Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 8:26
Two and twenty years old [was] Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name [was] Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
26. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah ] In 2Ch 22:2 his age is given as forty-two. This cannot be correct, but is due to a misreading of the Hebrew letters which were used as numerals. Jehoram, the father of Ahaziah, was thirty-two years old (see verse 17) when he began to reign and he reigned eight years. If Ahaziah was two and twenty at his father’s death, he was born when Jehoram was eighteen. This is not uncommon in the East. Indeed we find from 2Ch 22:1 that Jehoram had other children older than Ahaziah, but they were slain by the Arabian invaders.
Athaliah, the daughter of Omri ] Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and so the grand-daughter of Omri. For this manner of speech cf. verse 20 of the next chapter, where Jehu is called the son of Nimshi, though he has been twice spoken of in previous verses (2, 14) as the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Such names as Athaliah, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, indicate that the Baal-worshipping kings of Israel did not openly renounce the service of Yahweh. Athaliah is the time for Yahweh; Ahaziah the possession of Yahweh; Jehoram, or Joram, exalted by Yahweh.
The daughter of Omri – Son and daughter were used by the Jews of any descendants (compare Mat 1:1). The whole race were the children of Israel. Athaliah was the grand-daughter of Omri (see the margin). Her being called the daughter of Omri implies that an idea of special greatness was regarded as attaching to him, so that his name prevailed over that of Ahab. Indications of this ideal greatness are found in the Assyrian inscriptions, where the early name for Samaria is Beth-Omri, and where even Jehu has the title of the son of Omri.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 26. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign] In 2Ch 22:2, it is said, forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; this is a heavy difficulty, to remove which several expedients have been used. It is most evident that, if we follow the reading in Chronicles, it makes the son two years older than his own father! for his father began to reign when he was thirty-two years old, and reigned eight years, and so died, being forty years old; see 2Kg 8:17. Dr. Lightfoot says, “The original meaneth thus: Ahaziah was the son of two and forty years; namely, of the house of Omri, of whose seed he was by the mother’s side; and he walked in the ways of that house, and came to ruin at the same time with it. This the text directs us to look after, when it calleth his mother the daughter of Omri, who was indeed the daughter of Ahab. Now, these forty-two years are easily reckoned by any that will count back in the Chronicle to the second of Omri. Such another reckoning there is about Jechoniah, or Jehoiachin, 2Kg 24:8: Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign. But, 2Ch 36:9, Jehoiachin was the son of the eight years; that is, the beginning of his reign fell in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar, and of Judah’s first captivity.” – Works, vol. i., p. 87.
After all, here is a most manifest contradiction, that cannot be removed but by having recourse to violent modes of solution. I am satisfied the reading in 2Ch 22:2, is a mistake; and that we should read there, as here, twenty-two instead of forty-two years; see the note there. And may we not say with Calmet, Which is most dangerous, to acknowledge that transcribers have made some mistakes in copying the sacred books, or to acknowledge that there are contradictions in them, and then to have recourse to solutions that can yield no satisfaction to any unprejudiced mind? I add, that no mode of solution yet found out has succeeded in removing the difficulty; and of all the MSS. which have been collated, and they amount to several hundred, not one confirms the reading of twenty-two years. And to it all the ancient versions are equally unfriendly.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
How this agrees with 2Ch 22:2, See Poole “2Ch 22:2” on that place.
The daughter of Omri, i.e. his granddaughter. See above 2Ki 8:18.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign,…. In 2Ch 22:2 he is said to be forty two years of age; for the solution of that difficulty [See comments on 2Ch 22:2]:
and he reigned one year in Jerusalem; which was the whole of his reign:
and his mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel; that is, his granddaughter; for she was the daughter of Ahab the son of Omri, 2Ki 8:18, it was usual for grandchildren to be called children, sons and daughters, and perhaps she might be educated in the family of Omri.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(26) Ahaziah.Called Jehoahaz (2Ch. 21:17). Ewald thinks he assumed the name of Ahaziah on his accession.
The daughter of Omrii.e., granddaughter. Omri is mentioned rather than Ahab as the founder of the dynasty, and the notorious example of its wickedness. (Comp. Mic. 6:16 : The statutes of Omri are kept.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
26. Two and twenty years old Not forty and two, as 2Ch 22:2, by some corruption, reads. His father died in his fortieth year, (2Ki 8:17,) so that he must have begotten his youngest son when he was eighteen years old. This fact shows the early marriage of Joram and Athaliah. Compare note on 2Ki 8:18.
Reigned one year His reign and life were brought to an untimely end by his being involved with the house of Ahab. See 2Ki 9:16; 2Ki 9:23 ; 2Ki 9:27-29.
The daughter of Omri She was the granddaughter of Omri, as is seen from 2Ki 8:18; but the word “daughter” is often thus used in the more general sense of female descendant.
Gen 28:8
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 8:26. Athaliah, the daughter of Omri Houbigant reads it, The daughter of Ahab, the son of Omri.
REFLECTIONS.1st, We have here,
1. An account of the wicked reign of Jehoram king of Judah, who, during his father’s life, was associated with him to govern. Utterly unlike the good Jehoshaphat, he cleaved to the sins of the house of Ahab; and having taken his daughter to wife, she poisoned his heart with her idolatries. Note; (1.) Good men, to their grief, have often very wicked children. (2.) A wicked wife is among the greatest of God’s plagues. (3.) Nothing can be so dangerous to young men as bad connections. Much more easily will they imbibe the principles and practices of a wicked Ahab, than of a pious Jehoshaphat.
2nd, Ahaziah succeeded his father, and walked, like him, in the wicked ways of Ahab’s family. What else could be expected from the son of Jezebel’s daughter, and the example of a father so abandoned? At the request of Joram his uncle, he went to battle with him to Ramoth-gilead, where Joram was wounded, and, having taken the place, was carried to Jezreel to be healed. Thither Ahaziah went to visit him, and met, as we shall find, the death he deserved. Note; (1.) When the sinner’s body is wounded, how solicitous is he to be healed, whilst the more dangerous wounds of his soul, neglected, stink and are corrupt through his foolishness! (2.) Friendship with the wicked is the path of death.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ki 8:26 Two and twenty years old [was] Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name [was] Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
Ver. 26. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah. ] Two and forty, saith another prophet, 2Ch 22:2 though the Septuagint there also have two and twenty: so have the Syriac and Arabic versions. Here, therefore, some say, but erroneously, that the text in the Chronicles hath been erroneously copied out, and ought to be corrected by this in the Kings. Others answer better, that those forty-two years are to be understood of the continuance of Omri’s pedigree, from whom Ahaziah descended by his mother Athaliah, as we here have it in this verse. Vide Sharpii Symphoniam, page 203.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Two and twenty years. See note on 2Ch 22:2.
Ahaziah. Note that Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, omitted in Mat 1:8, all died violent deaths (2Ki 9:27; 2Ki 12:20; 2Ki 14:19).
daughter. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), for grand-daughter; and even for successors not in descent by blood.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Two and twenty: In the parallel passage of Chronicles, it is said, “forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign;” but this is evidently a mistake, as it makes the son two years older than his own father! For his father began to reign when he was thirty-two years old, and reigned eight years, and so died, being forty years old. See note on 2Ki 8:17, and see note on 2Ch 22:2.
one year: 2Ki 9:21-27, 2Ch 22:5-8
Athaliah: 2Ki 11:1, 2Ki 11:13-16
daughter: or, grand-daughter, 2Ki 8:18
Reciprocal: 1Ki 16:16 – Omri 2Ki 13:1 – three and twentieth year 2Ch 18:1 – joined affinity
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 8:26-27. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign How this agrees with 2Ch 22:2, see on that place. The daughter of Omri That is, his grand-daughter, 2Ki 8:18. He walked in the way of the house of Ahab He not only worshipped the calves, but also Baal. For he was son-in-law of the house of Ahab And so was corrupted in his religion by his connection with that idolatrous and wicked family. He was the proper son of Athaliah, daughter of Ahab, and the grandson-in-law of Ahab, his father Joram being properly Ahabs son-in- law.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
8:26 {o} Two and twenty years old [was] Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name [was] Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
(o) Which is to be understood, that he was made king when his father reigned, but after his father’s death he was confirmed king when he was forty-two years old, as in 2Ch 22:2.