2 Chronicles 22: King Ahaziah’s Reign of Wickedness – Clear & Engaging Audio Bible Reading | Murderous Schemes, God’s Justice, and the House of David’s Preservation

Listen to the captivating narrative of 2 Chronicles 22 with this clear and engaging audio recording. This chapter presents the account of King Ahaziah’s short and wicked reign, where he follows in the ways of his evil mother and schemes against the Lord’s anointed Jehu, only to be met with God’s vengeance. Discover the themes of justice, preservation of the House of David, and the consequences of unrighteous leadership in this powerful chapter. Perfect for meditation, study or reflection, immerse yourself in the Scriptures and let them speak to you.

2 CHRONICLES 22 (NIV)

1 The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, king in his
place, since the raiders, who came with the Arabs into the camp, had killed
all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.

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

3 He too followed the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him
to act wickedly.

4 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab
had done, for after his father’s death they became his advisers, to his
undoing.

5 He also followed their counsel when he went with Joram son of Ahab
king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. The
Arameans wounded Joram;

6 so he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds
they had inflicted on him at Ramoth in his battle with Hazael king of Aram.
Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to see Joram
son of Ahab because he had been wounded.

7 Through Ahaziah’s visit to Joram, God brought 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 house of Ahab.

8 While Jehu was executing
judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the officials of Judah and the sons of
Ahaziah’s relatives, who had been attending Ahaziah, and he killed them.

9 He
then went in search of Ahaziah, and his men captured him while he was hiding
in Samaria. He was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they
said, “He was a son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.”
So there was no one in the house of Ahaziah powerful enough to retain the
kingdom.

10 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she
proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah.

11 But
Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole
him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put
him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King
Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid the
child from Athaliah so she could not kill him.

12 He remained hidden with them
at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.