Ahaziah of Israel

Ahaziah Hebrew אחזיה, († 849 or 852 BC) was king of Israel. His reign lasted two years and is to 850-849 BC ( Albright ) or 853-852 BC ( Thiele ) dated.

Ahaziah was the son of King Ahab and Jezebel. The report in the book, according to the kings (1 Kings 2 Kings 22,52 EU 1.18 EU), he was appointed to succeed his father after he was killed in the battle against the Syrians in Gilead. Like his father, he persecuted the followers of YHWH faith and promoted the cult of Baal. The Moabites fell off during this period of Israel. With king Jehoshaphat, Ahaziah was, like his father allied; a joint naval expedition but failed.

As a result of a fall in his palace in Samaria Ahaziah fell ill, and he did inquire of the god of Ekron, Baal - Zebub ( Beelzebub ), about his fate. This criticized the prophet Elijah, as the King YHWH should ask. That is why Elijah prophesied to the king that he would not recover from his illness. Ahaziah died soon after. Successor in the royal office was his brother Joram, because Ahaziah died childless.