Bible Encyclopedia: Athaliah

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ATHALIAH

ath-a-li'-a (`athalyah; meaning uncertain, perhaps, "whom Yahweh has afflicted"; 2 Kings 8:26; 2 Kings 11 2 Chronicles 22, 23):

1. Relationship:

(1) Daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, grand-daughter of Omri, 6th king of Israel. In her childhood the political relations of the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel had, after many years of strife, become friendly, and she was married to Jehoram, eldest son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah (2 Kings 8:18). The marriage was one of political expediency, and is a blot on the memory of Jehoshaphat.

2. Athaliah as Queen:

When Jehoram was 32 years of age, he succeeded to the throne, and Athaliah became queen of Judah. She inherited her mother's strength of will, and like her developed a fanatical devotion to the cult of the Zidonian Baal. Elijah's blow at the worship of Baal in Samaria shortly before her accession to power did nothing to mitigate her zeal. It probably intensified it. The first recorded act of Jehoram's reign is the murder of his six younger brothers; some princes of the realm, who were known to be favorable to the ancient faith of the nation, were also destroyed (2 Chronicles 21:4). There can be little doubt that these deeds of blood were supported, and perhaps instigated, by Athaliah, who was a much stronger character than her husband.

3. Murder of Her Grandchildren:

After eight years of royal life, Athaliah became a widow, and her son, Ahaziah, then 22 years of age (2 Kings 8:26; not 42 as in 2 Chronicles 22:2), ascended his father's throne. As queen-mother, Athaliah was now supreme in the councils of the nation, as well as in the royal palace. Within a single year, the young king fell (see JEHU), and the only persons who stood between Athaliah and the throne were her grandchildren. It is in such moments that ambition, fired by fanaticism, sees its opportunity, and the massacre of the royal seed was determined on. This was carried out: but one of them, Jehoash, a babe, escaped by the intervention of his aunt, Jehosheba (1 Kings 11:2 2 Chronicles 22:11).

4. Her Usurpation:

The palace being cleared of its royal occupants, Athaliah had herself proclaimed sovereign. No other woman, before or since, sat upon the throne of David, and it is a proof of her energy and ability that, in spite of her sex, she was able to keep it for six years. From 2 Chronicles 24:7 we gather that a portion of the temple of Yahweh was pulled down, and the material used in the structure of a temple of Baal.

5. The Counter-Revolution:

The high priest at this time was Jehoiada, who had married the daughter of Athaliah, Jehosheba (2 Chronicles 22:11). His promotion to the primacy led to the undoing of the usurper, as Jehoiada proved staunchly, if secretly, true to the religion of Yahweh. For six years he and his wife concealed in their apartments, near the temple, the young child of Ahaziah. In the seventh year a counter-revolution was planned. The details are given with unusual fullness in Ki and Chronicles, the writings of which supplement one another. Thus, when the Chronicler wrote, it had become safe to give the names of five captains who led the military rising (2 Chronicles 23:1). With the Book of Ki before him, it was not necessary to do more than extract from the ancient records such particulars as had not hitherto appeared. This it is which has chiefly given rise to the charge of variations in the two narratives. See JEHOASH.

6. Her Death:

At the time of her deposition, Athaliah was resident in the royal palace. When roused to a sense of danger by the acclamations which greeted the coronation ceremony, she made an attempt to stay the revolt by rushing into the temple court, alone; her guards, according to Josephus, having been prevented from following her (Ant., IX, vii, 3). A glance sufficed. It showed her the lad standing on a raised platform before the temple, holding the Book of the Law in his hand, and with the crown upon his brow. Rending her robe and shouting, "Treason! Treason!" she fled. Some were for cutting her down as she did so, but this was objected to as defiling the temple with human blood. She was, therefore, allowed to reach the door of the palace in flight. Here she fell, smitten by the avenging guards.

Athaliah's usurpation lasted for six years (2 Kings 11:3; 2 Kings 12:1 2 Chronicles 22:12). Her 1st year synchronizes with the 1st of Jehu in Israel, and may be placed 846 B.C. (some put later). See CHRONOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. The statement of 2 Kings 12:1 is here understood in the sense that Jehoash began his public reign in the 7th year of Jehu, and that he reigned 40 years counting from the time of his father's death. A modern parallel is the dating of all official records and legal documents of the time of Charles II of England from the death of Charles I.

The only other reference to Athaliah is that above alluded to in 2 Chronicles 24:7, where she is spoken of as "that wicked woman."

(2) A Benjamite who dwelt in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 8:26, 28).

(3) Father of Jeshaiah, who returned with Ezra (8:7); called Gotholias in Apocrypha (1 Esdras 8:33).

W. Shaw Caldecott

Strong's Hebrew

6271. Athalyah -- daughter of Ahab, also three Israelites
... daughter of Ahab, also three Israelites. Transliteration: Athalyah or Athlay Phonetic
Spelling: (ath-al-yaw') Short Definition: Athaliah. ... Athaliah. ...
/hebrew/6271.htm - 6k

Library

How Athaliah Reigned Over Jerusalem for Five [Six] Years when ...
... CHAPTER 7. How Athaliah Reigned Over Jerusalem For Five [Six] Years When Jehoiada
The High Priest Slew Her And Made Jehoash, The Son Of Ahaziah, King. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how athaliah reigned.htm

Jehoiada and Joash
... 'And when Athaliah the mother of ... And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and
of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the Lord.14. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/jehoiada and joash.htm

Ahaziah
... His mother was Athaliah, and Athaliah was the daughter of Jezebel, and Jezebel was
a licentious heathen princess whom Ahab on an evil day had made his wife. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/ahaziah.htm

The Kingdom Op Judah.
... too friendly with the idolatrous House of Ahab in Samaria, and allowed his son Jehoram
to take to wife the child of Ahab and Jezebel, Athaliah, who proved even ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vii the kingdom op.htm

The Boy Joash on the Throne of Judah
... When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, learned that her son was dead, she rose and
put to death all of Ahaziah's children except Joash, whom his aunt, Jehosheba ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the boy joash on the.htm

The Fall of the House of Ahab
... Ahaziah ruled only one year, and during this time, influenced by his mother, Athaliah,
"his counselor to do wickedly," "he walked in the way of the house of ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 16 the fall of.htm

New Uses for Old Trophies
... Athaliah, daughter of Ahab, wife of Jehoram, king of Judah, the usurping queen
of Judah, had played the tyrant for well-nigh seven years. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/new uses for old trophies.htm

Glad Givers and Faithful Workers
... to the commandment of Moses the servant of the Lord, and of the congregation of
Israel, for the tabernacle of witness' 7. For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/glad givers and faithful workers.htm

The Divided Kingdom.
... 7. Athaliah, 2:K.11:1-21:2; 2 Chron, 22;10-23:6. Reigned 6 years and was slain when
Joash became king. 8. Joash, 2:K.11:3-12:21; 2:Chron.24:1-27. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiii the divided kingdom.htm

History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7
... (825-812 BC), his first three expeditions, his campaigns against Babylon --
Bammdn-nirdri IV, (812-783 BC) -- Jehu, Athaliah, Joash: the supremacy of Hazael ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 7/title page.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Athaliah

the time of the Lord

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Athaliah

(afflicted of the Lord) daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, married Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah and introduced into that kingdom the worship of Baal. (B.C. 891.) After the great revolution by which Jehu seated himself on the throne of Samaria she killed all the members of the royal family of Judah who had escaped his sword. (2 Kings 11:1) From the slaughter one infant, named Joash, the youngest son of Ahaziah, was rescued by his aunt Jehosheba wife of Jehoiada, (2 Chronicles 23:11) the high priest. (2 Chronicles 24:6) The child was brought up under Jehoiada's care, and concealed in the temple for six years, during which period Athaliah reigned over Judah. At length Jehoiada thought it time to produce the lawful king to the people, trusting to their zeal for the worship of God and their loyalty to the house of David. His plan was successful, and Athaliah was put to death.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Athaliah

A granddaughter of Omri, 2 Chronicles 22:2, and daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, 2 Kings 11:1. Strangely enough, she was chosen as the wife of Jehoram, son of the pious Jehoshaphat king of Judah. Her pernicious influence drew into idolatry and crime both her husband and her son Ahaziah, 2 Chronicles 21:6 22:3. After their premature death, she usurped the throne, and sought to secure herself in it by the murder of all the seed royal. Only Joash her grandson, then an infant, was saved by his aunt Jehosheba. Six years afterwards he was brought from his place of refuge, and crowned by the bold and faithful high priest Jehoiada, who at the same time caused the blood-stained Athaliah to be put to death, 2 Kings 11:1-21 2 Chronicles 23:1-21.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 8:26.

Thesaurus

Athaliah (17 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ATHALIAH. ... 2. Athaliah as Queen: When Jehoram was 32
years of age, he succeeded to the throne, and Athaliah became queen of Judah. ...
/a/athaliah.htm - 19k

Athali'ah (17 Occurrences)
Athali'ah. Athaliah, Athali'ah. Athanasian . Multi-Version Concordance ... And his
mother's name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel. (See RSV). ...
/a/athali'ah.htm - 11k

Jehoash (28 Occurrences)
...Athaliah was taken by surprise when she heard the shout of the people, "Long live
the king;" and when she appeared in the temple, Jehoiada commanded her to be ...
/j/jehoash.htm - 32k

Jehosheba (2 Occurrences)
... Yahweh is an oath"): Called "Jehoshabeath" in 2 Chronicles 22:11; daughter of Jehoram
king of Judah, possibly by a wife other than Athaliah (2 Kings 11:2 ...
/j/jehosheba.htm - 8k

Ahazi'ah (33 Occurrences)
... reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah the daughter
of Omri king of Israel. (See RSV). 2 Kings 8:29 And ...
/a/ahazi'ah.htm - 16k

Jehoiada (51 Occurrences)
... Samuel 8:18; 20:23). (2.) The high priest at the time of Athaliah's
usurpation of the throne of Judah. He married Jehosheba, or ...
/j/jehoiada.htm - 36k

Reigning (57 Occurrences)
... 26 a son of twenty and two years 'is' Ahaziah in his reigning, and one year he hath
reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother 'is' Athaliah daughter of ...
/r/reigning.htm - 24k

Mother (2641 Occurrences)
... dowager occupied a very important position at the court of the kings of Israel,
eg Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:19); Maacah (1 Kings 15:13); Athaliah (2 Chronicles 22:2 ...
/m/mother.htm - 17k

Ahaziah (34 Occurrences)
... Called Jehoahaz (2 Chronicles 21:17; 25:23), and Azariah (2 Chronicles 22:6). Guided
by his idolatrous mother Athaliah, his reign was disastrous (2 Kings 8:24 ...
/a/ahaziah.htm - 28k

Jezebel (20 Occurrences)
... The alliance with the Phoenicians was cemented by his marriage with Jezebel, and
he subsequently gave his daughter Athaliah in marriage to Jehoram, son of ...
/j/jezebel.htm - 26k

Bible Concordance

Athaliah (17 Occurrences)

2 Kings 8:26 Twenty-two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 11:1 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 11:2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedchamber; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 11:3 He was with her hid in the house of Yahweh six years. Athaliah reigned over the land.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 11:13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the house of Yahweh:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 11:14 and she looked, and behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the manner was, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and cried, "Treason! Treason!"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 11:20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. Athaliah they had slain with the sword at the king's house.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 8:26 and Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 22:2 Forty-two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 22:10 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal seed of the house of Judah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 22:11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were slain, and put him and his nurse in the bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah, so that she didn't kill him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 22:12 He was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 23:12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of Yahweh:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 23:13 and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets; the singers also played on instruments of music, and led the singing of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, Treason! treason!
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 23:21 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. Athaliah they had slain with the sword.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 24:7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of Yahweh did they bestow on the Baals.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Ezra 8:7 Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Athaliah

Athaliah: Father of Jeshaiah

Athaliah: Son of Jehoram

Athaliah: Wife of Jehoram, King of Judah

Related Terms

Athali'ah (17 Occurrences)

Jehoash (28 Occurrences)

Jehosheba (2 Occurrences)

Ahazi'ah (33 Occurrences)

Jehoiada (51 Occurrences)