2 Chronicles 22:4

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for to his destruction they were his counselors after the death of his father.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The passage describes King Ahaziah’s conduct in Judah immediately following his father’s death. The narrative focuses on his personal actions and the influence of those advising him at that specific moment.

The words — The verb וַיַּעַשׂ (va.ya'as) means "he did," directly modified by הָרַע (ha.ra') "the evil" and the phrase בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה (be'einei Yahweh) "in the eyes of the LORD." The comparative clause כְּבֵית אַחְאָב (ke'veit Ahab) literally translates "like the house of Ahab."

The thread — The alignment with Ahab’s house is established in 2 Chronicles 22:3 and 22:5, where Ahaziah adopts their ways and follows their counsel into battle. The theme of harmful influence is echoed in Proverbs 13:20 and Proverbs 1:10.

Why it lands — The text states that counselors actively worked toward Ahaziah’s destruction after his father’s death, which the narrative presents as the direct cause of his evil. Readers must observe how specific advisory relationships determine royal conduct and its immediate consequences.

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

וַיַּ֧עַשׂva/i.Ya.'asand/ he did הָרַ֛עha./Ra'the/ evil בְּעֵינֵ֥יbe./'ei.Neiin/ [the] eyes of יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahweh כְּבֵ֣יתke./Veitlike/ [the] house of אַחְאָ֑ב'ach.'AvAhab כִּי־ki-for הֵ֜מָּהHe.mahthey הָֽיוּ־ha.yu-they wereל֣וֹl/oof/ himיֽוֹעֲצִ֗יםyo.'a.Tzimcounselors אַחֲרֵ֛י'a.cha.Reiafter מ֥וֹתMot[the] death of אָבִ֖יו'a.Vi/vfather/ his לְמַשְׁחִ֥יתle./mash.Chitto/ destructionלֽוֹ׃l/oof/ him

King James Version

Wherefore 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.

Cross-references

Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
2 Chronicles 24:17 After the death of Jehoiada, however, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them.
Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
Proverbs 12:5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit.
Proverbs 19:27 If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

People named

Ahab