King Ahaziah (Judah)

Ahaziah of Judah was the son of Jehoram (Joram of Judah) and Athaliah, who was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel of the northern kingdom. This made Ahaziah the grandson of Ahab, creating a direct political and family link between Judah and Israel. Because of this influence, he followed the ways of the house of Ahab and continued idolatrous practices rather than the traditions of David.

During his short reign, Ahaziah aligned himself with his relative, Jehoram (son of Ahab, king of the northern kingdom), and joined him in a military campaign against Aram. After Jehoram of Israel was wounded, Ahaziah went to visit him in Jezreel. At that same time, Jehu carried out a divinely sanctioned revolt to destroy the house of Ahab. Because Ahaziah was present and closely associated with that dynasty, he was pursued and killed by Jehu’s forces. His death ended his brief rule and directly led to his mother Athaliah seizing power in Judah.