Queen of Judah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel
Athaliah
Named in 15 verses across 2 books, first in 2 Kings 8:26.
עֲתַלְיָ֫הוּAthaliah
The name means “the time of the Lord.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Athaliah Written by AI
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.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Athaliah, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
Whom God afflicts. (1.) The daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and the wife of Jehoram, king of Judah (2 Kings 8:18), who “walked in the ways of the house of Ahab” (2 Chr. 21:6), called “daughter” of Omri (2 Kings 8:26). On the death of her husband and of her son Ahaziah, she resolved to seat herself on the vacant throne. She slew all Ahaziah’s children except Joash, the youngest (2 Kings 11:1,2). After a reign of six years she was put to death in an insurrection (2 Kings 11:20; 2 Chr. 21:6; 22:10-12; 23:15), stirred up among the people in connection with Josiah’s being crowned as king.
(2.) Ezra 8:7. (3.) 1 Chr. 8:26.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names her
- 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 Kings 11:14
And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. 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 screamed, “Treason! Treason!”
- 2 Kings 11:20
and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace.
- 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 Ahaziah’s sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah so that she could not kill him.
- 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.
- 2 Chronicles 23:13
And she looked and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason, treason!”
- 2 Chronicles 23:21
and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword.
- 2 Chronicles 24:7
For the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the house of God and had even used the sacred objects of the house of the LORD for the Baals.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.