Ahaziah
“Yahweh holds or sustains”
Summary
The name of two kings: Ahaziah of Israel, son of Ahab who reigned two years and died after consulting Baal-zebub; and Ahaziah of Judah, who was killed by Jehu while visiting his wounded uncle Jehoram.
☩Ahaziah of Israel (c. 854-853 BC)
Son of Ahab and Jezebel, the eighth king of Israel, who reigned two years. Under his mother's influence he served Baal and provoked the Lord to anger. During his reign Moab rebelled after Ahab's death. After falling through a lattice in his palace, he sent to inquire of Baal-zebub, god of Ekron, about his recovery. Elijah intercepted the messengers and pronounced that Ahaziah would die for consulting a pagan god rather than the God of Israel.
☩Ahaziah's Fatal Inquiry
When Ahaziah sent soldiers to arrest Elijah, fire from heaven consumed two successive companies of fifty men each. The third captain pleaded for mercy and was spared, allowing Elijah to deliver his message directly to the king. The prophecy was fulfilled, and Ahaziah died. His attempt to form a maritime alliance with Jehoshaphat also failed when God wrecked the ships.
☩Ahaziah of Judah (c. 842 BC)
Also called Jehoahaz, the sixth king of Judah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah (Ahab's daughter). He was twenty-two years old at his accession and reigned one year. His mother counseled him in wickedness, and he walked in the ways of Ahab's house. He allied with his uncle Jehoram of Israel against Hazael of Syria and was present at Jezreel when Jehu's revolution began.
☩Death at Jehu's Hands
When Jehu slew Jehoram of Israel, Ahaziah attempted to flee but was mortally wounded near Ibleam and died at Megiddo. His servants transported his body to Jerusalem for burial. God ordained his destruction because of his alliance with the house of Ahab. His death left only his mother Athaliah to seize power and attempt to destroy all the royal seed of Judah.
Related Verses32 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Ahaziah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Ahaziah," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Philip Schaff and Johann Herzog (ed.), "Ahaziah," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. I (Funk and Wagnalls, 1908–1914).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Ahaziah," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).