The term "Queen Mother" refers to the mother of a reigning king in the biblical context. This position held significant influence and authority within the royal court, often serving as an advisor to the king and a key figure in the political and social spheres of the kingdom. The role of the Queen Mother is most prominently seen in the monarchy of Judah, where she is frequently mentioned alongside the king.

Biblical References and Role:

1. Bathsheba: One of the earliest examples of a Queen Mother is Bathsheba, the mother of King Solomon. Her influence is evident in 1 Kings 2:19, where Solomon honors her by providing a throne for her at his right hand: "So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her, and sat on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand."

2. Maacah: Another notable Queen Mother is Maacah, the mother of King Asa of Judah. Her influence is highlighted in 1 Kings 15:13, where Asa removes her from her position due to her idolatry: "He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a repulsive Asherah pole. Asa cut down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley."

3. Jezebel: Although not a Queen Mother in the traditional sense, Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab and mother of King Ahaziah and King Joram, wielded considerable power and is often associated with the negative aspects of a queen's influence. Her account is a cautionary tale of the potential for a Queen Mother to lead the king and the nation astray, as seen in 1 Kings 21:25: "There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by his wife Jezebel."

4. Athaliah: The daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, Athaliah, serves as both Queen Mother and queen regnant of Judah. Her reign is marked by violence and idolatry, as recorded in 2 Kings 11:1-3: "When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered."

Significance and Influence:

The Queen Mother often held a unique position of power, sometimes acting as a counselor or co-regent. Her influence could be used for good, as in the case of Bathsheba, or for evil, as seen with Jezebel and Athaliah. The Queen Mother's role underscores the importance of maternal influence and the potential impact of a mother's guidance on the spiritual and political direction of the kingdom.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the Queen Mother was a recognized and respected position. Her status was often secured by her relationship to the king, and she could wield considerable power, especially if the king was young or inexperienced. The Queen Mother's authority was not merely ceremonial; she could play a crucial role in the administration and religious life of the kingdom.

The biblical portrayal of Queen Mothers reflects the broader cultural norms of the time, where maternal figures were revered and their counsel sought after. This role highlights the enduring influence of women in biblical history and their capacity to shape the destiny of nations through their offspring.Queen Mother

QUEEN MOTHER

(gebhirah, literally, "mistress," then a female ruler, and sometimes simply the wife of a king ("queen," 1 Kings 11:19); in Daniel 5:10 the term malketha' "queen," really means the mother of the king): It stands to reason that among a people whose rulers are polygamists the mother of the new king or chief at once becomes a person of great consequence. The records of the Books of Kings prove it. The gebhirah, or queen mother, occupied a position of high social and political importance; she took rank almost with the king. When Bath-sheba, the mother of Solomon, desired "to speak unto him for Adonijah," her son "rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand" (1 Kings 2:19). And again, in 2 Kings 24:15, it is expressly stated that Nebuchadnezzar carried away the king's mother into captivity; Jeremiah calls her gebhirah (29:2). The king was Jehoiachin (Jeconiah, Jeremiah 29:2), and his mother's name was Nehushta (2 Kings 24:8). This was the royal pair whose impending doom the prophet was told to forecast (Jeremiah 13:18). Here again the queen mother is mentioned with the king, thus emphasizing her exalted position. Now we understand why Asa removed Maacah his (grand?)mother from being queen (queen mother), as we are told in 1 Kings 15:13 (compare 2 Chronicles 15:16). She had used her powerful influence to further the cause of idolatry. In this connection Athaliah's coup d'etat may be briefly mentioned. After the violent death of her son Ahaziah (2 Kings 9:27), she usurped the royal power and reigned for some time in her own name (2 Kings 11:3; compare 2 Chronicles 22:12). This was, of course, a revolutionary undertaking, being a radical departure from the usual traditions.

And finally, the political importance of the gebhirah is illustrated by the fact that in the Books of Kings, with two exceptions, the names of the Jewish kings are recorded together with those of their respective mothers; they are as follows: Naamah, the Ammonitess, the mother of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:21; compare 14:31, and 2 Chronicles 12:13); Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom (1 Kings 15:2) or Absalom (2 Chronicles 11:20) the mother of Abijah; Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom, the mother (grandmother?) of Asa (1 Kings 15:10; compare 2 Chronicles 15:16); Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi, the mother of Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:42; compare 2 Chronicles 20:31); Athaliah, the grand-daughter of Omri, the mother of Ahaziah (2 Kings 8:26; compare 2 Chronicles 22:2); Zibiah of Beersheba, the mother of Jehoash (2 Kings 12:1; compare 2 Chronicles 24:1); Jehoaddin (Jehoaddan, 2 Chronicles 25:1) of Jerusalem, the mother of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:2); Jecoliah (Jechiliah, 2 Chronicles 26:3) of Jerusalem, the mother of Azariah (2 Kings 15:2) or Uzziah (2 Kings 15:13, 30, etc.; compare 2 Chronicles 26:3); Jerusha (Jerushah, 2 Chronicles 27:1), the daughter of Zadok, the mother of Jotham (2 Kings 15:33); Abi (Abijah, 2 Chronicles 29:1), the daughter of Zechariah, the mother of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:2); Hephzibah, the mother of Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1); Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah, the mother of Amon (2 Kings 21:19); Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath, the mother of Josiah (2 Kings 22:1); Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, the mother of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31); Zebidah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah, the mother of Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:36); Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem, the mother of Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:8); Hamutal (Hamital), the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, the mother Of Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:18). The exceptions are Jehoram and Ahaz.

William Baur

1377. gebirah -- lady, queen
... Word Origin fem. of gebir Definition lady, queen NASB Word Usage queen (1), queen
mother (5). queen. Feminine of gbiyr; a mistress -- queen. see HEBREW gbiyr. ...
/hebrew/1377.htm - 6k

The Calm Before the Storm
... The Queen Mother accordingly appointed Frumentius as the tutor of the young King,
and Governor of the State, while his brother AEdesius was given a less ...
//christianbookshelf.org/forbes/saint athanasius/chapter 4 the calm before.htm

Knox in Scotland: Lethington: Mary of Guise: 1555-1556
... rebukes of a friend," so much as both the nobles and the people now began to detest
their French allies, and were jealous of the Queen Mother's promotion of ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter vii knox in scotland .htm

Knox and Queen Mary (Continued): 1563-1564
... Lethington, in France, had told the Queen- Mother that the Spanish plan was only
intended to wring concessions from Elizabeth; and, on his return to England ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter xvi knox and queen.htm

To Queen Giovanna of Naples (Written in Trance)
... LETTERS TO QUEEN GIOVANNA OF NAPLES (WRITTEN IN TRANCE ... nor you nor another ever so
bathed them or gave them that glorious rose, but only our Mother, Holy Church ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to queen giovanna of naples.htm

On the Worthy Praise of the Pure Queen of Heaven.
... comb. Even thou art called the mother, the Queen of Compassion, yes, tender
mother, yes, gentle mother of compassion! O what a name! ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter xvi on the worthy.htm

How Helena the Queen of Adiabene and Her Son Izates, Embraced the ...
... 5. But as to Helena, the king's mother, when she saw that the affairs of ... people died
for want of what was necessary to procure food withal, queen Helena sent ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how helena the.htm

Hail! Holy Queen, Enthroned Above
... Traditional Melody Salve Regina Coelitum. Andante moderato. 1. Hail, holy Queen,
enthron'd above O Maria! Hail, Mother of Mercy and of Love! O Maria! ...
/.../various/the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 83 hail holy queen.htm

To Giovanna Queen of Naples
... of Giovanna's salvation; one would think that even the hardened old Queen must have ...
Dearest mother in Christ sweet Jesus: I Catherine, servant and slave of the ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to giovanna queen of naples.htm

On the Unutterable Heart-Rending Grief of the Pure Queen of Heaven ...
... Pure Lady and noble Queen of Heaven and Earth, touch my stony heart with one of
thy ... My mother, my father, and all that my heart can express (such art Thou to me ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter xvii on the unutterable.htm

Asa
... In short, she was the evil genius of the kingdom, like the Chinese Queen-mother
of our own times, although, happily, Asa possessed a force of character which ...
//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/asa.htm

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