The King Who Listened to His Mother's Wicked Advice

The life and reign of King Ahaziah (Judah).

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Things have gotten pretty bad in the southern kingdom of Judah.

While Asa and Jehoshaphat were faithful to the Lord, the wicked influence of the kings of Israel has crept in and is currently the dominant influence over the kings of Judah.

Timeline of the Kings.

The Overview of King Ahaziah’s Reign.

Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son (2 Chronicles 22:1), came to the throne in the twelfth year of King Joram, Ahab’s son, who reigned over the northern kingdom of Israel (2 Kings 8:25).

Ahaziah was 22 years old when he became the king of Judah (2 Kings 8:26), and he reigned for just one year. 2 Chronicles 22:2 says Ahaziah was 42 when he became king - but this is likely the result of a scribal error in making copies of the text. 22 is the correct age because if Ahaziah had been 42 when he became king, he would have been two years older than his father (2 Kings 8:16-17).

An infamous person who influenced Ahaziah was his mother - Athaliah - Ahab’s daughter (2 Chronicles 18:1; 21:6). Ahaziah “walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother advised him to do wickedly” (2 Chronicles 22:3).

Ahaziah’s evil ways were the direct result of listening to “counselors” who advised him to do wickedly (2 Chronicles 22:4). His downfall would happen because he listened to wicked advice from people like his mother.

King Ahaziah’s Downfall.

Following the advice of his ungodly advisors, Ahaziah went to war with Jehoram, the king of Israel, against Hazael, king of the Syrians (2 Chronicles 22:5). After Jehoram is injured in the battle, Ahaziah goes to visit his wounded uncle (2 Chronicles 22:6; 2 Kings 8:28-29).

This visit “was God’s occasion for Ahaziah’s downfall” (2 Chronicles 22:7).

Jehu, who had been chosen by God to “cut off” the house of Ahab, arrived to kill King Jehoram (2 Chronicles 22:7). After Jehoram was dead (2 Kings 9:22-26), Jehu also found and killed “the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers who served Ahaziah” (2 Chronicles 22:8).

Ahaziah fled and hid in Samaria, where Jehu found him and killed him as well. However, Jehu returned Ahaziah’s body to Jerusalem so he could be buried alongside his fathers “because he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart” (2 Chronicles 22:9).

The kingdom of Judah was in a bad spot - “the house of Ahaziah had no one to assume power over the kingdom.” Power vacuums will be filled, and during an evil time, evil people usually rise to power.

And that’s what happens next in Judah.

Crowning Principles.

Faithful people can make massive mistakes that affect generations.

Jehoshaphat was a faithful king (2 Chronicles 22:9; 20:32; 21:12). Yet, Jehoshaphat made a critical error in making an alliance with the household of Ahab by having his son marry Ahab’s daughter.

Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, was a thorn in the side of Judah for years, and she influenced her husband and son to do wickedly and follow in the ways of her father and mother.

Faithful people can make terrible decisions that end up harming multiple generations. The Lord tried to warn Jehoshaphat about the foolishness of his alliance with Ahab. We would be wise to listen to God’s warnings.

God is at work in the affairs of men to accomplish His will.

Ahaziah going to visit his wounded uncle “was God’s occasion for Ahaziah’s downfall” (2 Chronicles 22:7). God was at work in using this moment to bring about the end of Ahaziah’s wicked reign.

This is yet another example of the fact that the Lord is “the Most High” who “rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses” (Daniel 4:25).