Ahaziah of Israel
This entry is not about King Ahaziah of Judah
Ahaziah was king of Israel and the son of Ahab and Jezebel. Albright has dated his reign to 850 - 849 BC, while Thiele offers the dates 853 - 852 BC.
The author of the Books of Kings criticized him for following the ways of his father. During his reign the Moabites revolted from under his authority (2 Kings 3:5-7). He united with Jehoshaphat in an attempt to revive maritime trade by the Red Sea, which proved a failure (2 Chronicles 20:35-37). His messengers, sent to consult the god of Ekron regarding his recovery from the effects of a fall from the roof-gallery of his palace, were met on the way by Elijah, who sent them back to tell the king that he would never rise from his bed (1 Kings 22:51; 2 Kings 1:18).
