1The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, because the raiding party that had come with the Arabians into the camp had killed all the older sons; and Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah became king.2Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem; his mother's name was Athaliah daughter of Omri.3He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, because his mother was his counselor in doing evil.4He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, just as the house of Ahab had done, for they became his counselors after his father's death, leading to his destruction.5He also followed their counsel and went with Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead, and the Syrians struck down Joram.6Joram returned to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds that the Syrians had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram; and Azariah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram was ill.7And from God came the ruin of Ahaziah to Joram; and when he came, he went out with Jehoram to Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.8When Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the officials of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers who were serving Ahaziah, and he killed them.9He searched for Ahaziah, and they captured him in Samaria; they brought him to Jehu, put him to death, and buried him, because they said, "He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart." There was no one left in the house of Ahaziah strong enough to retain the kingdom.