UNROLL
Night over Jerusalem: the long, plain, flat-roofed temple with its two bronze pillars stands dark and quiet on its hill above the sleeping city, and in one small window of the side rooms along its wall a single faint lamp glows, under a calm deep blue sky with a few stars.

The Book of

2 Chronicles 22

Judah’s king is killed, his mother murders the heirs, and David’s line comes down to one baby hidden in the temple.

12 verses≈ 3 min5 peopleBSB

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1SolomonWisdom asked at Gibeon
  2. 2–5The templeBuilt on Mount Moriah
  3. 6–7DedicationIf My people humble themselves
  4. 8–9Solomon's gloryThe queen of Sheba
  5. 10–16DivisionRehoboam to Asa
  6. 17–20JehoshaphatThe battle is God's
  7. 21–24Dark yearsJehoram to JoashChapter 22
  8. 25–28Proud kingsAmaziah to Ahaz
  9. 29–32HezekiahDoors opened, Passover kept
  10. 33–35Manasseh to JosiahMercy and the Book found
  11. 36Exile and returnMay he go up

Ahaziah Reigns in Judah

Then the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, the youngest son of Jehoram, king in his place, since the raiders who had come into the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah.

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Judah

Ahaziah of Judah · 1 year

  1. Twenty-two, and one year

    Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year.

  2. His mother Athaliah

    His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.

  3. His mother his counselor

    Ahaziah also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in wickedness.

  4. did evil

    As the house of Ahab

    And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for to his destruction they were his counselors after the death of his father.

Ahaziah’s downfall came from God when he went to visit Joram. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

Reflect

Whose counsel?

Ahaziah’s mother “was his counselor in wickedness,” and the house of Ahab were his counselors “to his destruction.” Whose voices shape your decisions most? Write down one voice you need to listen to less, and one you need to seek out.

Jehu Kills the Princes of Judah

So while Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the rulers of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers who were serving Ahaziah, and he killed them.

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.

Question

Quick question

Even in that hour of judgment Ahaziah was given a burial, and the text says why.

Why did they bury Ahaziah?

Athaliah and Joash

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs of the house of Judah.

Night in a lamplit stone passage of the palace in Jerusalem, seen from behind: a young woman with a dark mantle over her head hurries ahead holding a small clay lamp, and an older nurse follows with a baby wrapped tight in a woven blanket against her shoulder, toward a low doorway.
Night in a small, plain lamplit room among the side rooms of the temple: Jehoshabeath kneels by a low wooden bed and lays the wrapped baby in the arms of the seated nurse, while old Jehoiada the priest stands in the low doorway behind them, keeping watch.

But Jehoshabeath daughter of King Jehoram took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and the wife of Jehoiada the priest, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah so that she could not kill him.

0:21

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Soft morning light through a narrow doorway into a plain side room of the temple: a small boy of about five in a white linen tunic sits on a woven mat lining up pebbles, while his nurse spins wool on a bench beside him; through the doorway a bright slice of the empty stone court.

And Joash remained hidden with them in the house of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

2 Chronicles 22:12

Pray

Hidden and kept

Jehoshabeath “stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered.” Thank God for those who protect the weak at cost to themselves. Thank Him that He keeps His promises when they look finished. Pray for children in danger today, and ask Him for courage to shelter those who cannot shelter themselves.

The lamp nearly out

his firstbornhis sons takenthe youngest lefthis motherone escapesJehoshaphatsought the LORDJehoramkilled all hisbrothersTheraidersall his sonsbut oneAhaziahkilled by JehuAthaliahdestroys theroyal heirsJoashone baby,hidden

Whiteboard

Four times David’s line was cut back, until one baby was left, hidden in the house of God. The LORD had promised David a lamp that would not go out, and He kept it burning.

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2 Chronicles 22

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A verse to carry with you

And Joash remained hidden with them in the house of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

2 Chronicles 22:12

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