OCHOZIA. - King of Israel, son of Achab and Iezabel, he reigned for approximately two years (853–852 B.C.). A contemporary of Iosaphat king of Judah (v.), he maintained with him the good relations already initiated by his father Achab and joined in the undertaking of a small fleet of ships which was to sail for Ophir in search of gold; but the ships were wrecked in the harbour of Asiongaber (I Reg. 22, 49 sqq.; II Par. 20, 35 sqq.). The alliance with O., “a man of evil conduct,” earned Iosaphat the rebuke of the prophet Eliezer (II Par. 20, 37). In fact, O. followed the impious conduct of his father: “he served Baal and worshipped him, provoking the wrath of the God of Israel” (I Reg. 22, 54).
Having been seriously injured after falling from a window of the royal palace in Samaria, he sent messengers to consult Beelzebub, god of Accaron. As punishment for such flagrant apostasy, Elia (v.) foretold his death. Three times in succession O. attempted to seize the ill-omened prophet; but the outrage committed against the prophetic ministry was each time punished by the sudden death of the king’s messengers (I Reg. 1). He Ioram (v.). Under his brief reign, the revolt of the Moabites under King Mesa began (ibid. 1, 1).