2 Kings 9:29

And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.

And in the eleventh {H259}{H6240}{H8141} year {H8141} of Joram {H3141} the son {H1121} of Ahab {H256} began Ahaziah {H274} to reign {H4427} over Judah {H3063}.

It was in the eleventh year of Yoram the son of Ach'av that Achazyah had begun his rule over Y'hudah.

(In the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab, Ahaziah had become king over Judah.)

And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.

Commentary

Context and Chronology

Second Kings 9:29 provides a chronological note, specifying the beginning of Ahaziah's reign over Judah. This verse acts as a parenthetical clarification, inserted into the narrative of Jehu's bloody purge of the house of Ahab. While Ahaziah's death is recorded earlier in the chapter (2 Kings 9:27), this verse clarifies that his reign officially commenced in the eleventh year of Joram, king of Israel. This synchronistic dating is a common feature throughout the books of Kings, helping to align the parallel histories of the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah). Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram (of Judah) and Athaliah (daughter of Ahab), had allied himself closely with Joram, his uncle and king of Israel, as seen in 2 Kings 8:28. This alliance ultimately led to his entanglement in the divine judgment against the house of Ahab.

Key Themes and Significance

  • Brief Reign and Entanglement: Ahaziah's reign was exceptionally brief, lasting only one year (2 Kings 8:26), and was tragically intertwined with the downfall of the wicked house of Ahab. His presence with Joram at Jezreel positioned him directly in the path of Jehu's divinely appointed mission of judgment.
  • Divine Judgment Fulfilled: This verse, though a simple chronological detail, underscores the unfolding of God's prophetic word. The anointing of Jehu (2 Kings 9:6) was specifically for the purpose of destroying the house of Ahab, and Ahaziah, being related and allied to them, became a casualty of this judgment.
  • Interconnected Histories: The constant cross-referencing of reigns between Israel and Judah highlights their deep, often problematic, political and familial interconnections. Ahaziah's mother, Athaliah, was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, cementing a corrupting influence from Israel upon the royal line of Judah.

Linguistic Insights

The name Ahaziah (ืึฒื—ึทื–ึฐื™ึธื”ื•ึผ, สผฤ‚แธฅazyฤhรป in Hebrew) means "Yahweh has grasped" or "Yahweh has sustained." Ironically, despite the meaning of his name, his reign was short and ended violently, demonstrating that human destiny is not solely determined by a name but by divine will and human choices. Similarly, Joram (ื™ื•ึนืจึธื, Yรดrฤm) means "Yahweh is exalted."

Practical Application

The brief and ill-fated reign of Ahaziah serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unholy alliances and compromised loyalties. His connection to the idolatrous house of Ahab led him directly into the path of divine judgment. For believers today, this narrative emphasizes the importance of choosing wise associations and maintaining separation from corrupting influences, as cautioned in passages like 2 Corinthians 6:14. It also powerfully illustrates God's sovereign hand in history, fulfilling His purposes and executing justice, even through tumultuous political events. Earthly power is fleeting, but God's word endures and His plans prevail.

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

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 21:18

    And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

  • 2 Chronicles 21:19

    And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.

  • 2 Chronicles 22:1

    ยถ 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 22:2

    Forty and two years old [was] Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] Athaliah the daughter of Omri.

  • 2 Kings 8:16

    ยถ And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat [being] then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.

  • 2 Kings 8:24

    And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

  • 2 Kings 8:25

    ยถ In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.
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