Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord, like the house of Ahab ,.... See 2 Kings 8:27 . for they were his counsellors, after the death of his father, to his destruction ; both of soul and body; for they gave him bad advice, both in religious and civil things; these were some of the family or court of the king of Israel, that his mother sent for after his father's death to be of his council. read more
He walked also after their counsel ,.... Did as they advised him, as in matters of religion, so in political things, of which there is an instance in this and the next verse; of which see Gill on 2 Kings 8:28 , 2 Kings 8:29 . read more
And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram ,.... Of his appointing; it was according to his purpose and decree, and was brought about by his overruling Providence, ordering the occasion and manner of it very justly for his sins: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi ; see 2 Kings 9:21 , whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab ; raised up to be king of Israel for that purpose, 2 Kings 9:6 , the Targum... read more
Went with Jehoram - See on 2 Kings 8:28 ; (note). read more
A pitiable prince; or, an unfortunate child of fortune. The thorough pitiableness of one born to a high estate is the lesson of the text; but we must wait to learn— I. THAT MEN SUFFER AS THEY SIN . It appears that Ahaziah was the only son left to the house of Jehoram; all the eldest had been slain by the invaders ( 2 Chronicles 22:1 ). Thus we find that the man who with shameful selfishness murdered his own brothers, had to suffer the loss, by violence, of his own sons.... read more
A medley of the memoranda of evil-doing, its consequences, and its end. The one surviving son of Jehoram, his youngest son, Ahaziah, is put on an unsteady, unsafe throne. Jehoram had caused all his own brethren to be slain, and now it had come to pass that all his "eldest sons had been slain by the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp" As Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and granddaughter of Omri, the evil wife of Jehoram, had not failed to make an evil husband of Jehoram, so,... read more
A chapter of tragedies. I. THE SLAUGHTER OF JEHORAM 'S SONS . ( 2 Chronicles 22:1 .) An illustration of three things. 1 . The perils attending high station. Jehoram's sons were among the captives taken by the Philistines and Arabians ( 2 Chronicles 21:17 ). Had they been common soldiers, their lives might have been spared; being princes of the blood, they were put to death. A man's social elevation attracts towards him the arrows of hate, envy, malice, and other secret... read more
The counsel that destroys, and that which saves. "His counsellors … to his destruction." The counsel we receive has much to do with the character we form and the life we live; much, therefore, with the destiny we are weaving. I. THE URGENT NEED FOR COUNSEL IN A CRITICAL PERIOD OF OUR LIFE . In our earliest years the river of our life flows between high and narrow banks. We are well fenced in, and must move according to our surroundings. But later on the banks are... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 22:1-9
We have here an account of the reign of Ahaziah, a short reign (of one year only), yet long enough, unless it had been better. He was called Jeho-ahaz (2 Chron. 21:17); here he is called Ahaz-iah, which is the same name and of the same signification, only the words of which it is compounded are transposed. He is here said to be forty-two years old when he began to reign (2 Chron. 22:2), which could not be, for his father, his immediate predecessor, was but forty when he died, and it is said (2... read more