Parallel Passages:
2 Kings 9:27-29 = 2 Chronicles 22:1-9
2 Kings 11:1 = 2 Chronicles 22:10
2 Kings 11:2-12 = 2 Chronicles 22:11-23:11
2 Kings 11:13-21 = 2 Chronicles 23:12-21
BACKGROUND
We left the story of the kings of Judah and the murder of Ahaziah by Jehu at 2 Kings 9:27-37 to talk about the descendants of Ahab. Now we are picking up this story which parallels 2 Chronicles 22-23. Some of this background will be a review from a previous post just to refresh your memory or to fill in the blanks if you are just reading 2 Chronicles alone.
Ahaziah of Judah- 2 Kings 8:24-9:29; 2
Chronicles 22:1-9
Reigned: 841 B.C. for 1 yearCharacter: BadOverlap with Israel's King: Jehoram (Joram) (852-841 B.C.)Manner of Death: Murdered by Jehu
Ahaziah "walked in the ways of the
house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had
done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab's family" (2
Kings 8:27).
His "mother’s name was Athaliah, the
granddaughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his
mother was his counselor to do wickedly. He did evil in the sight of the Lord
like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his
father, to his destruction" (2 Chronicles 22:2-4).
Since all of Jehoram’s older sons were killed, his younger son, Ahaziah, became king in 841 B.C. at 22 years old. Influenced by his mother, he did evil. Also, he followed the counsel of the house of Ahab in Israel and went to war aligned with King Joram of Israel. When Ahaziah went to visit King Joram after he was wounded in battle with the Arameans, he was killed by Jehu, whom God had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab (1 King 19:8-18). He only reigned for one year.
Queen Athaliah of Judah - 2 Chronicles 22:10-23:21; 2 Kings 11:1-20
Reigned: 841-835 B.C. 6 yearsThe Queen Mother Athaliah (daughter of Ahab) seized the opportunity to take control of the throne of Judah. She reigned from 841-835 B.C. She tried to kill all the royal princes because she had no desire to see the Davidic kingdom continue. Without the Davidic kingdom, there would be no Messiah! Thankfully, Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister to King Ahaziah saved her nephew, Joash, and protected him in the temple (she was married to the high priest, Jehoida) for six years at which time he had Joash anointed as king and Athaliah executed.
Character: Devilish
Overlap with Israel's King: Jehu (841-814 B.C.)
Manner of Death: Murdered by an army
REFLECTION
There are no words for a woman who would want to kill her own grandchildren! Such callousness is unfathomable! She is a “chip off the old block” because Jezebel was her mother.
PRAYER
Lord, we worship You as our God and King. Remove idolatry and evil far from us. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
3 comments:
Carol,
How true. We also know that God designed and created women, females, to protect and nurture their offsprings, which extends to grandchildren.
Even my 20 month old female toddler, instinctively nurtures her little doll and teddy bear by hugging and patting the backs gently. She does this to me too.
Compared to men, we are more soft and cuddly, thanks to our greater body fat. This enables us to snuggle with our young. I think I may be getting off on a bunny trail.
On the news recently was a woman on trial for killing one of her daughter's play mates. Guess she had a Jezebel spirit.
God's word tells us there is nothing new under the sun.
I still am shocked over someone who would want to kill her own grandchildren!
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