2 Chronicles 22:1 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

2 Chronicles 22:1 kjv

And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.

2 Chronicles 22:1 nkjv

Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place, for the raiders who came with the Arabians into the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, reigned.

2 Chronicles 22:1 niv

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 Chronicles 22:1 esv

And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.

2 Chronicles 22:1 nlt

Then the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram's youngest son, their next king, since the marauding bands who came with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram reigned as king of Judah.

2 Chronicles 22 1 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
2 Chr 21:14-15	The Lord will strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions... You yourself will be stricken...	Elijah's prophecy against Jehoram for wickedness.
2 Chr 21:16-17	The Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians... They carried away all... and his sons...	Direct fulfillment leading to Ahaziah's ascension.
Lev 26:16	I will appoint over you a panic, consumption, and fever that waste the eyes... You shall sow your seed in vain...	Consequences of covenant disobedience.
Deut 28:25	The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You shall go out against them one way and flee before them seven ways.	National defeat as judgment for apostasy.
Psa 9:16	The LORD is known by the justice He executes; the wicked are snared by the work of their own hands.	God's justice in action.
Prov 1:31	They shall eat the fruit of their own way, and have their fill of their own devices.	Individuals experience the consequences of sin.
Dan 2:21	He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge...	God's absolute sovereignty over earthly rulers.
Psa 75:6-7	Exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west... But God is the judge; He brings one down, He exalts another.	Divine control over leadership.
1 Sam 16:10-12	Samuel called Jesse's sons... but the LORD said... Rise and anoint him, for this is he.	God chooses the least expected/youngest successor.
Rom 13:1	Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist...	All authority is divinely permitted or appointed.
Isa 45:7	I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.	God's sovereign control includes calamitous events.
2 Chr 22:3-4	He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. So he did what was evil...	Shows the influence and negative trajectory of Ahaziah's reign.
Exo 34:7	Keeping steadfast love for thousands... but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children.	Transgenerational consequences of sin.
Num 14:18	The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love... visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third...	Divine judgment can impact subsequent generations.
Prov 29:12	If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.	Negative impact of wicked leadership on administration.
Psa 146:3	Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.	Warns against relying on human leaders.
Isa 2:22	Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Of what account are they?	Emphasizes the transient and weak nature of humans.
Jas 4:14	Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time...	Human life's brevity and uncertainty.
Psa 103:15-16	As for man, his days are like grass... for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.	Illustrates human fragility.
1 Kings 16:1-4	I will consume the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house... He set his face against the house of Jeroboam...	God's judgment leading to the cutting off of royal lines.
Hos 8:4	They made kings, but not through me; they set up princes, but I knew it not.	Reflects human action, but also divine assent or allowance.
Jer 22:30	Write this man down as childless... For no man of his offspring shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David...	Divine decree against a wicked king's lineage.

2 Chronicles 22 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

2 Chronicles 22 1 Meaning

This verse describes the unexpected succession of Ahaziah as king of Judah. It states that the people of Jerusalem appointed him king in place of his father, Jehoram, because a band of raiders, specifically those who came with the Arabians, had killed all of Jehoram's older sons. Thus, Ahaziah, being the youngest and the only surviving heir, ascended the throne.

2 Chronicles 22 1 Context

2 Chronicles 22:1 stands at a critical juncture, directly following the deeply negative account of King Jehoram of Judah in Chapter 21. Jehoram's reign was characterized by extreme wickedness: he followed the ways of the kings of Israel, made alliances with the house of Ahab through marriage to Athaliah, and encouraged idolatry, even killing his own brothers to solidify his power. Because of this apostasy, the prophet Elijah sent a letter prophesying divine judgment upon Jehoram and his house: a great plague, loss of his family, and a terrible disease. Chapter 21 concludes with the invasion by the Philistines and Arabians, who plundered Jerusalem, carried off Jehoram's wives, and slew all his sons except the youngest, Jehoahaz (who is Ahaziah, named later in this verse). Jehoram himself then died a painful death. Verse 1 of chapter 22, therefore, details the immediate consequence of this judgment – the succession by the sole remaining, youngest heir – underscoring that Ahaziah's rise to power was not a normal hereditary progression but a direct result of God's severe judgment on Jehoram's sin, leaving the people of Jerusalem to respond to this vacuum of leadership.

2 Chronicles 22 1 Word analysis

And the inhabitants of Jerusalem: In Hebrew, "Wayoševê Yerušālayim" (וְיֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם). This phrase signifies that the prominent citizens or leading men of the capital city took the initiative to ensure the continuation of the monarchy. Their active role was unusual for a direct hereditary succession but became necessary given the drastic circumstances.
made Ahaziah: "Yimlîḵū ’Ăḥazyāhû" (יַמְלִיכוּ אֲחַזְיָהוּ). "Yimlîḵū" (made...king) implies that they caused him to reign, affirming his kingship in a moment of crisis. "Ahaziah" means "Yahweh has grasped" or "Yahweh sustains." It's notable that in 2 Chronicles 21:17, he is referred to as "Jehoahaz" (Yahweh has seized/possessed). These name variations are common in ancient Near Eastern texts and the Bible, often having similar meanings and referring to the same person.
his youngest son: "Qātōn bānāyw" (קָטֹן בָּנָיו). This specific detail highlights the devastating impact of the prior attack. It was not just some sons, but all the "great ones" or "eldest" were killed, leaving only the "small" or "youngest" as the sole survivor. This emphasizes the divine pruning of Jehoram's wicked lineage.
in his stead: "Taḥtâw" (תַּחְתָּיו). A standard Hebrew preposition used for succession, meaning "in his place" or "under him."
for the band of men: "Kî hagdûd" (כִּי הַגְּדוּד). "Gedud" (band/troop) indicates a raiding party or a marauding band. The conjunction "kî" (for, because) provides the immediate reason for Ahaziah's unique accession.
that came with the Arabians: "’Ăšer-bā’ ’et-hā‘Arvîm" (אֲשֶׁר־בָּא אֵת הָעַרְבִים). This directly connects back to the previous chapter (2 Chr 21:16), identifying the invading force. The addition of "and the Philistines" in 2 Chronicles 21:16 confirms it was a coalition force. The Chronicler links Ahaziah's rise directly to the recent past.
to the camp: "Lammuḥaneh" (לַמַּחֲנֶה). This term usually refers to a military encampment, but in this context, it broadly signifies the area attacked, likely the palace compound or the general region of Jerusalem, leading to the killing of the princes.
had slain all the eldest: "Hārəḡū ’et-kol-haggĕdôlîm" (הָרְגוּ אֶת־כָּל־הַגְּדוֹלִים). "Haragu" means "they killed." "Ha-gedolim" refers to "the great ones" or "the elders/oldest." This is a crucial detail demonstrating the complete devastation of Jehoram's legitimate succession line. It signals God's radical judgment.
So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned: This concluding clause summarises the result. It reaffirms the Davidic lineage of Ahaziah despite the tumultuous and divinely orchestrated events leading to his reign. The specification "king of Judah" delineates his territory and rightful position within the divided kingdom.

2 Chronicles 22 1 Bonus section

The Chronicler's Theological Emphasis: This verse exemplifies the Chronicler's primary theological theme: immediate divine retribution for sin and blessing for obedience. The direct cause-and-effect relationship between Jehoram's apostasy and the decimation of his family, culminating in the emergency crowning of Ahaziah, is clear and intentional. It serves as a stark warning to post-exilic Judah concerning faithfulness to God.
Intertextual Nuance of Names: The variation in Ahaziah's name (Jehoahaz in 2 Chron 21:17 and Ahaziah in 22:1 and beyond) is a typical feature of biblical texts, not a contradiction. Such changes or alternative forms of names can reflect scribal conventions, a person's name evolving over time, or even slight dialectal differences, but always referring to the same individual. This practice underscores the importance of contextual reading and understanding biblical naming patterns.
A "Cleansing" of the Throne: From a theological perspective, the drastic reduction of the royal household might be viewed as a "cleansing" or purging of the royal line due to the pervasive wickedness that had infested it through the Omride alliance. It sets the stage, albeit tragically, for God's continued working with a remnant, as seen later with Joash.

2 Chronicles 22 1 Commentary

2 Chronicles 22:1 starkly illustrates the consequences of a ruler's unfaithfulness and God's sovereign hand in human affairs. The previous chapter details King Jehoram's egregious wickedness, a trajectory of idolatry and violence directly opposed to Yahweh's covenant. This verse describes the divine response, orchestrated through foreign invaders who served as instruments of God's judgment. The "slaying of all the eldest" princes by the Philistines and Arabians was a direct fulfillment of the prophet Elijah's words (2 Chr 21:14-15), emphasizing the certainty and severity of God's retribution against unrepentant sin, especially within the covenant community and among its leaders.

Ahaziah's ascension as "the youngest son" underscores the thoroughness of this judgment, leaving him as the last, perhaps unlikely, choice. His coming to power was not a smooth dynastic transfer but a situation thrust upon the people of Jerusalem who "made him king." This highlights both the desperation of the hour and God's ability to maintain the Davidic line even through unconventional means and amidst chaos. The verse implicitly sets the stage for Ahaziah's reign, a short and calamitous one, significantly influenced by his wicked mother Athaliah and the house of Ahab, further cementing the destructive impact of his father's apostasy. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that God maintains control over the rise and fall of nations and rulers, ensuring that even when human choices lead to disaster, His overarching purposes prevail.