1. The people of Jerusalem made his youngest son Ahaziah king in his place. For the army of men who came with the Arabs to the tents had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah, the son of King Jehoram of Judah, began to rule.
2. He was twenty-two years old when he became king. And he ruled for one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, the grand-daughter of Omri.
3. Ahaziah walked in the ways of those of Ahab's house. For his mother talked him into doing sinful things.
4. He did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord, as those of Ahab's house had done. For after his father's death, they talked with him about what to do, and so caused him to be destroyed.
5. He did what they told him to do. He went with Jehoram the son of King Ahab of Israel to fight a war against King Hazael of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. But the Syrians hurt Jehoram.
6. So he returned to Jezreel to be healed of the cuts he had received at Ramah, when he fought against King Hazael of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
7. But it was planned by God that Ahaziah would be destroyed by going to Jehoram. For when he came, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi. Jehu was the one the Lord had chosen to destroy the family of Ahab.
8. When Jehu was punishing the family of Ahab, he found the sons of kings of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers. They were helping Ahaziah. And Jehu killed them.
9. Then he looked for Ahaziah, and he was found hiding in Samaria. He was brought to Jehu, and was put to death. Then they buried him, for they said, "He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who followed the Lord with all his heart." So there was no one left of Ahaziah's house who was able to rule the nation.
10. When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she went and destroyed all the king's children of the family of Judah.
11. But Jehoshabeath, the king's daughter, took Ahaziah's son Joash. She stole him from among the king's sons who were being killed. And she put him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the religious leader, and sister of Ahaziah, hid Joash from Athaliah, so she could not kill him.
12. Joash was hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah ruled over the land.