaliah and his uncle Joram, king of Israel for advice, even adopting their older brother’s name for himself. His administration was patterned on the of king Ahab as a result. His father had done the same thing and the people were glad when he died, but Ahaziah did not recognize that it was the cause of his father’s problems. He would only reign about a year.
“And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.
And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria.” (II Kings 8:28-29a)
Following Athaliah’s and Jehoram’s advice, Ahaziah went with Jehoram to fight against Hazael, the Syrian king who had taken over Ramothe Gilead. Jehoram was wounded in the battle and was forced to return to Jezreel to recover, and Ahaziah returned home.
“And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.” (II Kings 29b)
“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.” (II Chronicles 22:7)
Almost twenty five years before, God had commanded Elijah to annoint Jehu as king over Israel to destroy Ahab’s family. Although Jehoram was still suffering from his wounds by the Syrians, when Ahaziah came to see him, he enlisted his help in an effort to destroy Jehu. It was God’s plan to eliminate Ahaziah.
It is interesting that his uncle whose name he took only reigned about two years in Israel, and Ahaziah only reigned in Judah about a year.
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