Second Chronicles 22 Commentary
Ahaziah becomes king in Jerusalem. Like his father Jehoram, he is a wicked king. But Ahaziah isn’t the star of this horror chapter. Instead, it is Athaliah, the surviving widow of King Jehoram and the mother of Ahaziah, who becomes the main object. And because of Athaliah, we have another mass murder of the entire royal family.
The reader must be reminded of who Athaliah is. She is the daughter of Jezebel. Yes, the famous evil wife of Ahab. This chapter describes Athaliah as the granddaughter of Omri. Omri was the king of Israel and father of King Ahab, who had ascended the throne after a series of bloody battles. Is the Bible emphasizing this point by introducing Athaliah this way?
She is also the queen-mother. Her son Ahaziah has just become king in Jerusalem. He dies just after one year on the throne. It is after the death of Ahaziah that Athaliah moves in and orchestrates the killing of the entire royal family in Jerusalem. But the LORD has other plans. Joash, son of Ahaziah, is hidden away from among the royal princes who are about to be murdered.
The chapter introduces us to husband and wife, Jehoiada and Jehosheba. Jehoiada is the High Priest while Jehosheba is the sister to the now-dead King Ahaziah. It is through this godly couple that the LORD preserves the seed.
The chapter gives us two plots. The first one is an evil plot orchestrated by the devil to advance evil in Judah and destroy the seed. The second plot involves the hidden infant at the temple of the LORD.
The evil plot looks powerful and rules for 6 years. On the other hand, the godly plot is hidden away in apparent obscurity.
The saint must be reminded of these two plots at play even today. When the whistle is blown, only one plot wins. Let not the saint forget.
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