Now the destructionof Ahaziahwas from God,in that he wentto Joram.For when he came,he wentout with JehoramagainstJehuthe sonof Nimshi,whomthe LORDhad anointedto cutoffthe houseof Ahab.
So the kingdid not listento the people;for it was a turn[of events] from the LORD,that He might establishHis word,whichthe LORDspokethroughAhijahthe Shiloniteto Jeroboamthe sonof Nebat.
Thussaysthe LORD,"You must not goup and fightagainstyour relativesthe sonsof Israel;returneverymanto his house,for thisthinghas comefrom Me."'" So they listenedto the wordof the LORD,and returnedand went[their way] according to the wordof the LORD.
and Jehuthe sonof Nimshiyou shall anointkingoverIsrael;and Elishathe sonof Shaphatof Abel-meholahyou shall anointas prophetin your place.
"The LORDsaid,'Whowill enticeAhabto goup and fallat Ramoth-gilead?'And onesaidthiswhile anothersaidthat.
So Jehukilledallwho remainedof the houseof Ahabin Jezreel,and allhis greatmenand his acquaintancesand his priests,untilhe lefthim withouta survivor.
Then Joramsaid,"Getready."And they madehis chariotready.Joramkingof Israeland Ahaziahkingof Judahwentout, eachin his chariot,and they wentout to meetJehuand foundhim in the propertyof Naboththe Jezreelite.
When Ahaziahthe kingof Judahsaw[this], he fledby the wayof the gardenhouse.And Jehupursuedhim and said,"Shoothim too,in the chariot."[So they shot him] at the ascentof Gur,whichis at Ibleam.But he fledto Megiddoand diedthere.
So the kingdid not listento the people,for it was a turn[of events] from Godthat the LORDmight establishHis word,whichHe spokethroughAhijahthe Shiloniteto Jeroboamthe sonof Nebat.
So he returnedto be healedin Jezreelof the woundswhichthey had inflictedon him at Ramah,when he foughtagainstHazaelkingof Aram.And Ahaziah,the sonof Jehoramkingof Judah,wentdownto seeJehoramthe sonof Ahabin Jezreel,becausehe was sick.
The LORDhas madeHimself known;He has executedjudgment.In the workof his own handsthe wickedis snared.HiggaionSelah.
The mindof manplanshis way,But the LORDdirectshis steps.
Declaringthe endfrom the beginning,And from ancienttimesthings whichhave not been done,Saying,My purposewill be established,And I will accomplishallMy goodpleasure';
Whoeveris wise,let him understandthesethings;[Whoever] is discerning,let him knowthem. For the waysof the LORDare right,And the righteouswill walkin them, But transgressorswill stumblein them.
"You will treaddownthe wicked,for they will be ashesunderthe solesof your feeton the daywhichI am preparing,"saysthe LORDof hosts.
Vengeanceis Mine, and retribution,In due timetheir footwill slip;For the dayof their calamityis near,And the impendingthingsare hasteningupon them.'
For it was of the LORDto hardentheir hearts,to meetIsraelin battlein orderthat he might utterlydestroythem, that they might receivenomercy,but that he might destroythem, justas the LORDhad commandedMoses.
However, his fatherand motherdid not knowthat it was of the LORD,for He was seekingan occasionagainstthe Philistines.Now at that timethe Philistineswere rulingover Israel.
