1 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahazi´ah 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 Ahazi´ah the son of Jeho´ram king of Judah reigned.
2 Forty and two years old was Ahazi´ah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athali´ah the daughter of Omri.
3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.
4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab: for they were his counselors, after the death of his father, to his destruction.
5 He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jeho´ram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Haz´a-el king of Syria at Ra´moth–gil´e-ad: and the Syrians smote Joram.
6 And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Haz´a-el king of Syria. And Azari´ah the son of Jeho´ram king of Judah went down to see Jeho´ram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.
7 And the destruction of Ahazi´ah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jeho´ram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
8 And 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 Ahazi´ah, that ministered to Ahazi´ah, he slew them.
9 And he sought Ahazi´ah: 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 Jehosh´aphat, who sought the Lord with all heart. So the house of Ahazi´ah had no power to keep still the kingdom.
10 But when Athali´ah the mother of Ahazi´ah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.
11 But Jehosh´abeath, the daughter of the king, took Jo´ash the son of Ahazi´ah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehosh´abeath, the daughter of king Jeho´ram, the wife of Jehoi´ada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahazi´ah,) hid him from Athali´ah, so that she slew him not.
12 And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athali´ah reigned over the land.