Topical Bible: The Death of the Wicked: Athaliah

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Athaliah, a significant yet notorious figure in the history of Judah, is remembered for her usurpation of the throne and her subsequent demise, which is recorded in the biblical narrative. Her account is primarily found in 2 Kings 11 and 2 Chronicles 22-23. Athaliah was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel, and she married Jehoram, the king of Judah, thereby linking the royal families of Israel and Judah.

Background and Reign

Athaliah's rise to power was marked by violence and idolatry. After the death of her son, King Ahaziah of Judah, Athaliah seized the throne by orchestrating the massacre of the royal family, an act that demonstrated her ruthless ambition and disregard for the Davidic covenant. Her reign is characterized by the promotion of Baal worship, following in the footsteps of her mother, Jezebel. This idolatry led Judah further away from the worship of Yahweh, inciting divine disfavor.

The Overthrow of Athaliah

The narrative of Athaliah's downfall is a dramatic account of divine justice and the restoration of the Davidic line. Unknown to Athaliah, Ahaziah's sister, Jehosheba, had rescued Joash, Ahaziah's infant son, from the massacre. Joash was hidden in the temple for six years under the protection of Jehoiada, the high priest, and his wife Jehosheba. In the seventh year, Jehoiada orchestrated a coup to dethrone Athaliah and crown Joash as the rightful king.

2 Kings 11:12-14 describes the pivotal moment: "Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, gave him the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, 'Long live the king!' When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people at the house of the LORD. There she saw the king standing by the pillar, as the custom was, and the officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, 'Treason! Treason!'"

The Execution of Athaliah

Athaliah's end came swiftly after her attempt to denounce the rightful coronation of Joash. Jehoiada commanded the captains of the army to remove her from the temple precincts and execute her. 2 Kings 11:15-16 recounts, "And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, 'Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.' For the priest had said, 'She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.' So they seized Athaliah as she reached the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds, and there she was put to death."

Significance

Athaliah's death marked the end of a dark chapter in Judah's history, characterized by apostasy and tyranny. Her execution was not only a political act but also a spiritual cleansing, as it paved the way for the restoration of true worship under King Joash and the guidance of Jehoiada. The narrative underscores the biblical theme of divine retribution against wickedness and the preservation of God's covenant promises, particularly the Davidic line, through which the Messiah would eventually come.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 23:15
So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Kingdom Op Judah.
... to wife the child of Ahab and Jezebel, Athaliah, who proved even more wicked than
her ... but entirely failed to deceive the hand appointed to bring death. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vii the kingdom op.htm

Concerning the Wickedness of Jehoram King O Jerusalem; his Defeat ...
... And it was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, whom he ... his own fathers, but had followed
the wicked courses of ... because they thought that such his death came upon ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 concerning the wickedness.htm

Ahaziah
... Lord, for they were his counsellors after the death of his ... else could result in a
home of which Athaliah was the ... of a good king who had a wicked father"Josiah ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/ahaziah.htm

The Divided Kingdom.
... 7. Athaliah, 2:K.11:1-21:2; 2 Chron, 22;10-23:6 ... (3) The wicked reign of ... came as the
result of forty years of constant decline following the death of Jeroboam II ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiii the divided kingdom.htm

Hazael Makes an Expedition against the People of Israel and the ...
... was brought to decay by Jehoram, and Athaliah and her ... his friends, in order to revenge
the death of Zechariah ... father, but was guilty of as wicked practices as ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 hazael makes an.htm

Exile: Appeals for a Phinehas, and a Jehu: 1554
... consolation in the case of Athaliah." The transfer of ... no such dealings against "that
wicked woman." To ... frequently maintained the doctrine of death to religious ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter v exile appeals for.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Death. CHAPTER 6. How Jehu Was Anointed King, And Slew Both Joram And Ahaziah; As
Also What He Did For The Punishment Of The Wicked. CHAPTER 7. How Athaliah ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Miller's views on the Second Coming of Christ.
... This is the second death.' After the ... resurrections and two judgments, the righteous
and the wicked, the just ... Athaliah, 6 3269 888 2 Kings 11:3, 4. his mother 11 ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/millers views on the second.htm

The Fall of the House of Ahab
... later that King Ahab met his death at the ... a written communication, in which the wicked
king read ... this time, influenced by his mother, Athaliah, "his counselor ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 16 the fall of.htm

Joash
... Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah ... as well by nature as by
blood, Athaliah, had murdered ... weak king went just where the wicked princes led ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/joash.htm