The role of the queen mother in ancient Israel was a position of significant influence and authority, often serving as an advisor to the king and a key figure in the royal court. The removal of a queen mother from her position was a rare and notable event, reflecting a significant shift in the political or religious landscape of the kingdom.

One of the most prominent examples of the removal of a queen mother is found in the account of King Asa of Judah. Asa, who reigned from approximately 911 to 870 BC, is noted for his religious reforms and efforts to restore the worship of Yahweh in Judah. The Berean Standard Bible provides a clear account of this event in 1 Kings 15:13: "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."

Maacah, the grandmother of Asa, held the influential position of queen mother during the reigns of both her son Abijam and her grandson Asa. Her removal by Asa was a decisive action that underscored his commitment to purging idolatry from the land. The Asherah pole, a symbol of Canaanite fertility worship, was considered an abomination in the eyes of Yahweh, and its presence in the royal court was intolerable to Asa, who sought to align his kingdom with the covenantal laws of Israel.

The removal of Maacah highlights the tension between the worship of Yahweh and the syncretistic practices that had infiltrated the religious life of Judah. Asa's actions were in accordance with the Deuteronomic law, which strictly prohibited idolatry and commanded the destruction of pagan altars and symbols (Deuteronomy 12:3). By removing Maacah, Asa not only eliminated a source of idolatrous influence but also reinforced the centrality of Yahweh worship in the kingdom.

This event also illustrates the potential conflict between familial loyalty and religious duty. Asa's decision to depose his grandmother demonstrates the primacy of covenantal faithfulness over familial ties, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative. The removal of the queen mother served as a public declaration of Asa's dedication to the spiritual reformation of Judah and his rejection of any practices that contradicted the worship of the one true God.

In the broader context of the biblical history of the monarchy, the removal of a queen mother was an extraordinary measure, reflecting the gravity of the situation and the king's resolve to uphold the religious integrity of the nation. Asa's actions set a precedent for future kings who would face similar challenges in maintaining the purity of worship in Israel and Judah.