1 Kings 22:52,53

III. FAITHLESS AHAZIAH AND FEARLESS ELIJAH

1 Kings 22:52, 2 Kings 1:18

The last public, i.e., official, prophetic appearance of Elijah occurred during the brief reign of Ahaziah the son of Ahab. After a brief note summarizing the wicked reign of Ahaziah (1 Kings 22:52-53); the author discusses the desperate illness of this king (2 Kings 1:1-8), and his efforts to arrest Elijah (2 Kings 22:9-15). The section closes with Elijah's predictions concerning Ahaziah (2 Kings 22:16-18).

A. THE WICKEDNESS OF AHAZIAH 22:52-54

TRANSLATION

(52) Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to rule over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years. (52) And he did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. (54) For he served Baal, and bowed down to him, and provoked the LORD God of Israel, according to all which his father had done.

COMMENTS

The introductory note to the brief reign of Ahaziah the son of Ahab is summarized in the chart below. Nothing further need be said except that the author points the finger at Jezebel as being one of the reasons for the evil direction which this king took (1 Kings 22:52). It would appear that this wicked woman continued to have a powerful influence even after her husband was dead. Ahaziah, just like his father, provoked the Lord to anger by his adherence to the Baal cult (1 Kings 22:53).

Eighth King of Israel
AHAZIAM BEN AHAB
853-852 B.C.
(whom Yabweb holds)

1 Kings 22:40; 1 Kings 22:49; 1 Kings 22:51; 2 Kings 1

Synchronism
Ahaziah 1 = Jehoshaphat 17
Contemporary Prophet
Elijah

The fear of the Lord prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. Proverbs 10:27