Athaliah’s Wicked Husband And Sons. 2 Kings 8:16-29
The Decline and Fall of Israel and Judah
INTRODUCTION
The Second Book of Kings is a continuation of the First. It records the reigns of fifteen kings in Judah and of eleven kings in Israel. In Judah the dynasty of David continued to the end, while in Israel there were nine changes of dynasty.
The northern kingdom maintained an unbroken course of idolatry, until the nation was ripe for destruction. The end came in 722 B.C., when Samaria was taken by the Assyrians. Judah continued her course for nearly 150 years longer. But in spite of the efforts of prophets and good kings, the tide of idolatry could not be stayed, and Jerusalem fell before the Babylonians, 586 B.C. Nothing but the Exile could avail to purify the nation and restore the spirit of true worship.
I. FROM THE REIGN OF AHAZIAH TO THE FALL OF SAMARIA, 1Ki_22:51 – 2Ki_17:1-41; 2Ki_18:9-12
3. The Work of Elisha, II Kings 3:1-9:11
Reigns of Jehoram and Ahaziah in Judah, and Jehoram in Israel. 2Ki_8:16-29
19. How was Judah infected with the sin of Israel?
ATHALIAH’S WICKED HUSBAND AND SONS
JEHORAM REIGNS IN JUDAH
Now in the fifth year of Joram (Jehoram) the son of Ahab king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah became king.
He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem.
He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for [Athaliah] the daughter of Ahab became his wife. He did evil in the sight of the LORD.
Yet for the sake of His servant David the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah, since He had promised to give him a lamp (enthroned descendant) through his sons always.
In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah, and set up a king over themselves.
So Jehoram [king of Judah] went over to Zair [in Edom] with all his chariots. He set out by night and struck down the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of his chariots; but the people [of his army] fled to their tents.
So Edom revolted against Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.
The rest of the acts of Jehoram and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
Jehoram slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried with them in the City of David. Ahaziah his son became king in his place.
AHAZIAH REIGNS IN JUDAH
In the twelfth year of Joram (Jehoram) the son of Ahab king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.
He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab, for he was a son-in-law of the house of Ahab.
Ahaziah went with Joram the son of Ahab to battle against Hazael king of Aram (Syria) in Ramoth-gilead; and the Arameans wounded Joram.
King Joram returned to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds which the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
ATHALIAH’S WICKED HUSBAND AND SONS
Jehoram’s history furnishes a terrible example of how an ill-marriage may mar a man’s life. He had a good father, but a bad wife, and the latter more strongly influenced him than the former, 2Ch_21:6. The fuller story of Jehoram’s reign, and the apparent extinction of the royal family, is told in 2Ch_22:1-12. But notice especially 2Ki_8:19. The lamp was kept burning for David’s sake, Psa_132:17. Surely the grace of God can keep that same lamp burning in the hearts of our children. A lamp, as we learned from the Chicago fire, may make a very great conflagration.
Ahaziah followed in the steps of his parents. What could be expected from the training of such a mother! Misled by her, he followed the dreary steps of Ahab. The close intimacy between the two houses led to alliance in war and a common fate. Little did Jehoshaphat realize all the evil that would result from his dealings with Ahab, 1Ki_22:4. The story told in these pages is sad reading, but through it all God’s purpose moves on. See Mat_1:8. As a water-lily grows from a muddy bottom, so the pure life of Christ came, on the human side, out of this family. God’s purpose shall finally emerge from this present strife in a further revelation of the Son of man.
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