2 Kings 1:17 kjv
So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
2 Kings 1:17 nkjv
So Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. Because he had no son, Jehoram became king in his place, in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.
2 Kings 1:17 niv
So he died, according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. Because Ahaziah had no son, Joram succeeded him as king in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.
2 Kings 1:17 esv
So he died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son.
2 Kings 1:17 nlt
So Ahaziah died, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah. Since Ahaziah did not have a son to succeed him, his brother Joram became the next king. This took place in the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.
2 Kings 1 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Fulfillment of Prophecy | ||
| Deut 18:22 | If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place... | Divine validation of true prophecy. |
| Isa 44:26 | ...who confirms the word of His servant and performs the counsel of His messengers... | God stands by His word and those who speak it. |
| Jer 28:9 | ...when the word of the prophet comes to pass, then it will be known... | Fulfillment confirms prophetic authenticity. |
| Mt 24:35 | Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. | Enduring truth and power of God's word. |
| Lk 21:33 | Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. | Reiteration of the eternal reliability of God's word. |
| Zech 1:6 | But My words and My decrees... did they not overtake your ancestors? | God's word as a force of justice and judgment. |
| Divine Judgment & Sovereignty | ||
| Deut 32:39 | ‘See now that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive... | God's ultimate power over life and death. |
| 1 Sam 2:6 | The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and brings up. | God's absolute control over destiny. |
| Job 12:10 | In His hand is the life of every living thing... | All life is sustained by God's decree. |
| Ps 68:20 | Our God is the God of salvation; And to God the Lord belong escapes from death. | God alone determines one's end. |
| Rom 1:21-25 | For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him... and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image... | Consequences of idolatry and dishonoring God. |
| Idolatry & Consequences (Ahaziah's Sin) | ||
| Exod 20:3 | “You shall have no other gods before Me." | First commandment broken by Ahaziah. |
| 1 Ki 14:10 | ...I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male... | Similar judgments declared against previous idolatrous kings. |
| 1 Ki 16:3 | ...I will utterly sweep away Jehu son of Hanani, and will consume the house of Baasha... | Judgment against Baasha's house for similar sins. |
| 1 Ki 21:20-22 | ...I will bring disaster on you... I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam... | God's specific curse upon Ahab's house (Ahaziah's father). |
| 2 Ki 1:4 | "You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.” | Elijah's specific prophecy being fulfilled. |
| 2 Ki 1:16 | "...is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word, that you send to inquire of Baal-Zebub...? | The context of Ahaziah's defiance leading to judgment. |
| Succession & Lineage | ||
| Num 27:8-11 | "If a man dies and has no son, then you shall pass his inheritance to his daughter... | Biblical principle for succession in the absence of a direct male heir. |
| 2 Ki 3:1 | Now Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel... | Subsequent verse confirming Jehoram's reign. |
| Prophetic Office & Authority | ||
| Deut 18:18-19 | I will raise up for them a Prophet... and I will put My words in His mouth... | The authority and divine origin of prophetic messages. |
| Mal 4:5 | Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. | Elijah's prophetic significance. |
| Lk 1:17 | He will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah... | The lasting impact and legacy of Elijah's ministry. |
2 Kings 1 verses
2 Kings 1 17 Meaning
King Ahaziah of Israel died as the precise fulfillment of the divine judgment spoken by the prophet Elijah. His death, directly linked to his sin of seeking an idolatrous god, demonstrated God's absolute sovereignty over life and succession. Because Ahaziah had no direct male heir, his brother Jehoram ascended to the throne of Israel. This succession event is carefully dated and synchronized with the reign of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, providing a specific chronological marker.
2 Kings 1 17 Context
This verse marks the definitive end of King Ahaziah's reign over Israel, concluding the first chapter of 2 Kings. Ahaziah, son of Ahab and Jezebel, had perpetuated his parents' idolatrous practices, particularly the worship of Baal. His story in 2 Kings 1 begins with a life-threatening injury. Rather than seeking the Lord God of Israel for healing or guidance, Ahaziah impiously sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron. This act of blatant spiritual rebellion directly challenged God's sole sovereignty. The prophet Elijah intervened, confronting Ahaziah's messengers with a divine message of judgment: Ahaziah would not recover from his injury but would surely die, precisely because he chose to inquire of a foreign deity instead of the true God of Israel. The verse solidifies the divine authority behind Elijah's prophecy. Ahaziah's death confirmed Elijah as a true prophet of the Lord, whose words were a direct expression of God's will and power. The subsequent detail regarding Jehoram's succession and the synchronization with Jehoram of Judah provides crucial historical continuity within the books of Kings, linking the northern kingdom of Israel's timeline to the southern kingdom of Judah's royal chronology. Ahaziah's death without an heir, leading to his brother's succession, subtly underlines the instability and divine disfavor resting upon the house of Ahab due to its entrenched idolatry.
2 Kings 1 17 Word analysis
- So: (Hebrew: Vayehi) Connects the previous action to its direct consequence. It emphasizes the direct fulfillment of the preceding divine word.
- he died: (Hebrew: vayyamot) Refers to Ahaziah, King of Israel. His death is not natural or coincidental but a direct act of divine judgment.
- according to: (Hebrew: kĕdĕbar) Indicates conformity to or agreement with. It signifies the precise execution or realization based on what was said.
- the word of the Lord: (Hebrew: dĕbar Yahweh) "Dabar" encompasses a word spoken, a command, an event, or a matter. Here, it denotes God's authoritative, prophetic decree. "Yahweh" is the covenant name of God, highlighting His faithfulness and power in fulfilling His declarations, especially regarding judgment. It asserts God's ultimate authority over all things, including the lives of kings.
- which Elijah had spoken: Identifies the human vessel through whom God's judgment was delivered. It validates Elijah's prophetic office and confirms the Lord's presence with him. The spoken word had material effect.
- And Jehoram: Refers to Ahaziah's brother, the son of Ahab, who would become the next king of Israel. It differentiates him from the Jehoram of Judah mentioned later.
- reigned: (Hebrew: vayyimlokh) Assumed the kingship. This highlights the transfer of power, divinely permitted.
- in his place: Indicates the normal course of succession within the royal house, filling the vacancy left by the previous king.
- in the second year: Provides a precise chronological marker for the start of Jehoram of Israel's reign.
- of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah: Identifies the contemporary king of the southern kingdom, Judah, establishing a synchronism between the two separate kingdoms' chronologies. This particular synchronism indicates a co-regency, a common practice where the heir would reign alongside his father for a period. This Jehoram later succeeded Jehoshaphat fully.
- because he had no son: Explains why Ahaziah's brother Jehoram succeeded him, rather than Ahaziah's own direct heir. This absence of a direct male heir for Ahaziah suggests divine displeasure and contributes to the progressive fulfillment of the curse on Ahab's house, even though Ahaziah's death wasn't directly to "cut off every male," as was eventually seen.
2 Kings 1 17 Bonus section
The chronological detail "in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah" is a crucial historical reference. This specific dating has led scholars to conclude that Jehoram of Judah must have had a co-regency with his father Jehoshaphat. This understanding resolves apparent chronological discrepancies elsewhere in the books of Kings and Chronicles, illustrating how divine oversight often works through established political norms like co-regencies. The detail that Ahaziah "had no son" ensured the succession went to his brother, marking a critical step in the gradual winding down of Ahab's cursed house, though his brother would also follow the idolatrous ways. This underscores God's intricate orchestration of history and royal lines to fulfill His promises and judgments.
2 Kings 1 17 Commentary
2 Kings 1:17 provides the culmination of a divine decree, affirming the unyielding nature of God's word. Ahaziah's death was not a natural occurrence but a direct consequence of his idolatry and contempt for the Lord. This outcome unequivocally demonstrated that the God of Israel alone held authority over life, death, and even royal succession. Elijah, as God's messenger, spoke a word that perfectly mirrored God's intent, solidifying his prophetic credibility. The seamless transition of power to Jehoram, Ahaziah's brother, due to Ahaziah's lack of an heir, served as another subtle stroke of divine providence, further contributing to the eventual demise of Ahab's wicked dynasty. The detailed synchronism with the reign of the Judean king provides historical grounding, weaving God's activity into the tapestry of human history and validating the narrative for its original audience. The core message is clear: God's word is ultimate truth and will be perfectly accomplished, especially when it concerns His holy character and judgment upon sin.