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Athaliah עֲתַלְיָ֫הוּ

Female H6271G 2 books

Queen of Judah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel

Biography

Athaliah was the queen of Judah and the only woman to rule as a monarch in the kingdom's history. She was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel and married Jehoram, king of Judah. After the death of her son Ahaziah, Athaliah seized power and ordered the execution of all potential heirs to the throne, except for the infant Joash, who was hidden away by his aunt Jehosheba. Athaliah ruled Judah for six years, promoting the worship of Baal. In the seventh year, the priest Jehoiada orchestrated a coup, crowned Joash as king, and had Athaliah put to death. During her reign, Athaliah had used resources from the temple of the Lord to support the temple of Baal. Her story illustrates the negative influence of the house of Ahab on the kingdom of Judah and the consequences of forsaking the worship of the true God.

Family

Parents

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Offspring

In Scripture

2 biblical books
2 Kings 5 verses
  • 2 Kings 8:26

    "Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel."

  • 2 Kings 11:1

    "Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring."

  • 2 Kings 11:2

    "But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedroom; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain."

  • 2 Kings 11:3

    "He was with her hidden in Yahweh’s house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land."

  • 2 Kings 11:13

    "When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into Yahweh’s house:"

2 Chronicles 5 verses
  • 2 Chronicles 22:2

    "Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri."

  • 2 Chronicles 22:10

    "Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring of the house of Judah."

  • 2 Chronicles 22:11

    "But Jehoshabeath, the king’s daughter, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stealthily rescued him from among the king’s sons who were slain, and put him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the..."

  • 2 Chronicles 22:12

    "He was with them hidden in God’s house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land."

  • 2 Chronicles 23:12

    "When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into Yahweh’s house."

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Strong's
Named Hebrew עֲתַלְיָ֫הוּ H6271G