### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **ʼĂchazyâh**, represented by `{{H274}}`, means **Jah has seized**. It appears **37 times** across **30 unique verses** in the Bible. This name is given to two prominent kings, one ruling the northern kingdom of Israel and the other ruling the southern kingdom of Judah, both of whose reigns were marked by turmoil and divine judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The biblical narrative features two kings named **Ahaziah**. The first, the son of Ahab, became king of Israel in Samaria [[1 Kings 22:51]]. After a fall, he foolishly **sent** messengers to **enquire** of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, leading to a prophecy of his death [[2 Kings 1:2]]. The second **Ahaziah**, son of Jehoram, reigned over Judah [[2 Kings 8:24]]. He allied himself with Joram, king of Israel, and went out to meet Jehu [[2 Kings 9:21]]. When Jehu struck down Joram, **Ahaziah** of Judah **fled**, but he was pursued, **smitten** in his chariot, and ultimately **died** at Megiddo [[2 Kings 9:27]]. His death prompted his mother, Athaliah, to destroy the royal family, though his infant son Joash was hidden and saved [[2 Kings 11:1-2]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words highlight the key actions and themes surrounding the lives of the two kings named **Ahaziah**:
* `{{H4427}}` **mâlak** (to reign): This word establishes their royal status. **Ahaziah** son of Ahab **began to reign** over Israel in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat [[1 Kings 22:51]], while **Ahaziah** son of Jehoram **began to reign** over Judah in the twelfth year of Joram [[2 Kings 8:25]].
* `{{H2266}}` **châbar** (to join): This term signifies the dangerous alliances formed by the kings. Jehoshaphat of Judah was rebuked by a prophet because he had **joined** himself with **Ahaziah** of Israel, leading to the destruction of his ships [[2 Chronicles 20:37]].
* `{{H1875}}` **dârash** (to seek or ask): This action reveals a critical spiritual failure. After his injury, **Ahaziah** of Israel chose to **enquire** of a false god rather than the Lord [[2 Kings 1:2]]. This stands in contrast to his ancestor Jehoshaphat, who was known as one who **sought** the Lord with all his heart [[2 Chronicles 22:9]].
* `{{H5221}}` **nâkâh** (to smite): This verb marks the violent end of **Ahaziah** of Judah's reign. Jehu commanded his men, "**Smite** him also in the chariot," an order they carried out [[2 Kings 9:27]]. This word also describes the wounds Joram received from the Syrians, which **Ahaziah** went to see him for, leading him to his own demise [[2 Kings 8:29]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of the accounts of `{{H274}}` is significant, serving as a powerful lesson on divine judgment and faithfulness.
* **Consequences of Unholy Alliances:** The destruction of **Ahaziah** of Judah was explicitly "of God by coming to Joram," because he went out with Jehoram against Jehu, whom the Lord had anointed to **cut off** the house of Ahab [[2 Chronicles 22:7]]. Similarly, the alliance between Jehoshaphat and **Ahaziah** of Israel was met with divine disapproval and failure ([[2 Chronicles 20:35]], [[2 Chronicles 20:37]]).
* **Divine Judgment for Idolatry:** The first act recorded of **Ahaziah** of Israel's reign after his injury was to seek a pagan deity, an act that sealed his fate [[2 Kings 1:2]]. The pursuit and death of **Ahaziah** of Judah was a direct result of Jehu carrying out God's judgment on the house of Ahab, with which **Ahaziah** was associated by blood and alliance ([[2 Kings 8:26]], [[2 Kings 9:27]]).
* **God's Sovereign Preservation of the Royal Line:** After **Ahaziah** of Judah was killed, his own mother attempted to wipe out the line of David [[2 Kings 11:1]]. However, his son Joash was **stolen** away and **hid** [[2 Chronicles 22:11]], preserving the lineage through which the Messiah would come. This demonstrates that even in the midst of wickedness and chaos, God's ultimate plan cannot be thwarted.
### Summary
In summary, the name `{{H274}}` **ʼĂchazyâh** is attached to two kings whose stories are cautionary tales. The meaning "Jah has seized" is poignantly ironic, as both rulers were seized by judgment for their unfaithfulness. The account of **Ahaziah** of Israel illustrates the folly of seeking help from anyone but the Lord, while the story of **Ahaziah** of Judah demonstrates the fatal consequences of being **joined** with the wicked. Their brief and violent reigns stand as a stark reminder of the importance of undivided loyalty to God.
TRV