2 Chronicles 22 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

2 Chronicles 22 Short Summary:

Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram of Judah, became king after his father’s death. He reigned for only one year, before the Lord removed him. He was wicked and followed the counsel of the evil house of Ahab. God used a man named Jehu to kill both Ahaziah and Jehoram (Joram) the king of Israel. After Ahaziah’s death, his mother, Athaliah, killed the royal family and seized power for herself. But she failed to kill one of Ahaziah’s sons, Joash, an oversight that would lead to her downfall 7 years later.

2 Chronicles 22 Extended Summary

WHEN:

• Ahaziah reigned over Judah for 1 year, in approximately 885 B.C.

• Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, ruled Judah for 6 years immediately following her son’s death.

KEY CHARACTERS:

• Ahaziah – He became king of Judah after the death of his father, King Jehoram of Judah.

• Athaliah – The mother of Ahaziah who took control of Judah after her son was killed.

• Jehoram (Joram) of Israel – Jehoram was the king of Israel (the northern kingdom). This Jehoram is a different Jehoram than the father of Ahaziah whose reign we discussed in 2 Chronicles 21.

• Jehu – God appointed Jehu to purge Israel of the evil influence of Ahab. He killed the reigning king of Israel and Judah and claimed the throne of Israel for himself. You can read more about Jehu in 2 Kings 9-10.

• Joash – Ahaziah’s son who survived the murder of the royal family.

• Jehoshabeath (Jehosheba) – She saved baby Joash from the murderous hand of Athaliah.

WHERE:

• Ramoth-gilead - Jehoram (Joram) of Israel was injured while battling with the Syrians at Ramoth-gilead.

• Jezreel – A city in the territory of the Tribe of Issachar. Ahaziah visited Jehoram (Joram) of Israel at Jezreel.

• Jerusalem – The capital of the Kingdom of Israel and the location of God’s Temple.

OUTLINE:

• AHAZIAH’S SHORT REIGN IN JUDAH (22:1-9):

  • Jehoram of Judah only had one living son, Ahaziah, so he was made king in his father’s place.

  • He was 22 years old when he started his reign, but he only reigned 1 year.

  • The text says, he “walked in the ways of the house of Ahab,” (he was not a godly man).

  • His mother, Athaliah, and her relatives in the house of Ahab were Ahaziah’s advisors. They did not counsel him well, and their advice led to his downfall.

  • He followed their counsel and allied himself with Jehoram (Joram) of Israel when he went to battle against the Syrians at Ramoth-gilead.

  • Jehoram (Joram) of Israel was injured in the battle with the Syrians and brought back to Jezreel to heal. Ahaziah traveled to Jezreel to visit him.

  • This visit was ordained by the Lord because the Lord planned to destroy the house of Ahab and all it’s allies.

  • God selected a man named Jehu to purge the land of Ahab’s evil influence.  

  • Jehu killed Jehoram (Joram) of Israel, Ahaziah of Judah, all of Ahab’s relatives, and some of the princes of Judah related to Ahaziah.

• ATHALIAH TAKES CONTROL OF JUDAH (22:10-12):

  • When Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, heard that her son had been killed, she took measures to secure power for herself.

  • She killed the royal family of Judah and made herself the de facto leader.

  • But unknown to Athaliah, one of Ahaziah’s sons, a baby named Joash, escaped the slaughter.

  • Joash was hidden in the Temple by Jehoshabeath, Ahaziah’s sister, for 6 years.
    

APPLICATION:

• During these years, the shadow of evil darkened the lands of Israel and Judah.

• Both nations were far from God and ruled by very wicked people.

• It may have seemed to many that God’s light had been extinguished.

• But in the heart of the darkness, God was kindling a fire of revival for Judah. Joash would soon take the throne from Athaliah and restore love for God in the nation.

• Evil will not win, it cannot win. Darkness will eventually be banished by the light.

• There will be dark periods, but there is no darkness that can extinguish the light of Christ.