Ahaziah's apostasy — maternal influence — 'He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly' (הוא גם הלך בדרכי בית אחאב כי אמו היתה יועצתו להרשׁע). The phrase 'walked in the ways of the house of Ahab' (דרכי בית אחאב) represents the continuation of northern apostasy into the next generation. Crucially, the Chronicler names the mother Athaliah as his counselor (יועצת) for wickedness (להרשׁע). The female influence is presented as driving force — Ahaziah walks in evil because his mother counsels him to do so. The mother-son dyad of apostasy prefigures Athaliah's later seizure of power. The Chronicler presents women as both victims and agents within patriarchal structures.

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