Ahaziah

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. Son and successor of Ahab, king of Israel, 1 Kings 22:51 2 Kings 1:1-18 . He reigned two years, alone and with his father, who associated him in the kingdom the year before his death, B. C. 894. Ahaziah imitated Ahab's impiety, and worshipped Baal and Astarte, whose rites had been introduced into Israel by Jezebel his mother. During his reign the Moabites revolted. Having joined the king Jehoshaphat in a commercial enterprise on the Red Sea, his impiety blasted the whole. After a fall from the gallery of his house, he sent to consult a god of the Philistines as to his recovery. Elijah the prophet foretold his speedy death-first to the messengers, and again to Ahaziah himself, after two companies of fifty had been consumed by fire from heaven.

2. Otherwise Jehoahaz, or Azariah, king of Judah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah; he succeeded his father B. C. 881, 2 Kings 8:25 2 Chronicles 22:2 . He was twenty-two years of age when he ascended the throne, and reigned but one year at Jerusalem. He followed the house of Ahab, to which he was allied by his mother, and did evil. He met his death at the hand of Jehu, while in company with Joram, son of Ahab.

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Israel and Judah, the northern and southern parts of the divided Israelite kingdom, each had a king named Ahaziah. Ahaziah of Israel was the son of Ahab and Jezebel, and during his brief two-year reign (853-852 BC) he continued to promote his parents’ Baal worship ( 1 Kings 22:51-53 ). When the godly King Jehoshaphat of Judah cooperated with the ungodly Ahaziah in establishing a shipping fleet, God wrecked the ships. It impressed upon Jehoshaphat that God did not want him to have any close association with Ahaziah ( 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 ). After an accident, Ahaziah sought help from Baal gods, but Elijah stopped him. Ahaziah then plotted to kill Elijah, but his plans ended in his own death ( 2 Kings 1:1-16 ).

After Ahaziah’s death, his brother Jehoram (or Joram) became king of Israel ( 2 Kings 1:17 ). Their sister Athaliah had married the Judean king (Jehoshaphat’s son), whose name also was Jehoram. Through the Judean Jehoram and his wife Athaliah, the Baalism of Ahab and Jezebel spread to Judah. When Jehoram of Judah died, his son Ahaziah came to the throne (840 BC; 2 Chronicles 21:1  ; 2 Chronicles 21:5-6  ; 2 Chronicles 22:1-2 ). Being very much under the influence of his mother, Ahaziah promoted Baal worship in Judah ( 2 Chronicles 22:3-4 ). However, he was killed after reigning only one year ( 2 Chronicles 22:2 ). He had gone to visit his uncle, Jehoram of Israel, who had been wounded in battle, and got caught in Jehu’s anti-Baal revolution ( 2 Chronicles 22:5-9  ; cf. 2 Kings 9:16-28 ).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

• The son and successor of Ahab. He followed the counsels of his mother Jezebel, and imitated in wickedness the ways of his father. In his reign the Moabites revolted from under his authority (2Kings 3:5-7). He united with Jehoshaphat in an attempt to revive maritime trade by the Red Sea, which proved a failure (2Chronicles 20:35-37). His messengers, sent to consult the god of Ekron regarding his recovery from the effects of a fall from the roof-gallery of his palace, were met on the way by Elijah, who sent them back to tell the king that he would never rise from his bed (1Kings 22:51; 2 Kings 1:18 ).
• The son of Joram, or Jehoram, and sixth king of Judah. Called Jehoahaz (2Chronicles 21:17; 25:23), and Azariah (2Chronicles 22:6). Guided by his idolatrous mother Athaliah, his reign was disastrous (2Kings 8:24-29; 9:29). He joined his uncle Jehoram, king of Israel, in an expedition against Hazael, king of Damascus; but was wounded at the pass of Gur when attempting to escape, and had strength only to reach Megiddo, where he died (2Kings 9:22-28). He reigned only one year.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("whom Jehovah holds".)

1. Son of Ahab and Jezebel; king of Israel; a worshipper of Jeroboam's calves, and of his mother's idols, Baal and Ashtoreth. After the Israelite defeat at Ramoth Gilead. Syria was master of the region E. of Jordan; so Moab ( 2 Kings 1:1  ; 2 Kings 3:5 ), heretofore tributary to Israel, refused the yearly tribute of 100,000 rams with their wool, and 100,000 lambs ( 2 Samuel 8:2  ; Isaiah 16:1  ; 2 Kings 3:4 ). Ahaziah was prevented by a fall through a lattice in his palace at Samaria from enforcing it; but Jehoram his brother subsequently attempted it. Ahaziah sent to Baalzebub (lord of flies), god of Ekron, to inquire, should he recover? Elijah, by direction of the angel of the Lord, met the messengers, and reproving their having repaired to the idol of Ekron as if there were no God in Israel, announced that Ahaziah should die. The king sent a captain of 50 and his men to take Elijah. At Elijah's word they were consumed by fire. The same death consumed a second captain and his 50.

The third was spared on his supplicating Elijah. Elijah then in person announced to the king what he had already declared to his messenger.

So accordingly Ahaziah died. He was in alliance with Jehoshaphat in building ships at Ezion Geber to go to Tarshish; but the ships were wrecked, the Lord, as He intimated by Eliezer son of Dodavah of Mareshah, thereby manifesting disapproval of the alliance of the godly, with Ahaziah "who did very wickedly. Jehoshaphat therefore, when he built a new fleet of merchant ships (as the phrase "ships of Tarshish" means; the other reading is "had ten ships"), in which undertaking Ahaziah wanted to share, declined further alliance; bitter experience taught him the danger of evil communications ( 1 Corinthians 15:33 ). Let parents and young people beware of affinity with the ungodly, however rich and great ( 2 Corinthians 6:14 , etc.).

2. Nephew of the former. At first viceroy during his father's sickness, then king of Judah, son of Jehoram of Judah and Athaliah, Ahab's cruel daughter ( 2 Kings 9:29 , compare 2 Kings 8:25 ).

Called Jehoahaz ( 2 Chronicles 21:17-19 ). Azariah ("whom Jehovah helps," substantially equivalent to Ahaziah or Jehoahaz by transposition, a name sadly at variance with his character), in 2 Chronicles 22:6 , may be a transcriber's error for Ahaziah. In 2 Chronicles 22:2 , for 42 there should be, as in 2 Kings 8:26 , "twenty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign," for his father Jehoram was only 40 when he died ( 2 Chronicles 21:20 ).

Ahaziah walked in all the idolatries of Ahab his maternal grandfather, his mother being his counselor to do wickedly. He allied himself with Jehoram of Israel, brother of the former Ahaziah (in spite of the warning God gave him in the fatal issue of the alliance of godly Jehoshaphat, his paternal grandfather, with wicked Ahab), against Hazael of Syria at Ramoth Gilead. Jehoram was wounded, and Ahaziah went to see him at Jezreel. There his destruction from God ensued by Jehu, who conspired against Joram. Akin to Ahab in character, as in blood, he might have overspread Judah with the same idolatry as Israel, but for God's intervention.

Fleeing by the garden house, he was smitten in his chariot at the going up to Gur by Ibleam, and he fled to Megiddo and died there.

God's people must separate from the world, lest they share the world's judgments ( Revelation 18:4 ). In 2 Chronicles 22:9 we read Ahaziah was hid in Samaria, brought to Jehu, and slain. The two accounts harmonize thus. Ahaziah fled first to the garden house (Bethgan), and escaped to Samaria where were his brethren; thence brought forth from his hiding place to Jehu, he was mortally wounded in his chariot at the hill Gut beside Iblcam, and reaching Megiddo died there. Jehu allowed Ahaziah's attendants to bury him honorably in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David, "because, said they, he is the son grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart." Otherwise "in Samaria" may mean "in the kingdom of Samaria," or 2 Chronicles 22:9 may mean merely, he attempted to hide in Samaria, but did not reach it. The recurrence of the same names Joram and Ahaziah in both the dynasties of Israel and Judah is a delicate mark of truth, it being the natural result of the intermarriages.

Holman Bible Dictionary

1. The son and successor of Ahab as king of Israel ( 1 Kings 22:40 ). He reigned two years and died after suffering a fall in his palace at Samaria ( 2 Kings 1:2-17 ). The prophet Elijah announced Ahaziah would die because he sent for help from Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, instead of from Yahweh. 2. The son and successor of Jehoram as king of Judah ( 2 Kings 8:25 ). He reigned for one year and died after being wounded as he fled from Jehu while visiting King Joram of Israel ( 2 Kings 9:27 ). These two kings were related to one another. Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah of Judah, was the sister of Ahaziah of Israel. So, Ahaziah of Israel was the uncle of Ahaziah of Judah. See Israel and [[Chronology Of The Biblical Period]] .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

AHAZIAH . Two kings of this name are mentioned in the OT, one in each of the Israelite kingdoms.

1. Ahaziah of Israel was the son of Ahab, and ruled after him only two years or parts of years. He is said to have been a worshipper of Baal, that is, to have continued the religious policy of his father. By a fall from a window of his palace he was seriously injured, and, after lingering awhile, died from the accident. The Moabites, who had been subject to Israel, took this opportunity to revolt. Ahaziah is accused of sending messengers to inquire of the celebrated oracle at Ekron, and is said unexpectedly to have received his answer from Elijah ( 2 Kings 1:1-18 ).

2 . Ahaziah of Judah was son of Jehoram and grandson of Jehoshaphat. Under the influence of his mother, who was a daughter of Ahah and Jezehel, it is not surprising to read that he walked in the ways of Ahab. All that we know of him is that he continued the league with Israel, and that, going to visit his uncle Jehoram in Jezreel, he was involved in his fate at the revolt of Jehu ( 2 Kings 9:27 ).

H. P. Smith.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Ahab and Jezebel. He reigned over Israel two years (B.C. 897-6) and did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, it being remarked of him that he walked in the way of his mother as well as of his father and of Jeroboam. He was a worshipper of Baal; and having injured himself by falling through a lattice he sent to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron. Elijah met the messengers on their road, and turned them back with a message to Ahaziah, reproaching him with his impiety, and telling him he should not recover from his sickness. Ahaziah, on finding by the description the messengers gave that it was Elijah, sent a captain and fifty men to seize him. Elijah called down fire from heaven and they were consumed. Another fifty were sent and they also were consumed. The captain of the third fifty begged Elijah to spare their lives, which he did, and he went with them and delivered the message to Ahaziah. The prediction was verified and he died. The history of this king presents a sad picture of the state of idolatry and wickedness into which Israel had fallen, while professing to be God's people. 1 Kings 22:49,51-53  ; 2 Kings 1:1-18; 2 Chr. 20:35.

2. Son of Jehoram and Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, therefore nephew of the above. He succeeded his father as king of Judah, and reigned one year (B.C. 885). He did wickedly, his mother being his counsellor to his destruction. He formed an alliance with Joram king of Israel and went with him against Hazael king of Syria. Joram was wounded and went to Jezreel to be healed. Ahaziah afterwards went to visit Joram, and God caused his death by Jehu when he cut off the house of Ahab. 2 Kings 8:24-29  ; 2 Kings 9:16-29  ; 2 Chronicles 22:1-9 . He is called AZARIAH in 2 Chronicles 22:6 , and JEHOAHAZ in 2 Chronicles 21:17 . "In proper names," says Fürst, "those of cognate senses were often interchanged." In 2 Kings 8:26 he is said to be 22 years old when he began to reign; but in 2 Chronicles 22:2 it says he was 42. The latter is doubtless a mistake of some copyist, for his father was only 40 years old when he died. 2 Chr. 21:5,20. The Syriac and Arabic copies read 22 in both passages.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Ahaziah ( â-ha-zî'ah ). whom Jehovah holds. 1. The eighth king of Israel; he was the son and successor of Ahab. He reigned two years, alone and with his father, who associated him in the kingdom the year before his death. In the second year of his reign he fell through the lattice of an upper apartment of his palace, and died soon after, as Elijah had foretold, b.c. 895. Ahaziah imitated the impiety of his father and mother in the worship of Baal and Ashteroth. 1 Kings 22:40-51  ; 2 Kings 1:1-18  ; 2 Chronicles 20:35  ; 2 Chronicles 20:37 . 2. The sixth king of Judah; he succeeded his father, and reigned only one year. 2 Kings 8:26 . In 2 Chronicles 22:2 , he is said, by an error of the scribes, to have been "forty-two years old" when he began to reign, which would make him two years older than his father. The correct age is "twenty-two," as stated in 2 Kings 8:16-26 . Ahaziah was governed by his idolatrous mother Athaliah; he received his mortal wound by the command of Jehu, and died at Megiddo, b.c. 883. 2 Kings 9:27 . In 2 Chronicles 22:9 , the circumstances of the death of Ahaziah appear to be stated differently: but the account is only more full, and.follows the order of events. Ahaziah is also called "Jehoahaz," 2 Chronicles 21:17  ; 2 Chronicles 25:23  ; and "Azariah," 2 Chronicles 22:6 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ahazi'ah. (sustained by the Lord).

1. Son of Ahab and Jezebel, eighth king of Israel, reigned B.C. 896-895. After the battle of Ramoth in Gilead, in which Ahab perished, see Ahab , the vassal king of Moab refused his yearly tribute; compare Isaiah 16:1 .

Before Ahaziah could take measures for enforcing his claim, he was seriously injured by a fall through a lattice in his palace at Samaria. Being an idolater, he sent to inquire of the oracle of Baalzebub in the Philistine city of Ekron whether he should recover his health.

But Elijah, who now, for the last time, exercised the prophetic office, rebuked him for this impiety, and announced to him his approaching death. The only other recorded transaction of his reign, his endeavor to join the king of Judah in trading to Ophir, is related under Jehoshaphat . 1 Kings 22:49-53  ; 2 Kings 1:1  ; 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 .

2. Fifth king of Judah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah (daughter of Ahab), and therefore, nephew of the preceding Ahaziah, reigned one year, B.C. 884. He is called Azariah , 2 Chronicles 22:2 , probably by a copyist's error, and Jehoahaz . 2 Chronicles 21:17 .

He was 22 years old at his accession; 2 Kings 8:26  ; (his age 42, in 2 Chronicles 22:2 , is a copyist's error). Ahaziah was an idolater, and he allied himself with his uncle Jehoram, king of Israel, against Hazael, the new king of Syria. The two kings were, however, defeated at Ramoth, where Jehoram was severely wounded.

The revolution, carried out in Israel by Jehu under the guidance of Elisha, broke out while Ahaziah was visiting his uncle at Jezreel. As Jehu approached the town, Jehoram and Ahaziah went out to meet him; the former was shot through the heart by Jehu, and Ahaziah was pursued and mortally wounded. He died when he reached Megiddo.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

the son of Ahab, king of Israel. Ahaziah reigned two years, partly alone, and partly with his father Ahab, who appointed him his associate in the kingdom a year before his death. Ahaziah imitated his father's impieties, 1 Kings 22:52 , &c, and paid his adorations to Baal and Ashtaroth, the worship of whom had been introduced into Israel by Jezebel his mother. The Moabites, who had been always obedient to the kings of the ten tribes, ever since their separation from the kingdom of Judah, revolted after the death of Ahab, and refused to pay the ordinary tribute. Ahaziah had not leisure or power to reduce them, 2 Kings 1:1-2 , &c, for, about the same time, having fallen through a lattice from the top of his house, he was considerably injured, and sent messengers to Ekron to consult Baalzebub, the god of that place, whether he should recover, 2 Kings 1:1-17 . Elijah met the messengers, and informed them he should certainly die; and he died accordingly.

2. AHAZIAH, king of Judah, the son of Jehoram and Athaliah. He succeeded his father in the kingdom of Judah, A.M. 3119; being in the twenty-second year of his age, 2 Kings 8:26 , &c; and he reigned one year only in Jerusalem. He walked in the ways of Ahab's house, to which he was related, his mother being of that family. Joram, king of Israel, 2 Kings 7, going to attack Ramoth Gilead, which the kings of Syria had taken from his predecessors, was there dangerously wounded, and carried by his own appointment to Jezreel, for the purpose of surgical assistance. Ahaziah, Joram's friend and relation, accompanied him in this war, and came afterward to visit him at Jezreel. In the meantime, Jehu, the son of Nimshi, whom Joram had left besieging the fortress of Ramoth, rebelled against his master, and set out with a design of extirpating the house of Ahab, according to the commandment of the Lord, 2 Kings 9. Joram and Ahaziah, who knew nothing of his intentions, went to meet him. Jehu killed Joram dead upon the spot: Ahaziah fled, but Jehu's people overtook him at the going up of Gur, and mortally wounded him; notwithstanding which, he had strength enough to reach Megiddo, where he died. His servants, having laid him in his chariot, carried him to Jerusalem, where he was buried with his fathers, in the city of David.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ā -ha -zı̄´a ( אחזיה , 'aḥazyāh and אחזיהוּ , 'ăḥazyāhū , "Yah holds, or sustains"):

I. Ahaziah

Son of Ahab and Jezebel, eighth king of Israel (1 Ki 22:51 through 2 Ki 1:18).

1. His Reign

Ahaziah became king over Israel in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and he reigned two years, 854-853 bc. There is, here an incongruity between the synchronism and the length of the reigns of the kings. Jehoshaphat began to reign in the fourth year of Ahab ( 1 Kings 22:41 ), and he reigned 22 years ( 1 Kings 16:29 ). Accordingly Ahaziah's first year, in the twenty-second year of Ahab, would fall in the nineteenth year of Jehoshaphat. The chronological statement in 2 Kings 1:17 is probably taken from the Syriac, and both are in harmony wrath a method of computation followed by certain Greek manuscripts.

2. His Character

A good name does not insure a good character. Ahaziah, the "God-sustained," served Baal and worshipped him, and provoked to anger Yahweh, the God of Israel, Just as his father before him had done. He appears to have been weak and unfortunate, and calamities in quick succession pursued him.

3. The Revolt of Moab

Ahab had sought the good and became an enemy to the best. His house and the nation suffered the consequences. "Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab." Ahaziah appears to have been too weak to offer resistance. The Moabite Stone dates the revolt in the days of Ahab. No doubt it began at the time of Ahab's last campaign against Syria.

4. His Maritime Alliance

According to 1 Kings 22:48 f Ahaziah attempted to form an alliance with Jehoshaphat of Judah to revive the ancient maritime traffic, but failed. According to 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 the alliance was consummated, in consequence of which the enterprise came to nothing. See Jehoshaphat .

5. His Sickness and Death

Ahaziah suffered a severe accident by falling through the lattice in his upper apartment in Samaria, and lay sick. As a worthy son of Jezebel and Ahab, he sent messengers to consult Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, regarding his recovery. But Israel belonged to Yahweh. Accordingly the messengers were met by the prophet Elijah who for the last time warns against the corrupting moral influences of the Baal religion. "Thus saith Yahweh, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?' Therefore thou shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt surely die" was the message which he sent back to the embassy, and the death of the king speedily followed.

II. Ahaziah

Sixth king of Judah ( 2 Kings 8:25-29  ; 2 Kings 9:16 f = 2 Chronicles 22:1-9 ); also written Jehoahaz ( 2 Chronicles 21:17  ; 2 Chronicles 25:23 ), which is merely a transposition of the component parts of the compound. The form "Azariah" ( 2 Chronicles 22:6 ) is an error, fifteen Hebrew manuscripts and all the versions reading Ahaziah.

1. His Brief Reign

Ahaziah, youngest son of Jehoram, began to reign in the twelfth year ( 2 Kings 8:25 ) of Jehoram of Israel. In 2 Kings 9:29 it is stated as the eleventh. The former is probably the Hebrew, the latter the Greek method of computation, the Septuagint Luc also reading eleventh in 2 Kings 8:25 . He was 22 years old when he began to reign and he reigned one year ( 2 Kings 8:26 ). The reading "forty two" ( 2 Chronicles 22:2 ) is a scribal error, since according to 2 Chronicles 21:5 , 2 Chronicles 21:20 Jehoram the father was only 40 years old at the time of his death. Syriac, Arabic and Luc read 22, Septuagint Codex Vaticanus 20. See [[Chronology Of The Old Testament]] .

2. His Character

(Compare 2 Kings 8:27  ; 2 Chronicles 22:3 , 2 Chronicles 22:4 .) In view of the disaster which befell the royal house ( 2 Chronicles 21:16 , 2 Chronicles 21:17 ), the inhabitants of Jerusalem placed Ahaziah the youngest son upon the throne. That "he walked in the way of the house of Ahab" is exemplified by Chronicles to the effect that his mother, the daughter of Jezebel, counseled him in the ways of wickedness and that the house of Ahab led him to his destruction. The influence of Jezebel was at work in Judah. Ahaziah dedicated "hallowed things" to Yahweh ( 2 Kings 12:18 ), but he did evil in Yahweh's eyes.

3. His Alliance with Jehoram of Israel

(Compare 2 Kings 8:28 , 2 Kings 8:29  ; 2 Chronicles 22:5 , 2 Chronicles 22:6 .) Ahaziah cultivated the relations which had been established between the two kingdoms by Ahab. Accordingly he joined his uncle Jehoram of Israel in an expedition against Hazael, king of Syria. Ramoth-gilead was captured and held for Israel against the king of Syria ( 2 Kings 9:14 ). However, Jehoram of Israel was wounded and returned to Jezreel to be healed of his wounds. It appears that the army was left in charge of Jehu at Ramoth-gilead. Ahaziah apparently went to Jerusalem and later went down to Jezreel to visit Jehoram. In the meantime Jehu formed a conspiracy against Jehoram.

4. His Death

The death of Ahaziah, as told in 2 Kings 9:16 f, differs from the account in 2 Chronicles 22:7-9 . According to the account in Kings, Ahaziah who is visiting Jehoram, joins him in a separate chariot to meet Jehu. Jehoram suspecting treachery turns to flee, but an arrow from the bow of Jehu pierces his heart and he dies in his chariot. Ahaziah tries to escape, but is overtaken near Ibleam and mortally wounded by one of Jehu's men. He fled to the fortress of Megiddo, where he died. His servants conveyed his body in a chariot to Jerusalem, where he was buried. According to the Chronicler, this account is very much abbreviated ( 2 Chronicles 22:7 f). His destruction is of God because of his alliance with Jehoram. Jehu, who was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, first slew the kinsmen of Ahaziah. He then sought Ahaziah who was hiding in Samaria. When he was found, he was brought to Jehu and put to death. He was buried, but where and by whom we are not told.

That there were other traditions respecting the death of Ahaziah, is proved by Josephus, who says that when Ahaziah was wounded he left his chariot and fled on horseback to Megiddo, where he was well cared for by his servants until he died ( Ant. , IX, vi, 3).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ahaziah, 1

Ahazi´ah (whom Jehovah sustains); son and successor of Ahab, and seventh king of Israel. He reigned two years, B.C. 897, 896. It seems that Jezebel exercised over her son the same influence which had guided her husband; and Ahaziah pursued the evil courses of his father. The most signal public event of his reign was the revolt of the Moabites, who took the opportunity of the defeat and death of Ahab to discontinue the tribute which they had paid to the Israelites. Ahaziah became a party in the attempt of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to revive the maritime traffic by the Red Sea; in consequence of which the enterprise was blasted, and came to nothing ( 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 ). Soon after, Ahaziah, having been much injured by a fall from the roof-gallery of his palace, had the infatuation to send to consult the oracle of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, respecting his recovery. But the messengers were met and sent back by Elijah, who himself announced to the king that he should rise no more from the bed on which he lay ( 1 Kings 22:51 , to 2 Kings 1:18 ).

Ahaziah, 2

Ahaziah, otherwise Jehoahaz, son of Jehoram by Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and sixth king of Judah. He reigned but one year (B.C. 885), and that wickedly, suffering himself in all things to be guided by the wicked counsels of his idolatrous mother, Athaliah. He cultivated the connections which had unhappily grown up between the two dynasties, and which had now been cemented by marriage. Hence he joined his uncle Jehoram of Israel in an expedition against Hazael, king of Damacene-Syria, for the recovery of Ramoth-Gilead; and afterwards paid him a visit while he lay wounded in his summer palace of Jezreel. The two kings rode out in their several chariots to meet Jehu; and when Jehoram was shot through the heart, Ahaziah attempted to escape, but was pursued, and being mortally wounded, had only strength to reach Megiddo, where he died. His body was conveyed by his servants in a chariot to Jerusalem for interment ( 2 Kings 9:28 ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Hebrew Achazyah', אֲחְְזיָה , held by Jehovah, 2 Kings 1:2  ; 2 Kings 9:16  ; 2 Kings 9:23  ; 2 Kings 9:27  ; 2 Kings 9:29  ; 2 Kings 11:2  ; 2 Chronicles 20:35  ; elsewhere in the prolonged form, Achazya'hu, אֲחְְזיָהוּ  ; Sept. Ο᾿χοζίας , but v. r. Ο᾿ζίας in 1 Chronicles 3:11 ), the name of two Jewish kings.

1. The son and successor of Ahab, and ninth king of Israel, who reigned two years (current, B.C. 895-4). Under the influence of his mother, Jezebel, Ahaziah pursued the evil courses of his father. The most signal public event of his reign was the revolt of the vassal king of the Moabites, who took the opportunity of the defeat and death of Ahab to discontinue the tribute which he had paid to the Israelites, consisting of 100,000 lambs and as many rams, with, their wool (comp. Isaiah 16:1 ). The difficulty of enforcing this tribute was enhanced by the fact that after the battle of Ramoth in Gilead, (See Ahab), the Syrians had the command of the country along the east of Jordan, and they cut off all communication between the Israelites and Moabites. Ahaziah became a party in the attempt of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to revive the maritime traffic by the Red Sea, in consequence of which the enterprise was blasted, and came to nothing ( 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 ). Soon after, Ahaziah, having been much injured by a fall from the roof-gallery of his palace, had the infatuation to send to consult the oracle of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, respecting his recovery. But the messengers were met and sent back by Elijah, who announced to the king that he should rise no more from the bed on which he lay ( 1 Kings 22:51 to 2 Kings 1:50). (See [[Kingdom Of Israel]]).

2. The son of Jehoram by Athaliah (daughter of Ahab and Jezebel), and sixth king of the separate kingdom of Judah; otherwise called JEHOAHAZ (See Jehoahaz) ( 2 Chronicles 21:17  ; 2 Chronicles 25:23 ), and AZARIAH (See Azariah) ( 2 Chronicles 22:6 ). In 2 Kings 8:26 , we read that he was 22 years old at his succession, but in 2 Chronicles 22:2 , that his age at that time was 42. The former number is certainly right (comp. 2 Chronicles 22:1 ), as in 2 Chronicles 21:5  ; 2 Chronicles 21:20 , we see that his father Jehoram was 40 when he died, which would make him younger than his own son, so that a transcriber must have confounded כב (22) and מב (42). (See the treatises on this difficulty in Latin by Lilienthal [Regiom. 1750], and in German by Mtihlenfeld [Nordhaus. 1753].) He reigned but one year (B.C. 884-883), and that ill, being guided by his idolatrous mother ( 2 Kings 8:24-29 ). He joined his uncle Jehoram of Israel in an expedition against Hazael, king of Damascene-Syria, for the recovery of Ramloth-Gilead, and afterward paid him a visit while he lay wounded in his summer palace of Jezreel. The two kings rode out in their several chariots to meet Jehu (q.v.); and when Jehoram was shot through the heart Ahaziah attempted to escape, but was pursued as far as the pass of Gur, and being there mortally wounded, had only strength to reach Megiddo, where he died (Guranmiller, Harmonia vitoe A chasiep, Jen. 1717). His body was conveyed by his servants in a chariot to Jerusalem for interment ( 2 Kings 9:22-28 ). The variation in 2 Chronicles 22:7-9 , is not substantial (see Poole's Synopsis, in loc.). It appears from the latter passage that Jehu was right in considering Ahaziah as included in his commission to root out the house of Ahab, his presence in Jezreel at the time of Jehu's operations being an arrangement of Providence for accomplishing his doom. (See Kingdom Of Judah).