Ahaziah אֲחַזְיָ֫הוּ
King of Judah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah
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
"Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place."
- 2 Kings 8:25
"In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign."
- 2 Kings 8:26
"Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel."
- 2 Kings 8:29
"King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel from the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick."
- 2 Kings 9:16
"So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram."
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
"The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place, because the band of men who came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the oldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned."
- 2 Chronicles 22:2
"Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri."
- 2 Chronicles 22:7
"Now the destruction of Ahaziah was of God, in that he went to Joram; for when he had come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to cut off Ahab’s house."
- 2 Chronicles 22:8
"When Jehu was executing judgment on Ahab’s house, he found the princes of Judah and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, serving Ahaziah, and killed them."
- 2 Chronicles 22:9
"He sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (now he was hiding in Samaria), and they brought him to Jehu, and killed him; and they buried him, for they said, “He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart.” The house of Ahaziah had no power to hold the kingdom."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲחַזְיָ֫הוּ | H0274H |
| Named | Hebrew | עֲזַרְיָ֫הוּ | H5838z |
| Named | Hebrew | יְהוֹאָחָז | H3059I |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | יְהוֹאָחָז | H3059I |