2 Chronicles 22 5

2 Chronicles 22:5 kjv

He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.

2 Chronicles 22:5 nkjv

He also followed their advice, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.

2 Chronicles 22:5 niv

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;

2 Chronicles 22:5 esv

He even followed their counsel and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. And the Syrians wounded Joram,

2 Chronicles 22:5 nlt

Following their evil advice, Ahaziah joined Joram, the son of King Ahab of Israel, in his war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. When the Arameans wounded Joram in the battle,

2 Chronicles 22 verses

2 Chronicles 22 5 Meaning

2 Chronicles 22:5 details that King Ahaziah of Judah, influenced by the wicked practices and advice of the house of Ahab, allied himself with Jehoram (Joram), the king of Israel and son of Ahab. Together, they went to battle against Hazael, the king of Syria, at Ramoth-gilead. In this battle, Jehoram of Israel was wounded by the Syrians. The verse highlights Ahaziah's adherence to evil counsel, leading him into a dangerous alliance and setting the stage for his subsequent downfall.

2 Chronicles 22 5 Context

Chapter 22 of 2 Chronicles immediately follows a description of King Ahaziah's father, Jehoram of Judah, who walked in the ways of the kings of Israel (Ahab's house) and introduced Baal worship to Judah, suffering a divinely ordained death by incurable disease. Ahaziah ascends the throne after his father's demise. The critical influence shaping Ahaziah's reign is his mother, Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, who is described as his "counselor to do wickedly." Therefore, when verse 5 states that Ahaziah "walked also after their counsels," it refers to the pervasive and destructive influence of the Omride dynasty's idolatry and evil upon the Judean monarchy. This sets the stage for his association with Joram (Jehoram) of Israel, Ahab's son, leading to a military alliance that results in Ahaziah's ruin, emphasizing the dire consequences of Judah's ungodly alignment with Israel's wicked kings. The historical context includes the long-standing conflict between Aram (Syria) and Israel over control of strategic territories, with Ramoth-gilead being a frequently contested border city, underscoring its military significance.

2 Chronicles 22 5 Word analysis

• He walked also:

  • Hebrew: Wa'yîttehallekh gam (ויתהלך גם). Yithallekh comes from the root halakh (הלך), meaning "to walk," but in this Hithpael stem, it signifies "to walk habitually," "to live according to," or "to conduct oneself." This isn't merely a physical act but implies a way of life, an adoption of values and practices. "Also" (gam) indicates continuity with his father's (Jehoram) and his mother's (Athaliah's) wicked ways described previously, reinforcing the generational inheritance of apostasy.
  • Significance: Highlights Ahaziah's personal choice and spiritual inclination, deeply influenced by his family. His 'walk' defines his character and rule.

• after their counsels:

  • Hebrew: bə‘ăṣōtām (בעצותם). From ‘etsah (עצה), meaning "counsel," "advice," "purpose," or "plan." "Their" directly points to the "house of Ahab" mentioned in verse 3 as the source of this wicked guidance. This refers to their established principles and policies of ungodliness and idolatry.
  • Significance: This is the heart of Ahaziah's error. He adopted the wisdom and schemes of the wicked rather than seeking God's counsel, revealing a foundational spiritual misalignment.

• and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel:

  • Hebrew: wa'yelech ‘im Yehoram ben-'Ahab Melek Yisra'el (וילך עם יהורם בן-אחאב מלך ישראל). "Went with" implies companionship, alliance, and shared purpose. This Jehoram is distinct from Ahaziah's father, who was also named Jehoram. This specifically identifies him as the reigning king of the Northern Kingdom, the offspring of the notoriously wicked Ahab, emphasizing the tainted lineage and its influence.
  • Significance: This alliance signifies a "unequal yoke," a partnership between the Southern Kingdom (Judah), meant to uphold the worship of Yahweh, and the Northern Kingdom (Israel), deeply entrenched in Baal worship. It's a repetition of Jehoshaphat's earlier mistake (2 Chr 18).

• to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead:

  • War: The direct consequence of the counsel and alliance.
  • Hazael king of Syria: A significant historical figure who reigned during the decline of the Omride dynasty in Israel and expansion of Aramaean power. This specific battle location was a frequent flashpoint between Israel and Aram (Syria), particularly prominent in the narrative of Ahab's death (1 Kings 22).
  • Ramoth-gilead: A strategically important fortified city east of the Jordan River.
  • Significance: The choice to engage in a specific military conflict under wicked counsel underscores that compromise affects all aspects of life, not just religious ones. It leads to physical danger and ultimately, judgment.

• and the Syrians smote Joram:

  • Hebrew: wa'yakkûh Haharmānı̂ym et-Yoram (ויכוּה ההרמנים את-יורם). "Smote" (nakah) means "to strike," "wound," or "kill." In this context (paralleling 2 Kings 8:28-29), Joram was wounded, not killed.
  • Joram: This is Jehoram, son of Ahab.
  • Significance: This detail sets the immediate scene for Ahaziah's visit to Joram (verse 6), which then leads to Ahaziah's fateful encounter with Jehu. The wound also explains Joram's presence in Jezreel later, where he would be vulnerable.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "He walked also after their counsels": Emphasizes active and willing adherence to corrupt principles. It's not passive acceptance but a deliberate following of advice from a condemned lineage. This phrase critiques the fundamental orientation of Ahaziah's reign away from God's commands.
  • "went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war": This is an alliance not of necessity but of choice, a fellowship with darkness. The association is direct and active ("went with"). The specific purpose, "to war," implies an engagement in affairs alongside the wicked, illustrating how spiritual compromise leads to practical, tangible consequences.
  • "Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians smote Joram": This marks the immediate and physical outcome of the unholy alliance. The location of the battle recalls previous divine judgments on the house of Ahab at this very spot. The wounding of Joram creates the direct circumstances for Ahaziah's visit, which is crucial for the fulfillment of Jehu's prophetic judgment against the house of Ahab (and its allies).

2 Chronicles 22 5 Bonus section

The recurrent theme of Ramoth-gilead as a battleground linked to the downfall of Ahab's house (first Ahab himself, then Joram, leading to Ahaziah's own death indirectly) underscores a pattern of divine judgment against consistent disobedience and idolatry. It serves as a stark reminder of divine retribution that sometimes plays out in the same physical locations, becoming memorial markers of judgment. Furthermore, Ahaziah's lineage through his mother, Athaliah, connected him directly to Ahab, marking him as part of the Omride 'cursed' lineage despite being king of Judah. His adoption of their "counsels" effectively 'infected' Judah with Israel's apostasy, thus necessitating God's swift judgment through Jehu to cleanse both lines (though Athaliah later sought to purge the Davidic line, demonstrating the tenacity of this evil influence). This verse sets the stage for one of the Bible's most dramatic acts of purging and revolution orchestrated by God through His prophet and chosen instrument, Jehu, highlighting the gravity of "walking after their counsels."

2 Chronicles 22 5 Commentary

2 Chronicles 22:5 is a critical verse in Judah's monarchical history, highlighting the cascading negative effects of ungodly alliances and counsel. King Ahaziah's decision to "walk after their counsels"—the insidious influence of his Omride mother, Athaliah, and by extension, the entire house of Ahab, notorious for Baal worship and corruption—was not merely a political error but a profound spiritual departure. This "walk" defines his reign, signifying a life oriented by worldly wisdom rather than divine instruction.

His military alliance with Jehoram (Joram) of Israel, son of Ahab, at Ramoth-gilead echoes and intensifies the errors of previous Judean kings, particularly Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 18). The Chronicler emphasizes that such associations bring divine displeasure and disaster. The wounding of Joram sets in motion a chain of events that leads directly to Ahaziah's own tragic demise at the hands of Jehu, God's anointed instrument for judging the house of Ahab (as detailed in subsequent verses and 2 Kings 9).

The narrative here serves as a potent warning against compromised fellowship, particularly for those in positions of leadership. When God's people (represented by Judah) ally themselves with those who reject God's ways (represented by Israel's Omride kings), they inevitably partake in their judgment. It is a polemic against idolatry and syncretism, reinforcing the principle that one cannot serve both God and wickedness, and that wicked counsel leads only to destruction. The consequences are immediate and visible, manifested in military defeat and the ultimate fate of the kings involved.

Examples:

• A Christian leader aligning with a corrupt business partner, leading to ethical compromise.
• A believer prioritizing friends who mock faith over fellowship with other believers, leading to spiritual decline.
• Choosing career advancement through unethical means, which ultimately brings down spiritual or even professional ruin.