Ahaziah, the son of Ahab and Jezebel, was the eighth king of the northern kingdom of Israel. His reign is recorded in the biblical books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings. Ahaziah ascended to the throne following the death of his father, Ahab, and reigned for a brief period, approximately from 853 to 852 BC.

Background and Ascension to the Throne

Ahaziah was born into a royal family that had a significant influence on the spiritual and political landscape of Israel. His father, Ahab, was known for his idolatrous practices and for leading Israel into sin, largely influenced by his mother, Jezebel, a fervent worshiper of Baal. Ahaziah inherited a kingdom deeply entrenched in the worship of false gods, and his reign continued in the same vein.

Reign and Religious Practices

Ahaziah's reign is characterized by his continuation of the idolatrous practices established by his parents. The Bible notes that 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). His adherence to Baal worship and other pagan practices further provoked the anger of the LORD against Israel.

Political and Military Affairs

During Ahaziah's reign, Israel faced significant political and military challenges. One notable event was the rebellion of Moab against Israelite control, which had been established during the reign of his father, Ahab. This rebellion marked the beginning of the decline of Israel's influence over its neighboring territories.

Ahaziah also sought an alliance with Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, to build a fleet of trading ships. However, this venture was unsuccessful, as the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber, a failure attributed to divine disfavor due to Ahaziah's wickedness (1 Kings 22:48-49).

Injury and Inquiry of Baal-Zebub

A significant event during Ahaziah's reign was his injury from a fall through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria. Seeking guidance, Ahaziah sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, rather than seeking the LORD, the God of Israel. This act of idolatry prompted a divine response through the prophet Elijah, who intercepted the messengers and delivered a message of judgment: "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).

Death and Succession

True to the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah, Ahaziah died from his injuries, having reigned for only two years. His death marked the end of his short and troubled reign. Since Ahaziah had no son to succeed him, his brother Jehoram (also known as Joram) ascended to the throne of Israel.

Ahaziah's reign is a testament to the consequences of idolatry and disobedience to the LORD. His life and rule serve as a cautionary tale within the broader narrative of the kings of Israel, illustrating the spiritual decline that plagued the northern kingdom during this period.1 Kings 22:51-53
Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 1:18
Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Fall of the House of Ahab
... succeeded by Jehoram, his brother, who reigned over the ten ... continued to exercise
her evil influence over the affairs of ... he departed not therefrom." 2 Kings 3:2 ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 16 the fall of.htm

The Two Boy Kings.
... soon after Solomon's death, and a king reigned in Jerusalem ... of Judah, and another
in Samaria over the kingdom of ... among them were two who became kings when they ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxx the two boy.htm

The Divided Kingdom.
... Reigned IS years and died. ... During this time the kings of Judah cherished the
hope that they would regain their control over the ten tribes. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiii the divided kingdom.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Became More Wicked Than All The Kings That Had ... CHAPTER 7. How Athaliah Reigned Over
Jerusalem For Five [Six ... An Expedition Against The People Of Israel And The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

How Jehu was Anointed King, and Slew Both Joram and Ahaziah; as ...
... and buried there, after he had reigned one year ... had already subdued two very great
kings, they returned ... prophet that his sons should reign over Israel for four ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how jehu was.htm

The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity than the ...
... For we may pass over in silence Cometes of Crete, Cinyras of ... a week; and for a half,
Vespasian with Otho, Galba, and Vitellius reigned. ... [2046] See 1 Kings 13:1 ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxi the jewish institutions and.htm

Questions.
... 13. What was the end of Saul? 14. Who reigned over the rest of Israel? 15. ... 4. Who
overthrew the house of Jeroboam? 5. What kings reigned next? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/questions.htm

The Kingdom Op Judah.
... strengthened to gain a great victory over the Ethiopians ... kingdom during his lifetime,
and afterwards reigned alone till ... and most idolatrous of the Kings of Judah ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vii the kingdom op.htm

Concerning Jehoshaphat the King of Jerusalem and How Ahab Made an ...
... by his grandfather Abijah, when Jeroboam reigned over the ten ... from Jerusalem to Samaria,
the two kings went out ... kill nobody else but only the king of Israel. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 15 concerning jehoshaphat the.htm

Appendices
... the last king but one of the Kassite dynasty, and not rather one of the unknown
kings of the ... ISRAEL. ... 2. My father reigned over Moab thirty years, and I reigned. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

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