1 Kings 22:52

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:

And he did {H6213} evil {H7451} in the sight {H5869} of the LORD {H3068}, and walked {H3212} in the way {H1870} of his father {H1}, and in the way {H1870} of his mother {H517}, and in the way {H1870} of Jeroboam {H3379} the son {H1121} of Nebat {H5028}, who made Israel {H3478} to sin {H2398}:

He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, living in the manner of his father, his mother and Yarov'am the son of N'vat, by which he led Isra'el into sin.

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherein he made Israel to sin.

Commentary

1 Kings 22:52 delivers a concise and damning verdict on King Ahaziah of Israel, the son of the notorious King Ahab. This verse establishes that Ahaziah continued the legacy of wickedness and idolatry that characterized his parents' reign and the Northern Kingdom of Israel from its very beginning.

Context

This verse immediately follows the death of King Ahab and the ascension of his son, Ahaziah, to the throne of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 22:51). Ahaziah's reign was short, lasting only two years (2 Kings 1:2). His father, Ahab, was arguably one of Israel's most wicked kings, largely influenced by his Phoenician wife, Jezebel, who aggressively promoted Baal worship throughout the land (1 Kings 18:19). This verse highlights that Ahaziah did not deviate from his parents' corrupt path. Furthermore, it connects his wickedness to the foundational sin of the Northern Kingdom: the idolatry introduced by its first king, Jeroboam, who set up golden calves for worship in Dan and Bethel, diverting people from true worship in Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:28-30).

Key Themes

  • Hereditary Sin and Influence: Ahaziah's actions demonstrate the powerful, negative influence of his parents, Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 21:25). He inherited not only the throne but also their spiritual corruption and idolatrous practices, showing how sin can be passed down or readily adopted.
  • The Sin of Jeroboam: The phrase "who made Israel to sin" is a recurring condemnation throughout the Books of Kings, signifying the persistent and institutionalized idolatry that plagued the Northern Kingdom from its inception. Ahaziah perpetuated this national apostasy by upholding the golden calf worship.
  • Divine Judgment: The opening phrase, "he did evil in the sight of the LORD," is a standard biblical assessment of kings in Israel and Judah, indicating their failure to uphold God's covenant and commandments. It serves as a consistent divine verdict on their reign and choices.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "did evil in the sight of the LORD" (Hebrew: ra'a b'eine Yahweh) is a common biblical idiom used to describe actions that violate God's law and moral standards. It signifies a profound spiritual and moral failure from God's perspective, often leading to divine consequences. The addition "made Israel to sin" emphasizes the corrupting influence of leadership, where a king's personal choices directly led the entire nation astray from true worship and obedience to the Lord.

Practical Application

This verse offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • The Weight of Influence: Leaders, parents, and individuals all wield influence, whether positive or negative. This verse is a stark reminder of the responsibility that comes with leadership and the potential for negative patterns to be passed down through generations if not consciously broken.
  • Consequences of Compromise: Ahaziah's failure to break from the idolatry of his predecessors highlights the danger of spiritual compromise and the importance of unwavering commitment to God's truth, even when it's unpopular or goes against cultural norms.
  • Accountability: Regardless of upbringing or external pressures, every individual, especially those in positions of authority, is ultimately accountable to God for their actions and choices. The consistent divine judgment on kings throughout Scripture underscores this universal principle.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 15:26

    And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

  • 1 Kings 21:25

    But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.

  • 1 Kings 16:30

    And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that [were] before him.

  • 1 Kings 16:33

    And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.

  • 2 Kings 9:22

    And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, [Is it] peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts [are so] many?

  • 2 Chronicles 22:3

    He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.

  • 2 Kings 8:27

    And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as [did] the house of Ahab: for he [was] the son in law of the house of Ahab.
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