History · Chapter 22 of 36

2 Chronicles 22

Ahaziah, guided by his mother Athaliah, reigns wickedly for one year and dies in Jehu's purge of Ahab's house. Seeing her son dead, Athaliah destroys the royal seed of Judah and seizes the throne. But Jehoshabeath rescues the infant Joash and hides him in the temple for six years while Athaliah reigns, preserving David's endangered line.

What happens in 2 Chronicles 22

After his father's death, Jerusalem makes Ahaziah, the youngest son, king, since raiders had killed the older sons. He reigns only one year, thoroughly badly, for his mother Athaliah, granddaughter of Omri, counsels him toward evil, as does Ahab's house. He joins Joram of Israel in war against Syria, then visits him while he recovers, and there his downfall is arranged by God: he is caught up in Jehu's appointed slaughter of Ahab's dynasty and killed, though buried out of respect for his grandfather Jehoshaphat.

When Athaliah sees her son dead, she moves to destroy all the royal heirs of Judah and rule herself. But Jehoshabeath, a king's daughter and wife of Jehoiada the priest, steals away the infant Joash from among the doomed princes and hides him with his nurse in the temple. There he remains concealed six years while Athaliah reigns over the land.

2 Chronicles 22 in context

This chapter marks the lowest point for David's dynasty. Through the marriage alliance with Ahab, the murderous Athaliah nearly extinguishes the royal line, and for six years no descendant of David sits on the throne.

The Chronicler heightens the danger to underscore how close the covenant promise came to failure, and how a single hidden child preserved it. Jehu's purge fulfills earlier prophecy against Ahab's house.

Main themes of 2 Chronicles 22

2 Chronicles 22 (KJV)

1And 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. 2Forty 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. 3He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. 4Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction. 5He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram. 6And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick. 7And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. 8And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them. 9And 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. 10But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. 11But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. 12And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

Verses to carry from 2 Chronicles 22

“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.”2 Chronicles 22:9

“But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.”2 Chronicles 22:11

“And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.”2 Chronicles 22:12

Reflection

The whole covenant hung on one hidden child and one woman's courage. Where might God be calling you to a quiet, costly act of faithfulness whose importance you cannot yet see? Trust that God preserves his purposes, often through small people in dark times, and that no evil can finally sever his promise.

A prayer from 2 Chronicles 22