How Did Ahaziah Die?

How Did Ahaziah Die?

One supposed contradiction is how Ahaziah died.

2 Chronicles 22:8-9

"And it came about, when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, that he found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers attending to Ahaziah, and killed them. He also searched for Ahaziah, and they caught him while he was hiding in Samaria; they brought him to Jehu, put him to death, and buried him. For they said, “He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.” So there was no one of the house of Ahaziah to retain the power of the kingdom," (2 Chronicles 22:8-9 NASB).

2 Kings 9:27-28

"When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by way of the garden house. But Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him too, in the chariot.” So they shot him at the ascent of Gur, which is at Ibleam. But he fled to Megiddo and died there. Then his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his grave with his fathers in the city of David," (2 Kings 9:27-28 NASB).

   Firstly, let us write the main points of what happened in these passages. Jehu kills the princes of Judah and sons of Ahaziah's brothers. He then pursues Ahaziah. Ahaziah fled and Jehu sent his forces after him. Ahaziah was captured in Samaria where he was hiding. We also read they shot him at the ascent of Gur (Ibleam). This does seem like a contradiction until we remember our Geography. Ibleam is in Samaria, so there is no issue with that. During his escape he was attacked by Jehu's forces, but he escaped. What may have happened is he escaped to Megiddo, yet, Jehu and his forces just happened to be there as Jehu's location is never mentioned at the end. Jehu's forces bring Ahaziah to Jehu in Megiddo where he is killed and brought to be buried in Jerusalem.

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