8:16-29

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2Ki 8:16-12:21 REMOVAL OF JEZEBEL’S BAALISM

Jezebel’s Baalism spreads to Judah (2Ki 8:16-9:10)

The writer now returns to his historical account of the kings of Judah and Israel. Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram, who was married to Athaliah the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, became king of Judah after his father’s death.

Through Athaliah, Jezebel’s Baalism spread to Judah. Jehoram made sure that no one challenged his right to do as he pleased by killing all likely rivals.

Because of this and his support for Jezebel’s Baalism, he was assured of a horrible death (2Ki 8:16-19; 2 Chron 21:4,11-15,18-20).

For David’s sake God did not yet destroy Judah, though the nation certainly weakened. Edom to the south and Libnah on the Philistine border freed themselves from Judah’s rule, while the Arabs and the Philistines raided and plundered with great success (2Ki 8:20-24; 2 Chron 21:16-17).

During one of these raids most of Judah’s royal family was killed. Jehoram’s sole surviving son, Ahaziah, became king after his father’s death (2 Chron 22:1), but in his short reign he proved to be no better than his father.

He was dominated by his mother Athaliah, along with relatives of hers from the north whom she had brought into the Jerusalem palace (2 Chron 22:3-4).

He joined his uncle Joram (or Jehoram) of Israel in war against Hazael of Syria. When Joram retreated to the summer palace at Jezreel to recover from wounds received in battle, Ahaziah went to visit him (2Ki 8:25-29).

Elisha saw that the time had come for him to carry out his last major responsibility, which was to anoint Israel’s army commander Jehu as king. Jehu’s job was to rid Israel of the entire family of Ahab and Jezebel (2Ki 9:1-10; cf. 1 Kings 19:16).