Who was Maaseiah in the Bible?

Maaseiah was a son of King Ahaz of Judah. His life is only mentioned in the context of his death during a war between the kingdoms of Judah and Israel (2 Chronicles 28:7).

How did Maaseiah die according to the Bible?

Maaseiah was killed by Zichri, a mighty warrior from the tribe of Ephraim, during a battle where Israel defeated Judah. This event is recorded in 2 Chronicles 28:7.

Why is Maaseiah mentioned in the Bible?

Maaseiah's death illustrates the severity of God's judgment against King Ahaz and Judah for their idolatry. His story serves as a historical record of the consequences of turning away from God (2 Chronicles 28:5-8).

Maaseiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleWarriorSon

Maaseiah, a son of King Ahaz of Judah, was killed by Zichri, an Ephraimite warrior, during a war between Judah and Israel (2Ch.28.7).

Maaseiah

Biography

Maaseiah was a son of King Ahaz of Judah whose life was tragically cut short during a devastating military conflict between Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel. According to 2 Chronicles 28:7, he was killed by Zichri, a mighty warrior from the tribe of Ephraim, during the same battle in which Judah suffered catastrophic losses. The text records that 120,000 Judean soldiers fell in a single day because Ahaz had forsaken the Lord, the God of his fathers. Alongside Maaseiah, Zichri also slew Azrikam, the officer in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, who was second to the king. Maaseiah's death represented both a personal tragedy and a national catastrophe, directly linked to his father's apostasy and the resulting withdrawal of divine protection.

Significance

The death of Maaseiah vividly illustrates the biblical principle that a leader's unfaithfulness brings consequences upon those under his care. King Ahaz's embrace of idolatry, including the abhorrent practice of child sacrifice in the Valley of Ben Hinnom (2 Chronicles 28:3), provoked divine judgment that fell upon the entire nation, including the royal household itself. Maaseiah's fate serves as a solemn warning about the far-reaching effects of apostasy, demonstrating that sin's consequences extend beyond the individual sinner to affect family and community. His story contributes to the Chronicler's theological framework showing that faithfulness brings blessing while unfaithfulness invites disaster.

Verse Appearances (1)

2Chr

2Chr 28:7

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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