1 And the inhabiters of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: For the men of war that came with the Arabians in the host had slain all his elder sons. And so Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah, was made king.
2 Two and forty years old was he when he began to reign, and reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
3 And he walked also in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor for to do evil.
4 Wherefore he did that displeased the LORD like to the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.
5 And he also walked after their counsel. And Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel went to fight with Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth in Gilead: and they of Ramoth wounded him.
6 Wherefore he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which were given him at Ramoth, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was diseased.
7 For it was thrust into Ahaziah of God to go to Joram, and that when he was come, he should go out with Joram against Jehu the son of Nimshi whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.
8 And as Jehu was executing justice upon the house of Ahab. He found the lords of Judah and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah that waited on Ahaziah, and he slew them.
9 And he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him where he was hid in Samaria, and brought him to Jehu. And when they had slain him they buried him: "Because," said they, "he was the son of Jehoshaphat which sought the LORD with all his heart." And there was none of the house of Ahaziah that could obtain to be king.
10 For Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah, when she saw her son was dead, arose and destroyed all the seed of the kingdom of the house of Judah.
11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a sleeping chamber. And so Jehoshabeath the daughter of king Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest - because she was the sister of Ahaziah - hid him from Athaliah that she slew him not.
12 And he was with them hid in the house of God six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land.