Keraia
People

Athaliah

Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, became queen of Judah and ruled for six years before being overthrown.

The name Athaliah means “the time of the Lord”

FemaleQueenDivided Monarchy eraOld Testament2 books19 verses

Summary

A queen living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2 Kings 8:26; only referred to as Athaliah (עֲתַלְיָ֫הוּ); daughter of Ahab; a sister of Joash, Ahaziah and Joram; wife of Jehoram; mother of Ahaziah and Jehosheba.

Events

Dates are approximate

Glossary entries

Athaliah

Family members

Father

Ahab

Mother

Jezebel

Spouse

Jehoram

Siblings

Ahaziah Joash Joram

Children

Ahaziah Jehosheba

Alternative names

Mentions

Includes 4 verses that refer to Athaliah without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. 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. 2 Kings 11:1
    When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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!”
  7. 2 Kings 11:15Referred to, not named
    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.”
  8. 2 Kings 11:16Referred to, not named
    So they seized Athaliah as she reached the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 2 Chronicles 22:12
    And Joash remained hidden with them in the house of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.
  14. 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.
  15. 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!”
  16. 2 Chronicles 23:14Referred to, not named
    And Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, saying, “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.”
  17. 2 Chronicles 23:15Referred to, not named
    So they seized Athaliah as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.