Topical Bible: Judgments: Ahaziah

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Topical Encyclopedia

Ahaziah, the son of Ahab and Jezebel, was the king of Israel who reigned in Samaria for a brief period. His reign is marked by idolatry and a departure from the ways of the LORD, following in the footsteps of his parents. The biblical account of Ahaziah's reign and the judgments pronounced upon him can be found primarily in 1 Kings 22:51-53 and 2 Kings 1.

Background and Reign

Ahaziah became king of Israel in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and he reigned for two years. His reign is characterized by evil in the sight of the LORD, as he continued the idolatrous practices of his father Ahab and mother Jezebel. The Berean Standard Bible states, "He did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and mother, and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin" (1 Kings 22:52).

Judgment and Prophetic Condemnation

Ahaziah's reign was marked by a significant event that led to divine judgment. After suffering an injury from a fall through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, Ahaziah sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether he would recover. This act of seeking guidance from a pagan deity rather than the God of Israel provoked the LORD's anger.

The prophet Elijah was sent by God to intercept Ahaziah's messengers. Elijah delivered a message of judgment, saying, "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, this is what the LORD says: You will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die" (2 Kings 1:3-4).

Fulfillment of Judgment

True to the word of the LORD spoken through Elijah, Ahaziah did not recover from his injuries. The Berean Standard Bible records, "So Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken" (2 Kings 1:17). His death marked the end of his short and troubled reign, and he was succeeded by his brother Jehoram, as he had no son to take the throne.

Theological Implications

Ahaziah's judgment serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of idolatry and the rejection of the LORD's sovereignty. His reliance on foreign gods rather than seeking the God of Israel highlights the spiritual decline that had permeated the northern kingdom. The narrative underscores the importance of faithfulness to God and the dangers of turning to false idols, a recurring theme throughout the history of Israel.

Ahaziah's account is a testament to the prophetic authority of Elijah and the certainty of God's word. It illustrates the principle that divine judgment is inevitable for those who persist in disobedience and idolatry, reinforcing the call to repentance and fidelity to the LORD.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Chronicles 22:7-9
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.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Fall of the House of Ahab
... Ahaziah, his successor, "did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way
of his father ... But judgments followed close upon the sins of the rebellious king ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 16 the fall of.htm

Concerning the Wickedness of Jehoram King O Jerusalem; his Defeat ...
... Elijah the prophet [14] which declared that God would execute great judgments upon
him ... was left him, who escaped the enemy; his name was Ahaziah; after which ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 concerning the wickedness.htm

The Kingdom Op Judah.
... "But if his children forsake My Law, and walk not in My judgments: if they ... his very
house, and killed all his children except the youngest, Ahaziah; and lastly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vii the kingdom op.htm

Meditations against Despair, or Doubting of God's Mercy.
... their eyes all the gross sins which ever they committed, and the judgments of God ...
God; as appears in the examples of Cain, Saul, Achitophel, Ahaziah, Judas, &c ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations against despair or doubting.htm

Answer to the Jewish Rabby's Letter.
... Many indeed are the instances of the unjust judgments of the most ... Ahaziah, another
king of Israel, fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber, and was sick ...
/.../answer to the jewish rabbys.htm

The Fourth vision "In Heaven"
... xiii., and what may be gathered from the judgments directed against them and their ...
sons, "so that there was never a son left him, save Ahaziah, the youngest of ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the fourth vision in heaven.htm

Miller's views on the Second Coming of Christ.
... I believe the millennium is between the two resurrections and two judgments, the
righteous and the ... 22:42.8. Jehoram 5 3262 895 2 Kings 8:17.9. Ahaziah 1 3263 ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/millers views on the second.htm

A Prayer when one Begins to be Sick.
... thy favour and loving-kindness, whereby thou dost with thy temporal judgments draw
me ... to Beelzebub, the god of Ekron, for help; as did wicked Ahaziah (2 Kings 1 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/a prayer when one begins.htm

The Earlier Hebrew Histories.
... of the Lord, and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." He it
was ... long ago, in the middle of the story of the reign of King Ahaziah; the first ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter iv the earlier hebrew.htm

CHAP. I. -II. 3 (II. 1).
... The [Pg 217] Lord knoweth how to execute His judgments so that His promises shall
not ... Joram and Jezebel, but may well do so for the murder of Ahaziah, king of ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i -ii 3 ii 1.htm