Athaliah was a queen of Judah, known for her tumultuous and violent reign. She was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel, making her a member of the infamous Omride dynasty. Athaliah married Jehoram, the king of Judah, thereby uniting the royal families of Israel and Judah. Her account is primarily found in 2 Kings 11 and 2 Chronicles 22-23.

Upon the death of her son, King Ahaziah of Judah, Athaliah seized the throne and ruled as queen. Her ascension to power was marked by a brutal purge, as she sought to eliminate all potential claimants to the throne from the house of David. This included the massacre of the royal family, though her grandson Joash was secretly saved by his aunt Jehosheba, who hid him in the temple for six years.

Athaliah's reign is often characterized by her promotion of Baal worship, following in the footsteps of her mother Jezebel. This idolatry was in direct opposition to the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel, and led to significant religious and political turmoil in Judah.

Her rule came to an end when the high priest Jehoiada orchestrated a coup. In the seventh year of her reign, Jehoiada revealed Joash to the people and crowned him king in a dramatic ceremony at the temple. Athaliah, upon hearing the commotion, entered the temple and was captured and executed by the guards at Jehoiada's command. Her death marked the end of Baal worship in Judah and the restoration of the Davidic line to the throne.

Joash

Joash, also known as Jehoash, was a king of Judah who reigned for forty years. He was the son of King Ahaziah and the grandson of Athaliah. His account is detailed in 2 Kings 11-12 and 2 Chronicles 22-24. Joash's early life was marked by danger and divine providence, as he was hidden from Athaliah's murderous purge by his aunt Jehosheba and raised in the temple under the protection of the high priest Jehoiada.

At the age of seven, Joash was brought out of hiding and crowned king in a carefully orchestrated coup led by Jehoiada. The young king's reign began with a strong commitment to the worship of Yahweh and the restoration of the temple, which had fallen into disrepair during Athaliah's rule. Under Jehoiada's guidance, Joash initiated a significant temple restoration project, funded by the people of Judah.

2 Kings 12:2 notes, "All the days that Jehoiada the priest instructed him, Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD." This highlights the positive influence Jehoiada had on Joash's early reign. However, after Jehoiada's death, Joash's reign took a negative turn. Influenced by his officials, Joash abandoned the worship of Yahweh and turned to idolatry, leading to spiritual decline in Judah.

The prophet Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, confronted Joash about his apostasy, but Joash ordered his execution, an act that brought divine judgment upon him. Joash's reign ended in tragedy when he was assassinated by his own officials, who conspired against him due to his betrayal of Jehoiada's family and his failure to uphold the covenant with God. Joash was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings, reflecting the mixed legacy of his reign.