Ahaziah, the son of Ahab and Jezebel, reigned as the king of Israel in Samaria during the early 9th century BC. His reign is marked by idolatry, disobedience to God, and subsequent divine judgment, which are consistent with the afflictions that befall the wicked as described in the Scriptures.

Background and Reign

Ahaziah ascended to the throne of Israel following the death of his father, Ahab. His mother, Jezebel, was a staunch promoter of Baal worship, and Ahaziah continued in the idolatrous practices of his parents. The Bible records that "he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and mother and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin" (1 Kings 22:52). His reign was characterized by a continuation of the spiritual and moral decline initiated by his predecessors.

Idolatry and Divine Judgment

Ahaziah's commitment to idolatry and his rejection of the God of Israel led to divine judgment. The prophet Elijah was sent by God to confront Ahaziah after he sought counsel from Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, regarding his recovery from an injury. Elijah delivered a message of doom, declaring, "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending men to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, you will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die" (2 Kings 1:6).

Afflictions and Death

Ahaziah's afflictions were both physical and spiritual. His injury, sustained from a fall through the lattice of his upper room, was a physical manifestation of his spiritual downfall. Despite his attempts to seek healing through pagan means, his fate was sealed by his refusal to turn to the LORD. The afflictions of Ahaziah culminated in his untimely death, as prophesied by Elijah. "So Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken" (2 Kings 1:17).

Legacy

Ahaziah's reign was brief, lasting only two years, and his legacy is one of failure to heed the warnings of God. His life serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of wickedness and the inevitable afflictions that follow those who reject the LORD. His death without an heir led to the ascension of his brother, Jehoram, further illustrating the instability and divine disfavor that plagued the house of Ahab.

Ahaziah's account is a vivid reminder of the biblical principle that "the way of the wicked will perish" (Psalm 1:6), and it underscores the importance of faithfulness to God and the dangers of idolatry and disobedience.2 Kings 1:1-4
Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Answer to the Jewish Rabby's Letter.
... And his father David: Many are the afflictions of the ... in the way, is abomination
to the wicked [38 ... Ahaziah, another king of Israel, fell down through a lattice ...
/.../answer to the jewish rabbys.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Laws Of Their Country, And Experienced Great Afflictions; And When ... King, And Slew
Both Joram And Ahaziah; As Also What He Did For The Punishment Of The Wicked. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

On the Righteousness and Efficacy of the Providence of God ...
... deterred from sinning, when they see wicked men "wearied ... a token of divine anger
against Ahaziah and the ... the kingdom through the endurance of afflictions, as a ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 9 on the righteousness.htm

Questions.
... What became of Ahaziah? ... What of the dying among the wicked and the burial?"Psalm
88:3, 4."Isaiah ... 2. How had they been told to meet their afflictions?"Matt ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/questions.htm

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