Ahaziah (I)

1 Kings xxii. 40.I. AHAZIAH, the Son and Successor of Ahab, King of Israel. He reigned two years, part alone, and part with his Father Ahab, who made him, as it is said, his Associate in the Kingdom, the year before his death¹. Ahaziah imitated his Father’s impiety, and paid his adorations to Baal and Astarte, the worship of whom had been introduced in Israel by Jezebel his Mother. The Scripture says that King Jehoshaphat having equipp’d a Fleet at Ezion-geber, Ahaziah desired leave for his servants to go with Jehoshaphat’s to Ophir. Jehoshaphat, in all probability, at first might scruple it, since the first Book of Kings relates, that he would not consent to it. But the Chronicles shew sufficiently that these two Princes having together equipp’d a Fleet for Tarshish, God, provoked at the Alliance which Jehoshaphat had made with this impious King, permitted this Fleet to be so shattered by tempestuous winds, as to be disabled and unfit to perform the intended voyage.

The Moabites, who had always been obedient to the Kings of the ten Tribes, ever since their separation from the kingdom of Judah, revolted, after the death of Ahab, and refused to pay the ordinary tribute. Ahaziah had not leisure or power to reduce them; for about the same time having fallen from the terrass of his house, he hurt himself considerably, and sent his people to Ekron to consult Beelzebub concerning his indisposition. At the same time the Prophet, by God’s appointment, met these messengers, and said to them, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that ye go thus and consult Beelzebub the God of Ekron? Therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. Having said this he went away. Ahaziah’s people returning to this Prince’s palace, told what had happened to them. Ahaziah asked them what the figure and dress was of the Man who told them these things? They answered, He is an hairy Man, girt with a girdle of leather about his loins; and he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

Immediately he sent a Captain, with fifty soldiers under his command, to seize Elijah, and bring him to him: But the Captain having spoken in too imperious a manner to the man of God, Elijah called for fire from Heaven, which destroyed him and his fifty soldiers. Ahaziah being informed of this, sent another, who was in like manner consumed by fire from Heaven, together with his fifty soldiers. A third coming to him, fell upon his knees before him, and entreated him to preserve his life, and wait upon the King. Hereupon the Angel of the Lord suggested inwardly to the Prophet that he might go, and should fear nothing. Elijah therefore rose and went to Ahaziah, to whom he repeated what before he had told his People, that he should not recover of his disease. Accordingly he died, as the word of the Lord had declared. Jehoram his Brother reigned in his stead, in the year of the World 3108, before J.C. 892, before the vulgar Æra 896.

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