Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
2 Chronicles 22
Ahaziah Reigns in Judah
The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place, for the raiding band that came with the Arabians to the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah became king. Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah daughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in acting wickedly. He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.
Ahaziah Joins Joram against Hazael
He also walked according to their counsel and went with Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel to battle against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-Gilead. The Arameans struck Joram. He returned to Jezreel to be healed from the wounds they had struck him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram son of Ahab in Jezreel because he was sick.
Jehu Kills Ahaziah
But from God came the downfall of Ahaziah by his going to Joram. When he came, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. And it happened when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab that he found the officials of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers serving Ahaziah, and he killed them. He searched for Ahaziah, and they captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. They brought him to Jehu and put him to death. They buried him, for they said, “He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart.” And the house of Ahaziah had no one able to hold the kingdom.
Athaliah Attempts to Destroy the Royal House
When Athaliah mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring of the house of Judah. Yet Jehoshabeath daughter of the king took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being put to death and placed him and his nurse in a bedroom. Jehoshabeath daughter of King Jehoram, wife of Jehoiada the priest—for she was the sister of Ahaziah—hid him from Athaliah, so she did not put him to death. He was with them hidden in the house of God six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.