1 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest
son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the
camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah
reigned.
2 Forty
and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he
reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah
the daughter of Omri.
3 He
also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor
to do wickedly.
4 Wherefore
he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his
counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.
5 He
walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of
Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians
smote Joram.
6 And
he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him
at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of
Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel,
because he was sick.
7 And
the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come,
he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had
anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
8 And
it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab,
and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that
ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.
9 And
he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and
brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because,
said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the
LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the
kingdom.
10 But
when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and
destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.
11 But
Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and
stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse
in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of
Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from
Athaliah, so that she slew him not.
12 And
he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over
the land.
