Athaliah, a significant yet controversial figure in the history of Judah, was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel, and the wife of King Jehoram of Judah. Her story is primarily recorded in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Athaliah's reign is marked by her usurpation of the throne of Judah, making her the only woman to have ruled the kingdom.

Background and Rise to Power

Athaliah's marriage to Jehoram was likely a political alliance between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Her influence in Judah grew after her marriage, especially following the death of her husband, Jehoram, and the subsequent reign of her son, Ahaziah. Ahaziah's reign was short-lived, as he was killed during a visit to Israel (2 Kings 9:27-28).

Upon Ahaziah's death, Athaliah seized the opportunity to claim the throne for herself. In a ruthless move to secure her position, she ordered the massacre of the royal family, eliminating any potential threats to her rule (2 Kings 11:1). However, unbeknownst to her, Ahaziah's sister Jehosheba, wife of the priest Jehoiada, hid the young Joash, Ahaziah's son, in the temple, saving him from the slaughter (2 Kings 11:2-3).

Reign and Religious Influence

Athaliah's reign lasted for six years, during which she continued the idolatrous practices of her parents, Ahab and Jezebel. She promoted the worship of Baal in Judah, leading the nation further away from the worship of Yahweh. Her reign is often characterized by the continuation of the spiritual decline that had begun under her husband's rule.

Downfall and Legacy

The turning point in Athaliah's rule came in the seventh year when Jehoiada the priest orchestrated a coup to dethrone her. Jehoiada revealed the hidden Joash to the people and anointed him king in a dramatic ceremony at the temple (2 Kings 11:12). The people of Judah, weary of Athaliah's tyrannical rule and idolatry, supported Joash's claim to the throne.

Athaliah, upon hearing the commotion, rushed to the temple, where she was captured and executed outside the temple grounds (2 Kings 11:13-16). Her death marked the end of her usurpation and the beginning of a religious reform under the guidance of Jehoiada and the young King Joash.

Conclusion

Athaliah's reign is a cautionary tale of the dangers of idolatry and the consequences of turning away from the covenantal relationship with God. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God's commandments and the perils of political and religious compromise. Despite her efforts to establish her rule, Athaliah's legacy is overshadowed by her violent rise to power and the subsequent restoration of the Davidic line through Joash.2 Kings 11:1-3
And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 22:10-12
But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Appendices
... and not rather one of the unknown kings of the ... Assyrians 732 Hezekiah 727 Invasion
of Judah by Sennacherib ... 2. My father reigned over Moab thirty years, and I ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... came and fought;"then fought the kings of Canaan ... and pushed, sometimes, their
skirmishing parties over hill and ... A perpetual terror reigned wherever they were ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... [Illustration: 006.jpg TABLE OF KINGS]. ... Naboshumishkun probably reigned only one
or two years, from 900 ... or some coarse woollen material stretched over it, which ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

What does it mean that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the kings of Israel and Judah? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Joash in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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