Ahaziah (of Judah)
Ahaziah was a king of Judah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah, who reigned only one year and followed the counsel of the house of Ahab to do evil. Allied with Joram of Israel against the Arameans, he went to visit the wounded Joram at Jezreel and was caught up in Jehu's purge, dying at Jehu's hand. His death opened the way for his mother Athaliah to usurp Judah's throne.
Biography
- Occupation
- King of Judah
- Tribe
- Judah
- Father
- Jehoram
- Mother
- Athaliah
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
- Nationality
- Israelite (Judah)
Family
Did You Know?
Ahaziah of Judah reigned only one year and died young, caught up in Jehu's purge of the house of Ahab because his mother Athaliah had bound Judah's royal family to the northern dynasty.
His death created the power vacuum his mother Athaliah exploited to seize the throne and slaughter the royal seed - nearly extinguishing the line of David (2 Kings 11:1).
He shares his name and era with Ahaziah of Israel, and the two kingdoms' royal houses were so intermarried in this period that their kings repeatedly campaigned and died together.
Key Chapters
Key Passages
Ahaziah's Alliance and Death
2 Kings 9:27-29
Fleeing Jehu's revolt, Ahaziah is struck down, ending his brief and evil reign.
27ut when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.