Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 26. Twenty. In 2 Paral. 22:2, we read forty, by mistake of the transcribers, as Ochozias, (Joachaz, or Azarias, 2 Chronicles 21:17) would thus be older than his father, who died at the age of forty. 2 Chronicles 21:20. All the original versions, and many copies of the Septuagint read “twenty-two” in both passages; and those who would admit no mistake, are forced to have recourse to explanations which can give no satisfaction. De Dieu would include in the reign of Ochozias the six years of Athalia’s usurpation, and the thirteen of Joas, during his minority. Others would date from the separation of the two kingdoms, and so forth But would the Holy Ghost cause the same fact to be recorded in two places in such a different manner? The best chronologists acknowledge a mistake in the Hebrew text of Paral. (Cajet. Salien, Petau, Tirinus. and so forth Calmet.) as the letters which denote these numbers are not unlike (Mariana:) c (20) might easily be exchanged for m (40.) Bible.—Daughter. That is, grand-daughter; for she was daughter of Achab, son of Amri, verse 18. ( Challoner.) unless she was only adopted by Achab. Worthington.