Ahaziah אֲחַזְיָ֫הוּ
King of Judah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah
Who is Ahaziah in the Bible?
Ahaziah was the sixth king of Judah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah, who reigned for just one year beginning at age 22 (2 Kings 8:25-26). He followed the evil practices of the house of Ahab, influenced by his mother Athaliah, and "did evil in the sight of the Lord" (2 Kings 8:27). During his brief reign, Ahaziah joined his uncle Joram, king of Israel, in battle against the Syrian king Hazael at Ramoth Gilead, and later visited the wounded Joram in Jezreel, where he encountered the commander Jehu (2 Kings 9:16-27). Jehu, anointed to destroy the house of Ahab, pursued Ahaziah, wounded him at the ascent of Gur, and he died at Megiddo (2 Kings 9:27-28). Ahaziah's brief and wicked reign illustrates the spiritual decline that came from following idolatrous practices rather than remaining faithful to the Lord.
Biography
Ahaziah, also known as Jehoahaz, was the son of Jehoram and Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab. He became the sixth king of Judah at the age of 22 and reigned for one year in Jerusalem. Ahaziah did evil in the sight of the Lord, walking in the ways of the house of Ahab, as his mother Athaliah counseled him to do wickedly. (2Ki.8.25-27; 2Ch.22.1-4)
Ahaziah joined his uncle Joram, king of Israel, in a battle against Hazael, king of Syria, at Ramoth Gilead. Joram was wounded and returned to Jezreel to recover. Ahaziah went to visit Joram in Jezreel, where he encountered Jehu, who had been anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. Jehu pursued Ahaziah, and Ahaziah was wounded at the ascent of Gur. He fled to Megiddo, where he died. His servants brought his body to Jerusalem, and he was buried with his fathers in the City of David. (2Ki.8.28-29; 9.16,21-28; 2Ch.22.5-9)
After Ahaziah's death, his mother Athaliah seized the throne and destroyed all the royal heirs, except for Joash, who was hidden by Jehosheba. (2Ki.11.1-3; 2Ch.22.10-12) The short reign of Ahaziah was marked by the influence of his mother Athaliah and the house of Ahab, leading to his downfall and the near extinction of the Davidic line.
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In Scripture
3 biblical books2 Kings 5 verses
- 2 Kings 8:24
"And Jehoram rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And his son Ahaziah reigned in his place."
- 2 Kings 8:25
"In the twelfth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab over Israel, Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah."
- 2 Kings 8:26
"Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel."
- 2 Kings 8:29
"So King Joram returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded."
- 2 Kings 9:16
"Then Jehu got into his chariot and went to Jezreel, because Joram was laid up there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him."
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 3:11
"Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,"
2 Chronicles 5 verses
- 2 Chronicles 22:1
"Then the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, the youngest son of Jehoram, king in his place, since the raiders who had come into the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah."
- 2 Chronicles 22:2
"Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri."
- 2 Chronicles 22:7
"Ahaziah’s downfall came from God when he went to visit Joram. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab."
- 2 Chronicles 22:8
"So while Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the rulers of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers who were serving Ahaziah, and he killed them."
- 2 Chronicles 22:9
"Then 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..."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲחַזְיָ֫הוּ |
| Named | Hebrew | עֲזַרְיָ֫הוּ |
| Named | Hebrew | יְהוֹאָחָז |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | יְהוֹאָחָז |