 1 The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place. For the band of men who came with the Arabians to the camp had killed all the older ones. And Ahaziah the son of King Jehoram of Judah reigned. 2 Ahaziah's dynasty was 42 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab. For his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. 4 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 ruin. 5 He also walked after their advice and went with Jehoram the son of King Ahab of Israel to war against King Hazael of Syria at Ramothgilead. And the Syrians struck Jehoram. 6 He returned to be healed in Jezreel, because of the wounds that were given him at Ramah, when he fought with King Hazael of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of King Jehoram of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick. 7 By coming to Jehoram, the destruction of Ahaziah was of God. He went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. 8 When Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab and found the rulers of Judah and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah the servants of Ahaziah, he killed them. 9 He looked for Ahaziah and caught him for he was hidden in Samaria. They brought him to Jehu and when they had killed him, they buried him because they said, He is the son of Jehoshaphat who looked to the Lord with all his heart. Then the house of Ahaziah had no strength+ left to keep the kingdom. 10 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and spoke to destroy all the royal family of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshabeath the daughter of the king took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons who were killed. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Then Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, the sister of Ahaziah, hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. 12 He was with them six years, hidden in the house of God, and Athaliah reigned over the land.
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