2 Chronicles 22
DortAhazia becometh king in his Fathers stead, v.1. &c. He followeth the sins of the house of Achab,3. Visiteth Joram king of Israel that was sick, 6. By this occasion he comes to be slain by Jehu, 8. Athalia having murdered all the Royal seed of the house of Juda, except in Joas, whom Josabath his Aunt had hid, usurpeth the government, 10.
1. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahazia [see above chap.21.on ver.17.] his least [that is, the youngest in years. Compare Gen.19.on vers.31.] son king in his stead: For a hand that were come with the Arabians into the camp, [see hereof above ch.21.16,17.] had slain all the first: [that is, the eldest sons of Joram. Above cha.21.17. it’s only said that these souldiers had carried away the sons of Joram: But here it is now added that they also slew them] Ahazia then the son of Joram king of Juda reigned.
2. Two and fourty years old [Hebr. a son of two and fourty years] was Ahazia when he became king, and he reigned one year at Jerusalem; [to wit, alone, as some do gather from 2 Kings 8.on v.26. Conceiving that a long time before he was held and acknowledged to be king, while his Father was unfit to govern. But how these two places are to be reconciled, is very obscure] and his mothers name was Athalia, a daughter of Omri. [she is likewise so called, 2 Kings 8.v.26. Meaning the daughter of Omri’s son, namely, Achab. See the annotate. On the forementioned place. Grand-children are in scripture called the sons and daughters of their Grand-fathers. See Gen.36.on v.2. yea also of all their Ancestors counted in a straignt or direct line upward, as appeareth Math.1.1 Luke 3:16.]
3. He also walked in the ways of the house of Achab:[To wit, as his Father Joram had done, above ch.21.6.] For his mother was his Councellor, to deal wickedly.
4. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, like the house of Achab: [To wit, those that were of Achabs house] For they were his Counsellors, after the death of his Father, to his destruction. [so is the Hebrew word taken, Exod.12.13. Ezek.25.15. Dan.10.8.]
5. He walked also in their counsel, [That is, he did not only hear their idolatrous counsel, but he did also walk after it] and went with Joram the son of Achab the king of Israel to battle, against Hazael king of Syria, by Ramoth [called also Rama, in the next verse, and 2 King.8.29. See likewise of this city, 1 Kings 4:13.] in Gilead: And the Syrians smotes Joram.
6. And he returned to cause himself to be healed at Jizreel, [A city in the tribe of Issaschar, of which see Jos.19.18. and 1 Kings 4:12, etc.] for (he had) wounds, which they had given him by Rama, [or, there had been smitters, that had smitten him by Rama. Understand by these the Syrians, 2 Kings 9:15.] when he fought against Hazael the King of Syria: And Azaria [otherwise called Ahazia, above v.1. and 2. Item Joahaz, above chap.21.17.] the son of Joram King of Juda came down, to see Joram the son of Achab at Jizreel: For he was sick.
7. Now the treading underfoot of Ahazia [Or, trampling, that is, the destruction of Ahazia, whereby he was subdued, and as it were tramped upon: Whereof see below vers.9.] was of God, [to wit, as of and from a righteous Judge, who is wont to punish the sins of men freely, and not by constrait, committed. Compare herewith 1 Kings 12:15. and the annotate. Thereon] that he came to Joram: [That is, which treading underfoot, or destruction was occasioned thereby, that Ahazia came to Joram, and tarried not at Home] for when he was come, he went out with Joram toward Jehu the son of Nimsi, whom the LORD had anointed, [to wit, by the command which he had given to the Prophet Elia, 1 King.19.16. and which Elia executed by the hand of Elisa, 2 Kings 9 6.] to detroy the house of Achab.
8. So it came to pass when Jehu executed judgement against the house of Achab, [That is, punishment, which God had commanded Jehu to execute upon the house of Achab. So above chap.20.v.9. See the annotate.] that he found the Princes of Juda, and the sons of the brethren of Ahazia, [2 Kings 10:13. they are called the brethren of Ahazia. See the annotate. There] that ministred to Ahazia, and slew them. [compare 2 Kings 10:14.]
9. After that he sought Ahazia, and they caught him, (For he was hid in Samaria) and they brought him to Jehu, and they slew him, [See the exposition of this verse, 2 Kings 9.on v.27.] and buried him; [That is, they suffered him to be carried to Jerusalem, to be buried there] for they said, he is the son of Josaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart: [compare above chap.15.12.] So the house of Ahazia had none that kept power for the Kingdom. [perhaps because they were too young, to whom the kingdom by way of succession did belong, or because Athalia’s power was too great.]
10. When Athalia the mother of Ahazia saw that her son was dead, [See the exposition of this and the following verses, 2 Kings 11.v,1,2,3.] then she gat her up, and destroyed all the royal seed [Hebr. the seed of the kingdom] of the house of Juda.
11. But Josaphat [Hebr. Jehoschabath: Oth. Also called Ichoscheba, 2 Kings 11:2.] the daughter of the king, [namely, of Joram the son of Josaphat, and consequently the sister of Ahazia, 2 Kings 11:2.] took Joas [oth. Called Jehoasch, 2 Kings 12:2.] the son of Ahazia, and stole him from the midst of the Kings sons that were slain; and put him and his nurse [that had given him suck, or as yet gave him suck: For he was but a year old. Compare below chap.23. the annotate. On v.2.] in a bed-chamber: [Hebr. a chamber of beds. See 2 Kings 11 the annotate.on v.2.] So Josaphat the daughter of king Joram, the wise of Jojada [Hebr. Jehojada. See of this man, 2 Kings 11.on v.4.] the Priests; (for she was the sister of Ahazia) hid him from Athalia, (so) that she slew him not.
12. And he was with them hid in the house of God six years; [The meaning is, that Joas with his nurse had secretly been kept, and bred up the high Priest and his wife, in one of the chambers that were at the Temple] and Athalia reigned over the land. [namely, of Juda.]