2 Chronicles 22

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.

1The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, king in his place. They did this because a band of raiders who had come into the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram began to rule as king of Judah.

2Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.

2Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for one year. His mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri.

3He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab; for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.

3He also followed the examples of King Ahab’s family, because his mother encouraged him to do wicked things.

4And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did the house of Ahab; for they were his counsellors after the death of his father, to his destruction.

4He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just like the family of Ahab had done. After his father died, they became his advisors, and they led him to his ruin.

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 Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians wounded Joram.

5Following their advice, he joined King Joram son of Ahab of Israel in a war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. During the battle, the Arameans wounded Joram.

6And he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which they had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

6Joram returned to the city of Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received at Ramah in his battle with King Hazael of Aram. Then King Ahaziah son of Jehoram of Judah went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab because he was wounded.

7Now the destruction of Ahaziah was of God, in that he went unto Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom Jehovah had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

7God used this visit to Joram to bring about Ahaziah’s downfall. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the family of Ahab.

8And it came to pass, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, that he found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, ministering to Ahaziah, and slew them.

8While Jehu was carrying out God’s judgment on the family of Ahab, he found the leaders of Judah and the relatives of Ahaziah who served him, and he killed them.

9And he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (now he was hiding in Samaria), and they brought him to Jehu, and slew him; and they buried him, for they said, He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Jehovah with all his heart. And the house of Ahaziah had no power to hold the kingdom.

9Then Jehu searched for Ahaziah. His men found him hiding in Samaria and brought him to Jehu, who put him to death. They buried him, however, because they said, 'He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.' So there was no one left in Ahaziah’s family who was strong enough to rule the kingdom.

10Now 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.

10When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she went to work to destroy the entire royal family of Judah.

11But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in the 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.

11But Jehoshabeath, the king's daughter, took Joash, the young son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from the other princes who were about to be killed. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehoshabeath (the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest) was Ahaziah’s sister, she kept the boy hidden from Athaliah so she could not kill him.

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

12Joash remained hidden with them in the Temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.