2 Chronicles
Chapter 22
Ahaziah of Judah (841)
The people of Jerusalem proclaimed his youngest son, Ahaziah, king in place of him since the armed band that had broken into the camp with the Arabs had killed all the elder sons. So Ahaziah, son of Jehoram, became king of Judah.
Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became king and reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri.
He, too, followed the example of Ahab’s family since his mother gave him wicked advice.
He sinned against the Lord as Ahab’s family had done, for they were his advisers after his father’s death. They led him to his downfall.
He followed their advice and joined Ahab’s son, King Joram of Israel, in a battle against King Hazael of Syria at Ramoth-Gilead, in which the Syrians defeated Joram.
Joram returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians in Ramah when he fought against King Hazael of Syria. Ahaziah, son of King Jehoram of Judah, visited Joram, son of Ahab, in Jezreel because he had been wounded.
The Lord brought about Ahaziah’s downfall through his visit to Joram. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu, son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had commissioned to wipe out Ahab’s family.
While Jehu was busy carrying out God’s sentence against Ahab’s family, he came across the officials of Judah and the relatives of Ahaziah who were in the king’s service and killed them.
He then searched for Ahaziah, who was captured while he tried to hide in Samaria. He was taken to Jehu, who put him to death. But they gave him burial, saying: “This was a son of Jehoshaphat who sought the Lord with all his heart.”And the house of Ahaziah had no one able to rule the kingdom.
The Struggle Against Athaliah
There was no one left in the royal family of Ahaziah strong enough to reign. As soon as Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, learned that her son was dead, she promptly gave orders for all the members of the royal family of Judah to be killed.
But Jehosheba, daughter of King Joram, secretly rescued Joash, her brother’s son, from among the sons of the king who were being murdered and put him with his nurse in the sleeping quarters. In this way, Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram and the wife of Jehoiada, the priest (and a sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah and prevented her from killing him.
He stayed with them for six years, hidden in the house of God, while Athaliah governed the country.
Commentaries
The Kings of Judah Until the Exile.
The final section of the Chronicler’s work focuses on the history of the kingdom of Judah, covering from Solomon to the exile, with little mention of the Northern Kingdom. For the Chronicler, the kingdom of Judah represents the entire nation of Israel. The primary standard for judging each king is their loyalty to God. Four notable figures stand out as models of this loyalty: Asa, Jehoshaphat, Josiah, and especially Hezekiah. The prophets are also depicted alongside the kings, delivering messages that include warnings and sincere calls to stay loyal to the Lord. Ultimately, the Chronicler encourages the post-exilic community to seek God and remain faithful to the One who has remained true to his people despite their difficulties.
Positive Phase.
The reign begins by presenting Rehoboam as obedient to the Word of the Lord, who instructs him not to fight against Jeroboam. The list of cities (5-12) is likely authentic, although it is probable that they were only fortified after the invasion of Shishak, Pharaoh of Egypt (12:1-12). Through the removal of priests and Levites (13-17), the author emphasizes that the center of worship is in Jerusalem and that the Levites have been loyal to the Temple from the start.
The Faithfulness of Abijah.
Building on the account in 1 Kings 15:1-8, the Chronicler revises the story from a new perspective. Although he only reigned for three years, the Chronicler presents the king as faithful to God, a worthy successor to David and Solomon. The war against Jeroboam (3) is probably real and offers a chance to include a speech by Abijah to the northern tribes (4-12): those in the north (8.11) are not part of the Lord’s kingdom; they do not have a legitimate dynasty, only a usurper king; they worship idols instead of the true God, and they lack priests or proper worship. To fight against Judah (10) is to fight against the Lord (12). The logical result is Jeroboam’s defeat (13-18).
Ahaziah of Judah.
The Chronicler’s account is based on 2 Kings 8:25-29. Ahaziah formed alliances with the northern kingdom and was disliked by God. All evil came from that kingdom, which was influenced by the Phoenicians. Kinship, alliances, examples, and advice also led the king of Judah astray (vs. 3-5). The chapter ends with Athaliah’s crime and the skill of Jehosheba, who protected Joash to keep David’s lineage alive (see 2 Kgs 11:1-3).
The Struggle Against Athaliah.
The episode of Athaliah’s death follows 2 Kings 11:1-20 with notable changes: priests, Levites, and even singers carry out the execution instead of soldiers; the acceptance of the new king Joash is universal. The final account of the reform by the priest Jehoiada (23:16-21) is presented as a restoration of the Davidic institutions.