This commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.
2Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
Masoretic Text – reads 42
This verse states that Ahaziah was 42 years old when he began to reign, whereas 2 Kings 8:26 states that he was 22. This is almost certainly a scribal error in the Hebrew Masoretic Text from which the KJV was translated, as the surrounding chronology makes 42 impossible. If Ahaziah was 42, he would have been two years older than his father:
Jehoram became king at 32 (2 Chronicles 21:5).
He reigned eight years (2 Chronicles 21:20).
He died at 40 years old (2 Chronicles 21:20).
Ahaziah succeeded him.
Other Ancient Textual Witnesses – Support 22
The correct reading of 22 is preserved in several other ancient textual witnesses:
2 Kings 8:26 (parallel account in both Hebrew and Greek)
Syriac Peshitta
Arabic versions
Lucianic Septuagint recension
Some Greek manuscript witnesses
In summary
The Septuagint (LXX) is an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, begun centuries before Christ. Along with the Syriac, Arabic, and other ancient textual witnesses, it provides valuable evidence for comparing different readings.
Although scribal errors occurred during the copying and transmission of Scripture, the original wording can be established by comparing the available ancient manuscripts and textual traditions. A discrepancy in one textual tradition does not mean the truth has been lost, since other witnesses preserve the correct reading.
3He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.
4Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.
5He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.
6And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.
7And 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.
8And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.
9And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.
10But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.
11But 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 bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.
12And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.
22
2 Chronicles 22 — Forever Word commentary
King James VersionThis commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.
2Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
Masoretic Text – reads 42
This verse states that Ahaziah was 42 years old when he began to reign, whereas 2 Kings 8:26 states that he was 22. This is almost certainly a scribal error in the Hebrew Masoretic Text from which the KJV was translated, as the surrounding chronology makes 42 impossible. If Ahaziah was 42, he would have been two years older than his father:
Jehoram became king at 32 (2 Chronicles 21:5).
He reigned eight years (2 Chronicles 21:20).
He died at 40 years old (2 Chronicles 21:20).
Ahaziah succeeded him.
Other Ancient Textual Witnesses – Support 22
The correct reading of 22 is preserved in several other ancient textual witnesses:
2 Kings 8:26 (parallel account in both Hebrew and Greek)
Syriac Peshitta
Arabic versions
Lucianic Septuagint recension
Some Greek manuscript witnesses
In summary
The Septuagint (LXX) is an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, begun centuries before Christ. Along with the Syriac, Arabic, and other ancient textual witnesses, it provides valuable evidence for comparing different readings.
Although scribal errors occurred during the copying and transmission of Scripture, the original wording can be established by comparing the available ancient manuscripts and textual traditions. A discrepancy in one textual tradition does not mean the truth has been lost, since other witnesses preserve the correct reading.
3He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.
4Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.
5He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.
6And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.
7And 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.
8And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.
9And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.
10But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.
11But 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 bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.
12And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.