Ahaziah King of Judah

2022-05-24

Ahaziah, the youngest son of Jehoram, became king because his older brothers had all been killed. He had a short reign of one year. The king “walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly” (2 Chronicles 22:3). Ahaziah and Jehoram King of Israel fought against Syria at Ramothgilead, just as their predecessors did. As Jehoram was injured, Ahaziah went to visit him. While doing so, Jehu slew both Jehoram and Ahaziah, as well as Ahaziah’s brothers and their sons. The king of Judah was afforded a burial because of his grandfather Jehoshaphat’s reputation.

Ahaziah’s sad, short reign has nothing to show for it. Jehoshaphat’s ecumenicism with Israel’s kings still had consequences in his grandson’s life, since his evil reign was influenced by his mother, Athaliah, a relative of King Ahab.

Because “the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom” (2 Chronicles 22:9), a usurper took the throne.

This is a part of the Kings of Judah series. To go back to the table of contents, proceed here.