Athaliah עֲתַלְיָ֫הוּ
Queen of Judah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel
Who is Athaliah in the Bible?
Athaliah was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel who became queen of Judah and the only woman to rule as a monarch in the kingdom's history (2 Kings 8:26, 2 Chronicles 22:2). After her son Ahaziah died, she seized power and ordered the execution of all potential heirs to the throne, though the infant Joash was secretly hidden and preserved by his aunt Jehosheba (2 Kings 11:1-3, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12). During her six-year reign, Athaliah promoted the worship of Baal and diverted temple resources to support his cult (2 Chronicles 24:7). In the seventh year, the priest Jehoiada orchestrated a coup, crowned young Joash as king, and had Athaliah executed (2 Kings 11:13-14, 20, 2 Chronicles 23:12-13, 21). Her story serves as a cautionary account of how the influence of Israel's idolatrous royal house threatened the survival of Judah's dynasty and the Lord's temple.
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.
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In Scripture
2 biblical books2 Kings 5 verses
- 2 Kings 8:26
"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."
- 2 Kings 11:1
"When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs."
- 2 Kings 11:2
"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."
- 2 Kings 11:3
"And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land."
- 2 Kings 11:13
"When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people in the house of the LORD."
2 Chronicles 5 verses
- 2 Chronicles 22:2
"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."
- 2 Chronicles 22:10
"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."
- 2 Chronicles 22:11
"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..."
- 2 Chronicles 22:12
"And Joash remained hidden with them in the house of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land."
- 2 Chronicles 23:12
"When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went out to them in the house of the LORD."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עֲתַלְיָ֫הוּ |