2 Chronicles 22 Study Notes

Joram (also called Jehoram): Eighth king of Israel, son of Ahab, brother of Ahaziah; killed by Jehu after he and Ahaziah of Judah fought against Hazael of Aram; last king of the house of Ahab in Israel.

22:7-9 God had appointed Jehu to put an end to the dynasty of Ahab and to become king himself (2Kg 9:1-10). Jehu went too far in eliminating Judah’s King Ahaziah, thus setting up the situation where Athaliah almost eliminated the line of David when she seized the Davidic throne (2Ch 22:10-12).

22:10 Athaliah: Usurper of the throne of Judah; daughter of Jezebel and Ahab; wife of Jehoram; executed in Jehoiada’s plot to reinstall Joash as king. Who would fill the vacant throne of Judah? There were some male heirs who were toddlers, but of course they were unable to rule the country. Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, leaped at the chance and made herself queen of Judah. She had no legitimate claim to the throne because she was not descended from David. She followed her husband’s earlier practice and killed anyone who had a claim to the throne, even her own grandchildren.

22:11-12 There was one heir whom Athaliah was not able to eliminate. Joash was a baby, having been born about the time of Ahaziah’s accession. Ahaziah’s sister Jehoshabeath and her husband Jehoiada the high priest raised Joash in seclusion in the temple for six years.