2 Chronicles 22 7

2 Chronicles 22:7 kjv

And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

2 Chronicles 22:7 nkjv

His going to Joram was God's occasion for Ahaziah's downfall; for when he arrived, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

2 Chronicles 22:7 niv

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.

2 Chronicles 22:7 esv

But it was ordained by God that the downfall of Ahaziah should come about through his going to visit Joram. For when he came there, he went out with Jehoram to meet Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

2 Chronicles 22:7 nlt

But God had decided that this visit would be Ahaziah's downfall. While he was there, Ahaziah went out with Joram to meet Jehu grandson of Nimshi, whom the LORD had appointed to destroy the dynasty of Ahab.

2 Chronicles 22 verses

2 Chronicles 22 7 Meaning

The verse asserts that King Ahaziah of Judah met his destruction as an act orchestrated by God. This divine judgment was a direct consequence of his decision to visit Joram, the king of Israel, who was of the wicked house of Ahab. By being present with Joram, Ahaziah inevitably became involved in the military conflict against Jehu. Jehu had been divinely anointed with the specific mission to completely eradicate the lineage and influence of the house of Ahab, due to their profound wickedness and idolatry. Thus, Ahaziah, by aligning himself with the objects of God's wrath, was caught in the swift execution of divine judgment.

2 Chronicles 22 7 Context

This verse is positioned within the historical account of King Ahaziah of Judah. Chapter 22 begins by describing Ahaziah's ascension to the throne after his father Jehoram's death. Ahaziah's reign was short, lasting only one year. Crucially, he was heavily influenced by his mother, Athaliah, who was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel. Consequently, Ahaziah followed the idolatrous and wicked practices of the Omride dynasty (house of Ahab).

The broader historical context reveals God's patient yet resolute judgment against the house of Ahab for their severe idolatry, Baal worship, and shedding of innocent blood (e.g., Naboth). Prophets like Elijah and Elisha had previously declared God's pronouncements of destruction upon Ahab's line. Jehu, a military commander, was then divinely appointed and anointed by a prophet of Elisha to be God's instrument to execute this judgment.

Ahaziah's decision to visit Joram, the King of Israel and son of Ahab, who was recovering from wounds incurred in battle, placed him directly in the path of this prophesied purge. This visit wasn't merely social; it underscored Ahaziah's continued alliance and close ties with a lineage under divine condemnation. His accompanying Joram against Jehu demonstrates his active involvement with the condemned house, leading to his unfortunate, yet divinely purposed, end as part of the wider judgment. The Chronicler highlights this connection explicitly as the reason for his demise, emphasizing God's direct involvement in the unfolding events.

2 Chronicles 22 7 Word analysis

• And the destruction: (וַיְהִי הַשְּׁחִיתוּת - vayhi hashchithut). The Hebrew word shachath (שָׁחַת) from which "destruction" is derived, denotes corruption, ruin, spoiling, or destroying. Here, it refers specifically to Ahaziah's fatal downfall. The use of "destruction" implies a complete and deliberate ruin, rather than a random accident, directly tying into God's planned action.
• of Ahaziah: (אֲחַזְיָהוּ - ’Aẖazyāhū). The king of Judah. His name means "Yahweh has grasped" or "Yahweh holds," ironically contrasting with his divinely ordained "destruction." This signifies God's ultimate authority over human destiny, even kings.
• was of God: (מֵאֵל - me’El). Literally "from God" or "of God." This is a crucial theological statement by the Chronicler. It attributes the ultimate cause of Ahaziah's destruction directly to God's will and purpose. It negates any notion that his death was accidental or solely the result of human machinations, underscoring divine sovereignty and justice.
• by coming to Joram: (לָבוֹא אֶל יוֹרָם - lāḇō’ ’el Yôrām). This phrase pinpoints the precise act that served as the proximate cause for his destruction. Ahaziah's "coming" or visit to Joram (King of Israel, son of Ahab) cemented his association with the family under God's wrath. This alliance, influenced by his mother Athaliah, linked him inextricably with their fate.
• for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu: This section elaborates on how the "coming" led to "destruction." Ahaziah's presence with Joram resulted in him joining Joram in military action against Jehu. He willingly engaged with the forces that were about to be overthrown by God's designated agent.
• Jehu the son of Nimshi: (יֵהוּא בֶן נִמְשִׁי - Yēhû’ ben Nimšî). Identifies the specific individual whom God had chosen and appointed for the task. Jehu was not acting on his own ambition but was an instrument in a divine plan.
• whom the Lord had anointed: (אֲשֶׁר מָשַׁח יְהוָה אֹתוֹ - ’ăšer māšaḥ Yahweh ’ōṯô). The term mashach (מָשַׁח) means "to anoint," signifying a consecration or appointment by God for a specific, often sacred, purpose. Though the direct physical anointing was performed by a disciple of Elisha (2 Kgs 9), the Chronicler attributes it ultimately to the Lord, emphasizing the divine origin and authority of Jehu's mission.
• to cut off the house of Ahab: (לְהַכְרִית אֶת בֵּית אַחְאָב - lᵉhakhriṯ ’eṯ bêṯ ’Aḥ’āb). The verb karath (כָּרַת), "to cut off," here signifies the complete extermination of a lineage. This was Jehu's primary, divinely ordained mandate. It highlights the absolute nature of God's judgment against systemic wickedness. Ahaziah's connection made him part of this divine purge.
• Phrase Analysis - "The destruction...was of God": This phrase directly attributes Ahaziah's death to God's ultimate purpose and control, revealing the Chronicler's theological perspective that God is sovereign over historical events and acts in judgment.
• Phrase Analysis - "by coming to Joram... he went out with Jehoram against Jehu": This links Ahaziah's personal choice (the visit and subsequent military participation) directly to the execution of God's judgment. It underscores the concept that individual actions and alliances have significant, divinely superintended, consequences.
• Phrase Analysis - "whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab": This identifies Jehu as God's chosen instrument of divine justice and explicitly states the purpose of his anointing. It shows that Ahaziah was caught not by chance, but as a byproduct of a larger, deliberate divine intervention against a deeply wicked dynasty.

2 Chronicles 22 7 Bonus section

• The Chronicler's explicit statement "was of God" contrasts with the account in 2 Kings, which focuses more on the sequential events. This highlights the Chronicler's primary theological purpose: to show God's active hand in history and to teach lessons of divine retribution for sin and alliance with evil.
• The death of Ahaziah in Judah during a purge of the Israelite monarchy underscores the deep interconnectedness and the corrupting influence between the two kingdoms at this period, largely due to intermarriage. It shows how the spiritual compromise of the Judean kings could lead to direct divine judgment even for those in the line of David.
• This passage demonstrates how individuals, through their own choices and alliances, can align themselves with structures of wickedness that are under God's impending judgment, even if their own immediate actions do not appear to directly invite specific divine wrath in isolation. Ahaziah's personal wickedness aligned with that of the house of Ahab, thus his demise in that context was not arbitrary.
• The severity of "to cut off the house of Ahab" (הַכְרִית - hakhriṯ) reveals the Lord's absolute abhorrence for persistent idolatry, particularly when it leads a nation astray. This divine action was aimed at purifying the land and restoring proper worship.

2 Chronicles 22 7 Commentary

2 Chronicles 22:7 presents a concise yet profound theological interpretation of Ahaziah's death, elevating it from a mere historical accident or political consequence to a divinely orchestrated act of justice. The Chronicler's emphasis on "was of God" is pivotal, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty and active involvement in the affairs of humanity, particularly in meting out justice to wicked rulers and dynasties. Ahaziah's demise is portrayed not as an isolated event but as an integral part of the comprehensive judgment prophesied and enacted upon the house of Ahab for their grievous idolatry and moral corruption.

Ahaziah's fatal error was his deep-seated alignment with the Omride dynasty. Influenced by his mother Athaliah (Ahab's daughter), his personal conduct mirrored Ahab's wickedness. His decision to visit Joram, despite his kingdom being from the lineage of David, demonstrated a continued spiritual and political entanglement with a family clearly under divine anathema. This association made him complicit and consequently, collateral, in the sweeping judgment that Jehu was appointed to carry out. The verse serves as a powerful warning against forming alliances with those who persistently oppose God or adhere to idolatrous practices, as their doom can extend to their associates. It illustrates that God is faithful to His word of judgment, using various means, even unlikely military figures like Jehu, to execute His righteous decrees.