2 Chronicles 22

1Jerusalem's residents installed his youngest son Ahaziah as king in his stead, because the raiding company that came with the Arabians to the camp had killed all the older sons. Ahaziah son of Jehoram, king of Judah, then reigned.

2Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah daughter of Omri.

3He also walked in the ways of Ahab's house, for his mother was his counselor to act wickedly.

4He did evil in Yahweh's sight, like Ahab's house, for they were his counselors after his father's death, to his destruction.

5He also followed their counsel and went with Jehoram, son of Ahab king of Israel, to battle against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-Gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram.

6He went back to Jezreel to recover from the wounds inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought Hazael king of Aram. Azariah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to visit Jehoram son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was ill.

7Ahaziah's destruction came from God by going to Joram, and when he arrived he went out with Jehoram against Jehu son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

8When Jehu judged against the house of Ahab, he found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers who served Ahaziah, and killed them.

9He sought Ahaziah, and they captured him while he was hiding in Samaria; they brought him to Jehu and killed him, then buried him, because they said, "He is the son of Jehoshaphat who sought Yahweh with all his heart." Ahaziah's house had no strength to hold the kingdom.

10Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, saw that her son was dead, so she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring of Judah's house.

11Jehoshabeath the king's daughter took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons who were killed, placing him and his nurse in a bedchamber. Jehoshabeath, daughter of King Jehoram, wife of Jehoiada the priest—for she was Ahaziah's sister—hid him from Athaliah so she did not kill him.

12He was with them, hidden in the house of God for six years, and Athaliah reigned over the land.