2 Chronicles 22:9

And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he [is] the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.

And he sought {H1245} Ahaziah {H274}: and they caught {H3920} him,(for he was hid {H2244} in Samaria {H8111},) and brought {H935} him to Jehu {H3058}: and when they had slain {H4191} him, they buried {H6912} him: Because, said {H559} they, he is the son {H1121} of Jehoshaphat {H3092}, who sought {H1875} the LORD {H3068} with all his heart {H3824}. So the house {H1004} of Ahaziah {H274} had no power {H3581} to keep {H6113} still the kingdom {H4467}.

Then he went searching for Achazyah; they caught him where he had been hiding in Shomron, brought him to Yehu and killed him. But [his subjects] buried him, because they said, "He was the [grand]son of Y'hoshafat, who sought ADONAI with all his heart." At this point there was no one in the house of Achazyah strong enough to rule the kingdom.

Then Jehu looked for Ahaziah, and Jehu’s soldiers captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. So Ahaziah was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart.” So no one was left from the house of Ahaziah with the strength to rule the kingdom.

And he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (now he was hiding in Samaria), and they brought him to Jehu, and slew him; and they buried him, for they said, He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Jehovah with all his heart. And the house of Ahaziah had no power to hold the kingdom.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 22:9 (KJV) describes the dramatic end of King Ahaziah of Judah, caught in the sweeping purge initiated by Jehu against the wicked house of Ahab in Israel.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is set amidst a turbulent period in the history of the divided kingdom. King Ahaziah of Judah, the son of Jehoram and Athaliah (daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel), was deeply enmeshed with the idolatrous northern kingdom. His reign, though short, was marked by following the evil ways of his mother's family (2 Chronicles 22:3-4). When Ahaziah visited King Joram of Israel (Ahab's son) in Jezreel, he became an unintended target of Jehu's divinely appointed mission to eradicate the entire house of Ahab (2 Kings 9-10). Ahaziah attempted to flee but was apprehended in Samaria.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: Ahaziah's death is a direct consequence of his association with the house of Ahab, demonstrating God's unwavering judgment against wickedness and idolatry. His family's ungodly alliances, particularly his mother Athaliah's lineage, brought ruin.
  • The Power of a Righteous Legacy: Despite Ahaziah's personal wickedness, he was granted a burial because he was the grandson of King Jehoshaphat, a king renowned for having "sought the LORD with all his heart." This highlights how the positive legacy of a righteous ancestor could offer a measure of mercy or respect, even to a wayward descendant.
  • Instability of Ungodly Rule: The phrase "So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom" underscores the inherent instability and ultimate collapse of dynasties that do not honor God. Ahaziah's brief reign and violent end signify the end of a stable line of succession for his particular branch of David's house.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "sought the LORD with all his heart" regarding Jehoshaphat is significant. In Hebrew, "sought the LORD" (darash Yahweh) implies a deep, earnest, and continuous pursuit of God's will and presence. The addition of "with all his heart" emphasizes total devotion and commitment, a characteristic highly praised in the Chronicler's narrative, distinguishing truly righteous kings from those who offered only superficial obedience.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a sober reminder about the choices we make and their far-reaching consequences. It emphasizes the importance of:

  • Choosing Godly Associations: Ahaziah's alliances led to his downfall. We are called to be discerning about our closest relationships and influences, as they can profoundly impact our spiritual journey and destiny (1 Corinthians 15:33).
  • Living a Personal Legacy: While Ahaziah benefited from Jehoshaphat's legacy, his own actions ultimately determined his fate. Each individual is accountable for their own walk with God, regardless of their family's spiritual heritage.
  • Understanding Divine Justice: God's justice is thorough and extends to those who align themselves with wickedness, even if they appear to be powerful. Ultimately, only God's kingdom is unshakeable.
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 14:13

    And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found [some] good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.

  • 2 Kings 9:27

    But 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.

  • 2 Kings 9:28

    And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David.

  • 2 Chronicles 21:20

    Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.

  • 2 Chronicles 22:1

    ¶ And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.

  • 2 Chronicles 17:3

    And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;

  • 2 Chronicles 17:4

    But sought to the [LORD] God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
← Back