How old was Ahaziah when he began to rule over Jerusalem?
Answer1
2 Kings 8:26 (KJV): Two and twenty years old
Answer2
2 Chronicles 22:2 (KJV): Forty and two years old
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Sign up to join this communityHow old was Ahaziah when he began to rule over Jerusalem?
Answer1
2 Kings 8:26 (KJV): Two and twenty years old
Answer2
2 Chronicles 22:2 (KJV): Forty and two years old
The simple answer to the question is: Ahaziah was 22 years old when he began to reign according to 2 Kings 8:26.
The Hebrew text has been corrupted in 2 Chron 22:2 by recording "42 years old" - this can be deduced from several lines of evidence:
Just why the Leningrad Codex (and thus the BHS) is corrupt at this point is unknown, perhaps by a copyist or transcriber. Many modern versions recognise this (eg, NIV, NLT, ESV, NASB, CSB, CEV, ISV, HCSB, etc) and make the obvious correction.