2 Chronicles 22:6
so he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded.
So he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they had inflicted on him at Ramah
Jezreel was a significant city in the northern kingdom of Israel, known for its strategic location and fertile valley. The return to Jezreel indicates a retreat to a place of safety and healing. The wounds inflicted at Ramah suggest a battle context, highlighting the ongoing conflicts between Israel and surrounding nations. Ramah, located in the territory of Benjamin, was a site of frequent military engagements. This phrase underscores the turbulent period of the divided monarchy, where alliances and enmities were constantly shifting. The mention of wounds and recovery also foreshadows the vulnerability and eventual downfall of the house of Ahab, as prophesied by Elijah (1 Kings 21:21-24).

when he fought against Hazael king of Aram
Hazael was a formidable king of Aram (modern-day Syria), known for his aggressive expansionist policies. His reign marked a period of intense conflict with Israel and Judah. The battles against Hazael were part of the larger geopolitical struggles in the region, as Aram sought to dominate the trade routes and territories of Israel. This phrase highlights the fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy in 2 Kings 8:12-13, where Hazael's rise to power and his subsequent oppression of Israel were foretold. The conflict with Hazael also serves as a backdrop for the divine judgment against the house of Ahab, as God used foreign powers to execute His will.

Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel
Ahaziah's journey to Jezreel signifies the close political and familial ties between the kingdoms of Judah and Israel during this period. Ahaziah, being the son of Jehoram and Athaliah (daughter of Ahab and Jezebel), was deeply connected to the northern kingdom. His visit to Jezreel reflects the alliance between the two royal houses, which was often marked by shared military campaigns and mutual support. This alliance, however, was contrary to God's command for Israel and Judah to remain distinct from the idolatrous practices of their neighbors, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:3-4. Ahaziah's actions ultimately led to his downfall, as prophesied by Elijah (2 Chronicles 22:7).

to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded
Joram, also known as Jehoram, was the king of Israel and the son of Ahab and Jezebel. His reign was characterized by continued idolatry and apostasy, following in the footsteps of his parents. The mention of Joram's wounds indicates his involvement in the ongoing conflicts with Aram, specifically against Hazael. Ahaziah's visit to Joram highlights the solidarity between the two kings, both of whom were descendants of Ahab. This connection ultimately led to their joint downfall, as both were targeted by Jehu, who was anointed by God to destroy the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:6-10). The visit also sets the stage for the fulfillment of divine judgment against the house of Ahab, as prophesied by Elijah and Elisha.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ahaziah
The son of Jehoram, king of Judah, who reigned for a short period. His reign was marked by his alliance with the house of Ahab.

2. Jehoram
The father of Ahaziah and king of Judah before him. His reign was characterized by idolatry and evil practices.

3. Joram (Jehoram) of Israel
The son of Ahab, king of Israel, who was wounded in battle against Hazael, king of Aram.

4. Hazael
The king of Aram (Syria) who fought against Israel and Judah, inflicting wounds on Joram.

5. Jezreel
A city in Israel where Joram went to recover from his wounds. It was a significant location in the history of Israel, often associated with the house of Ahab.

6. Ramah
The location where Joram was wounded in battle against Hazael.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Ungodly Alliances
Ahaziah's alliance with Joram, influenced by the house of Ahab, led to his downfall. Believers should be cautious about forming alliances that compromise their faith and values.

The Sovereignty of God in History
Despite the chaos and conflict, God's sovereign plan unfolds. Hazael's rise to power was foretold by God, reminding us that He is in control of world events.

The Importance of Godly Leadership
The negative influence of Ahab's house on Judah's leadership serves as a warning about the impact of ungodly leadership. Leaders should seek to honor God in their decisions and alliances.

Healing and Restoration
Joram's return to Jezreel for healing symbolizes the need for spiritual restoration. Believers should seek God's healing and restoration in their lives when wounded by sin or conflict.
Bible Study Questions
1. What can we learn from Ahaziah's decision to ally with Joram, and how can we apply this lesson to our own relationships and alliances?

2. How does the account of Hazael's rise to power demonstrate God's sovereignty, and how can this understanding impact our trust in God's plan for our lives?

3. In what ways can ungodly leadership affect a community or nation, and what steps can we take to promote godly leadership in our spheres of influence?

4. How does the concept of seeking healing and restoration apply to our spiritual lives, and what practical steps can we take to pursue this?

5. How do the events in 2 Chronicles 22:6 connect with the broader account of God's dealings with Israel and Judah, and what insights can we gain about God's character from this?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 8:28-29
This passage provides a parallel account of the events described in 2 Chronicles 22:6, offering additional context about the alliance between Ahaziah and Joram.

2 Chronicles 21:6
This verse highlights the influence of Ahab's house on Jehoram, Ahaziah's father, which sets the stage for Ahaziah's own alliances and actions.

1 Kings 19:15-17
This passage includes God's command to anoint Hazael as king over Aram, which connects to his role in the conflict with Israel and Judah.
Ahaziah's Wicked ReignJ. Wolfendale.2 Chronicles 22:1-9
A Chapter of TragediesT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 22:1-12
Our Friends and Their Fate, EtcW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 22:5-12
People
Ahab, Ahaziah, Arabians, Aram, Athaliah, Azariah, Hazael, Jehoiada, Jehoram, Jehoshabeath, Jehoshaphat, Jehosheba, Jehu, Jezreel, Joash, Joram, Nimshi, Omri, Syrians
Places
Jerusalem, Jezreel, Ramah, Ramoth-gilead, Samaria, Syria
Topics
Ahab, Ahaziah, Ahazi'ah, Aram, Azariah, Battle, Fighting, Fought, Hazael, Haz'ael, Healed, Ill, Inflicted, Jehoram, Jeho'ram, Jezreel, Jizreel, Joram, Judah, Ramah, Ramoth, Received, Recover, Returned, Sick, Smitten, Syria, Turneth, Wounded, Wounds
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 22:6

     5976   visiting

2 Chronicles 22:5-6

     7245   Judah, kingdom of

Library
Ahaziah
BY REV. J. G. GREENHOUGH, M.A. "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 CHRON. xxii. 7. We rarely read this part of the Bible. And I do not wonder at it. For those particular chapters are undoubtedly dreary and monotonous. They contain the names of a number of incompetent and worthless kings who did nothing that was worth writing
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

The Whole Heart
LET me give the principal passages in which the words "the whole heart," "all the heart," are used. A careful study of them will show how wholehearted love and service is what God has always asked, because He can, in the very nature of things, ask nothing less. The prayerful and believing acceptance of the words will waken the assurance that such wholehearted love and service is exactly the blessing the New Covenant was meant to make possible. That assurance will prepare us for turning to the Omnipotence
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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