Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 22:1
Then the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, the youngest son of Jehoram, king in his place, since the raiders who had come into the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records a succession event in Jerusalem immediately following a military raid that eliminated the older royal heirs. It describes the city's inhabitants appointing Ahaziah as king after his father Jehoram's death.
The words — וַיַּמְלִיכוּ (va.yamlichu) translates literally as "they made king," and תַּחְתָּיו (tachav) means "in his place." These terms frame the transition as a direct human replacement following the elimination of the older brothers.
The thread — The same succession appears in 2 Kings 8:24, while 2 Chronicles 21:16 identifies the Arab raiders who cleared the older heirs. This "king's son" is later recalled in 2 Chronicles 23:3 during a covenant renewal at the temple.
Why it lands — The text documents a political transfer of power driven by casualty rather than divine selection, requiring readers to track how human institutions respond to sudden violence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And 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.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 21:16 Then the LORD stirred against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and Arabs who lived near the Cushites.
- 2 Kings 8:24 And Jehoram rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And his son Ahaziah reigned in his place.
- 2 Chronicles 23:3 the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. “Behold, the king’s son!” said Jehoiada. “He must reign, just as the LORD promised concerning the descendants of David.
- 2 Chronicles 26:1 All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
- 2 Chronicles 33:25 But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.
- 2 Chronicles 36:1 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.
- 1 Chronicles 3:11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,