A queen during the divided kingdom, who destroyed the royal family. She was a daughter of Ahab, wife of Jehoram, and mother of Ahaziah and Jehosheba.
About Athaliah
The wife of King Jehoram of Judah, and daughter of King Ahab of Israel and his wife, Jezebel. Athaliah was Judah’s only queen. She ruled 841–835 BC (2 Kings 11; 2 Chronicles 22–23).
Like her mother Jezebel, Athaliah worshiped Baal, a Canaanite god. She encouraged her husband to do the same. Athaliah had a strong influence on Jehoram. After he died, their son Ahaziah became king (2 Kings 8:25–27; 2 Chronicles 22:1). Like his father, Ahaziah was influenced by Athaliah and did “evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 8:27).
Because the kings of Israel and Judah disobeyed God, He chose Jehu to be the true king of Israel (2 Kings 9:2–3). Jehu killed Joram, king of Israel (2 Kings 9:24), and Ahaziah, king of Judah (2 Kings 9:27; 2 Chr 22:9).
After her son died, Athaliah took the throne of Judah. She tried to kill all the males in the royal family (2 Kings 11:1; 2 Chronicles 22:10). But Jehoshabeath, Jehoram’s daughter and the wife of Jehoiada, the priest, rescued Ahaziah’s son Joash. She hid him away from Athaliah (2 Kings 11:2–3; 2 Chronicles 22:11–12).
After six years, Jehoiada “strengthened himself” and decided to reveal young prince Joash to the people. He made a deal with some mercenaries brought to Jerusalem: “the Levites...and the heads of the families of Israel” (2 Chronicles 23:1–3). In a secret ceremony in the temple, Joash was crowned king.
Athaliah heard people celebrating and blowing trumpets and tried to stop what was happening by tearing her clothes and yelling, “Treason!” She was immediately taken from the temple area and executed (2 Kings 11:13–16; 2 Chronicles 23:12–15).
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Ahab, Jezebel
- Partner
- Jehoram
- Siblings 3
- Joash (1 Kings 22:26), Ahaziah, Joram
- Children 2
- Ahaziah (Son of Jehoram), Jehosheba
Key References
And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.
When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.
But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.
And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.
And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.
All Scripture References (15)
2 Kings (7)
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.
When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.
But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.
And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.
When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people in the house of the LORD.
And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”
and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace.
2 Chronicles (8)
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.
When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs of the house of Judah.
But Jehoshabeath daughter of King Jehoram took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and the wife of Jehoiada the priest, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah so that she could not kill him.
And Joash remained hidden with them in the house of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.
When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went out to them in the house of the LORD.
And she looked and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason, treason!”
and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword.
For the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the house of God and had even used the sacred objects of the house of the LORD for the Baals.