Chapter 22

And the inhabitants⁶ of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king⁵⁵ in his stead: for the band of men that came⁶ with the Arabians to the camp had slain¹ all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.⁴

Forty and two years old [was] Ahaziah when he began to reign,² and he reigned¹ one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] Athaliah the daughter of Omri.

He also walked¹ in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor⁶ to do wickedly.⁵³

Wherefore he did⁴ evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors⁶ after the death of his father to his destruction.

He walked¹ also after their counsel, and went⁴ with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: ¹⁵⁶⁸ and the Syrians ⁷⁴²¹ smote⁵⁵ Joram.

And he returned⁴ to be healed⁹⁹ in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given⁵² him at Ramah, when he fought⁹ with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down¹ to see² Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.⁶

And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming² to Joram: for when he was come,² he went out¹ with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed¹ to cut off⁵³ the house of Ahab.

And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment⁹ upon the house of Ahab, and found⁴ the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered¹⁸ to Ahaziah, he slew⁴ them.

And he sought¹⁷ Ahaziah: and they caught⁴ him, (for he was hid¹⁰² in Samaria,) and brought⁵⁵ him to Jehu: and when they had slain⁵⁵ him, they buried⁴ him: Because, said¹ they, he [is] the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought¹ the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep² still the kingdom.

But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw¹ that her son was dead,¹ she arose⁴ and destroyed¹⁷ all the seed royal of the house of Judah.

But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took⁴ Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole⁴ him from among the king's sons that were slain,⁹⁴ and put⁴ him and his nurse⁵⁶ in a bedchamber. ⁴²⁹⁶ So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid⁵⁵ him from Athaliah, so that she slew⁵² him not.

And he was with them hid¹⁰² in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned⁶ over the land.