Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The people of Jerusalem chose Ahaziah, Jehoram's youngest son and king of Judah, as their new ruler after his older brothers were killed by a group of men who had come to the camp with the Arabians. This made Ahaziah king in place of his father.

Ahaziah was 42 years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for only one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, and she was the daughter of Omri. As a result of her influence, Ahaziah followed in the evil ways of Ahab's household, which included doing what was wrong in God's sight.

Ahaziah did evil by following the counsel of his advisors from the house of Ahab. This led to his own destruction. His father Jehoram had also followed their counsel and gone to war against Hazael, king of Syria, at Ramoth-gilead. The Syrians wounded Joram during this battle, forcing him to return to Jezreel for healing.

When Joram was recovering from his wounds in Jezreel, King Azariah from Judah came to visit him because he was sick. However, Ahaziah's troubles were actually a result of God's judgment against him and the alliance he had formed with Joram against Jehu, whom the Lord had appointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

As Jehu carried out his mission to judge the house of Ahab, he came across the princes from Judah who served Ahaziah. He put them to death. The men then brought Ahaziah's lifeless body to Jehu and buried him, claiming that he was a righteous king like Jehoshaphat. However, the family of Ahaziah ultimately lost control over the kingdom.

When Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, saw that her son had died, she took matters into her own hands and eliminated all of Judah's royal heirs who could have potentially taken the throne. Her actions were so ruthless that no one dared to speak out against her.

Meanwhile, Jehoshabeath, a priestess and the daughter of King Jehoram, protected Ahaziah's young son Joash by hiding him in the temple with his nurse. She kept him safe from Athaliah for six long years while she ruled over Judah.