How did Ahaziah’s evil lead to his death?

Author: BibleAsk Team


Ahaziah

Ahaziah or Jehoahaz (2 Chronicles 21:17; 25:23) was a king of Judah. He was the son of Jehoram and Athaliah. According to 2 Chronicles 21:16-17, a Philistine and Arab war took away his older brothers. So, he ruled, when he was only 22 years old (2 Kings 8:26–27), for only less than one year in 841 BC. He was the first Judahite king to descend from both the House of David and the House of Omri, through his mother.

His Death

Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah was “his counsellor to do wickedly” (2 Chronicles 22:3). In addition, other members of Athaliah’s family became his counselors. And they all advised him to join his uncle Jehoram, king of Israel, in a mission against Hazael, king of the Arameans. But Jehoram was wounded in the battle, and went to recover at Jezreel. Ahaziah also left the field of war in Gilead. And after a visit to Jerusalem, he came to Jezreel for a meeting with Jehoram. There he was caught up in the rebellion by Jehu.

According to the account given in the 2 Kings, Ahaziah and Jehoram both went out to meet the rebellious general, with Jehoram learning too late of Jehu’s murderous intentions. Ahaziah saw his uncle being shot by Jehu, with a bow. So, Ahaziah escaped for his life, but was wounded at the pass of Gur in Ibleam. And he had power only to reach Megiddo, where he died (2 Kings 9:22–28).

To reconcile this story in 2 chronicles 22 with the one in 2 Kings 9, the narrative goes as follows: Ahaziah, after being wounded near Ibleam, changed his course of flight, choosing, instead the mountainous terrain to the south, the level plain toward Megiddo. While at Megiddo he tried to escape to the south, but was seized in Samaria and returned to Megiddo at the command of Jehu and was executed.

Reaping the Consequences of Evil

Ahaziah of Judah did wickedness before the Lord under the influence of his mother Athaliah. This king introduced forms of worship that violated the commandments of the Lord. The life of King Ahaziah of Judah is a reminder of the consequences of forsaking the true God and reaping the deadly results of sin. God was ready to manifest Himself in such wonderful ways to the king. And the king had the chance to lead his people away from idolatry to the true God to obtain prosperity and peace (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). But the king rebelled against God.

In His service,
BibleAsk Team

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