2 Chronicles 22: Ahaziah, Athaliah, and the hidden child Joash
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
The people of Jerusalem make Ahaziah, Jehoram's youngest son, king after raiders killed the older sons. He walks in the way of Ahab's house, advised by his mother Athaliah, goes with Joram of Israel to war against Hazael, and is killed when Jehu comes to cut off Ahab's house. Athaliah then destroys all the royal offspring of Judah, but Jehoshabeath takes Joash the son of Ahaziah and hides him in God's house for six years while Athaliah reigns.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. In verse 9 those who bury Ahaziah say "He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart"; those are their words. Verse 7, that the destruction of Ahaziah was from God and that Yahweh had anointed Jehu, is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place, because the band of men who came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the oldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.
In plain English: The people living in Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, because the raiding band that came with the Arabs to the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah became king.
Good to know: says the Philistines and Arabs carried away Jehoram's sons and left only Jehoahaz, the youngest. This verse says a raiding band that came with the Arabs killed all the older sons, and the people make "Ahaziah his youngest son" king. The text does not say more about how the two fit.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
2Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
In plain English: Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri.
Good to know: says Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign. This verse says forty-two. Both say he reigned one year, and both call Athaliah "the daughter of Omri". The text does not explain the different age.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
3He also walked in the ways of Ahab’s house, because his mother was his counselor in acting wickedly.
In plain English: He also walked in the ways of Ahab's house, because his mother was his adviser in acting wickedly.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
4He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, as did Ahab’s house, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.
In plain English: He did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes, like Ahab's house, for they were his advisers after the death of his father, to his destruction.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
5He also followed their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.
In plain English: He also walked by their advice, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Aram (this Bible: Syria) at Ramoth Gilead. The Arameans (this Bible: the Syrians) wounded Joram.
Good to know: The Hebrew has Aram and Arameans, which this Bible prints as "Syria" and "Syrians"; "Syria" is in 8 verses of 2 Chronicles and "Syrians" in 5, for the Hebrew word Aram. "Joram" is the shorter form of the name "Jehoram" and the verse uses both for the king of Israel. Ahaziah's own father, the king of Judah, is also named Jehoram. tells the same war at Ramoth Gilead.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
6He returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which they had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. Azariah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
In plain English: He returned to Jezreel to get himself healed from the wounds they had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Azariah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was ill.
Good to know: The Hebrew here has Azaryahu, which this Bible prints "Azariah", for the king of Judah. In verse 1 and in he is called Ahaziah. The text does not say why the name is different.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
7Now the destruction of Ahaziah was of God, in that he went to Joram; for when he had come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to cut off Ahab’s house.
In plain English: From God came the downfall of Ahaziah, by his going to Joram. For when he came, he went out with Jehoram to Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
The Hebrew word: "Destruction" is tevusah, which the dictionary gives as "a treading down, i.e. ruin". It is the only place in the whole Bible where this word is used. The Hebrew says "from God was the downfall of Ahaziah"; the same verse says Yahweh had anointed Jehu to cut off Ahab's house. tells how Jehu was anointed.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
8When Jehu was executing judgment on Ahab’s house, he found the princes of Judah and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah serving Ahaziah, and killed them.
In plain English: When Jehu was carrying out judgment on Ahab's house, he found the officials of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers, who were serving Ahaziah, and he killed them.
Good to know: This verse says Jehu found "the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah" with the officials of Judah, and killed them; it gives no number. says Jehu met "the brothers of Ahaziah" and they killed "forty-two men".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
9He sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (now he was hiding in Samaria), and they brought him to Jehu and killed him; and they buried him, for they said, “He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart.” The house of Ahaziah had no power to hold the kingdom.
In plain English: He looked for Ahaziah, and they caught him (he was hiding in Samaria). They brought him to Jehu and put him to death, and they buried him, for they said, "He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart." And there was no one in Ahaziah's house to keep strength for the kingdom (or: no one in his house had power to hold the kingdom).
Good to know: says Ahaziah fled by the garden house, was struck at the ascent of Gur, fled to Megiddo and died there, and that his servants carried him to Jerusalem and buried him in his tomb. This verse says he was hiding in Samaria, was caught, was brought to Jehu and put to death, and was buried. It does not name Megiddo or Gur. The text does not explain the differences.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
10Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring of the house of Judah.
In plain English: When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she got up and destroyed (the Hebrew word is usually "speak"; see the note) all the royal offspring of the house of Judah.
The Hebrew word: "Destroyed" is dabar. The dictionary says it is "to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue". It is in 29 verses of 2 Chronicles, and this Bible says "destroyed" in only this one. tells the same event with another Hebrew word, which this Bible also prints "destroyed".
What changes: Read in its usual sense "speak", the verse would say Athaliah got up and spoke to all the royal offspring of the house of Judah. Read as "subdue", she got up and overpowered them. Verse 11 still says the king's sons "were being put to death".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
11But Jehoshabeath, the king’s daughter, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stealthily rescued him from among the king’s sons who were slain, and put him and his nurse in the bedroom. 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 didn’t kill him.
In plain English: But Jehoshabeath, the king's daughter, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being put to death. She put him and his nurse in the room of the beds. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah, and Athaliah did not kill him.
Good to know: She is "Jehoshabeath" here and "Jehosheba" in , where she is also "the daughter of King Joram" and "sister of Ahaziah". Only this verse says she was "the wife of Jehoiada the priest". The word for nurse is word for word "suckling-nurse".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
12He was with them hidden in God’s house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
In plain English: He was with them in God's house, hiding, for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Good to know: This verse says Joash was hidden "with them" in "God's house". says "with her" in "Yahweh's house". Both say six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.