Athaliah (2 Kings 8:18; 2 Kings 8:25–27; 2 Kings 9:27–28; 2 Kings 11:1–3; 2 Kings 11:4–12; 2 Kings 11:13–16; 2 Kings 11:17–20; 2 Chronicles 21:6; 2 Chronicles 22:1–4; 2 Chronicles 22:10–12; 2 Chronicles 23:12–15; 2 Chronicles 23:21; 2 Chronicles 24:7)

Daughter of Omri, mother of Ahaziah, who reigned over the land

The mother of Ahaziah king of Judah, called the daughter of Omri king of Israel, who counseled her son to do wickedly, destroyed all the seed royal when he was dead, reigned over the land while Joash was hid six years, and was slain at the king's house.

She is first named in the account of her son's accession: “Two and twenty 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 king of Israel” (2 Kings 8:26). Chronicles says the same: “his mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri” (2 Chronicles 22:2). Of Ahaziah's father, Jehoram, it is written that “he had the daughter of Ahab to wife” (2 Kings 8:18); that verse does not give her name. Of Ahaziah, “he also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab; for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly” (2 Chronicles 22:3).

When Ahaziah was dead, “Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal” (2 Kings 11:1). Jehosheba took the infant Joash and hid him, “they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain” (2 Kings 11:2); “he was with her hid in the house of Jehovah six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land” (2 Kings 11:3). The text gives no reason for her deed beyond the sight of her son dead.

In the seventh year Jehoiada the priest made a covenant with the captains and showed them the king's son, and Joash was crowned and anointed. “And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the house of Jehovah” (2 Kings 11:13); she saw the king standing by the pillar. “Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason! treason!” (2 Kings 11:14). These are the only words the text gives her. Jehoiada commanded, “Have her forth between the ranks” (2 Kings 11:15), and she was slain (2 Kings 11:15-16): “So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. And Athaliah they had slain with the sword at the king’s house” (2 Kings 11:20). Chronicles later speaks of “the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman” (2 Chronicles 24:7).

Weaknesses

• Counselor to do wickedly
• Destroyed all the seed royal

Themes

• House of Ahab in Judah
• The royal seed destroyed
• The hidden king
• Covenant and the priest
• The city quiet

Mother of Ahaziah, his counselor (2 Kings 8:25–27; 2 Chronicles 22:1–4)

Ahaziah begins to reign in Jerusalem; his mother is named Athaliah the daughter of Omri, and the text says she was his counselor to do wickedly.

Mother of Ahaziah, his counselor

“Two and twenty 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 king of Israel. And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did the house of Ahab; for he was the son-in-law of the house of Ahab” (2 Kings 8:26-27).

Chronicles gives the reason plainly: “He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab; for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did the house of Ahab; for they were his counsellors after the death of his father, to his destruction” (2 Chronicles 22:3-4).

Of his father Jehoram it had been written, “he had the daughter of Ahab to wife” (2 Kings 8:18); that verse does not give her name.

Ahaziah is smitten and dies (2 Kings 9:27–28; 2 Chronicles 22:7–9)

Ahaziah king of Judah is smitten at the ascent of Gur and dies at Megiddo, and his servants bury him in Jerusalem; Chronicles says he was caught hiding in Samaria and slain.

Destroys all the seed royal (2 Kings 11:1; 2 Chronicles 22:10)

When she sees that her son is dead, Athaliah rises and destroys all the seed royal.

Destroys all the seed royal

Ahaziah had been smitten by Jehu's men and “his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David” (2 Kings 9:28). Chronicles adds that “the house of Ahaziah had no power to hold the kingdom” (2 Chronicles 22:9).

“Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal” (2 Kings 11:1). Chronicles words it: “she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah” (2 Chronicles 22:10).

The text gives no motive beyond the sight of her son dead.

Joash hidden; Athaliah reigns over the land (2 Kings 11:2–3; 2 Chronicles 22:11–12)

Jehosheba steals the infant Joash away from the king's sons that were slain and hides him in the house of the LORD six years, while Athaliah reigns over the land.

Jehoiada's covenant; the king's son crowned (2 Kings 11:4–12; 2 Chronicles 23:1–11)

In the seventh year Jehoiada the priest makes a covenant with the captains, shows them the king's son, and Joash is crowned and anointed; Athaliah is not named in this scene.

Athaliah cries Treason (2 Kings 11:13–14; 2 Chronicles 23:12–13)

Hearing the noise, Athaliah comes into the house of the LORD, sees the king by the pillar, rends her clothes and cries Treason! treason!

Athaliah cries Treason

“And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the house of Jehovah: 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” (2 Kings 11:13-14).

“Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason! treason!” (2 Kings 11:14). Chronicles has “Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason! treason!” (2 Chronicles 23:13). These are the only words the text records from her.

Taken out and slain (2 Kings 11:15–16; 2 Chronicles 23:14–15)

Jehoiada commands that she be had forth between the ranks and not slain in the house of the LORD; she goes by the horses' entry to the king's house, and there she is slain.

Taken out and slain

“And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth between the ranks; and him that followeth her slay with the sword. For the priest said, Let her not be slain in the house of Jehovah” (2 Kings 11:15).

“So they made way for her; and she went by the way of the horses’ entry to the king’s house: and there was she slain” (2 Kings 11:16). Chronicles says “she went to the entrance of the horse gate to the king’s house: and they slew her there” (2 Chronicles 23:15).

The house of Baal broken down; her sons (2 Kings 11:17–20; 2 Chronicles 23:16–21; 2 Chronicles 24:7)

Jehoiada makes a covenant that they should be the LORD's people, the people break down the house of Baal, and the city is quiet; Chronicles later says the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God.

Omri (2 Kings 8:26; 2 Chronicles 22:2)

She is called the daughter of Omri king of Israel.

Ahab (2 Kings 8:18; 2 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 22:3–4)

Jehoram “had the daughter of Ahab to wife” (2 Kings 8:18), a verse that does not name her; her son was the son-in-law of the house of Ahab and walked in its ways.

Jehoram king of Judah (2 Kings 8:18; 2 Kings 8:25–26; 2 Chronicles 21:6)

Ahaziah is the son of Jehoram, and Athaliah is named as Ahaziah's mother; Jehoram's wife is called the daughter of Ahab.

Ahaziah king of Judah (2 Kings 8:26–27; 2 Kings 9:27–28; 2 Chronicles 22:2–3)

Her son, who reigned one year in Jerusalem; his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.

Joash (2 Kings 11:2–3; 2 Kings 11:12; 2 Chronicles 22:11–12)

The son of Ahaziah, hidden from her six years and then made king.

Jehosheba (2 Kings 11:2; 2 Chronicles 22:11)

Daughter of king Joram and sister of Ahaziah, she stole Joash away and hid him from Athaliah.

Jehoiada the priest (2 Kings 11:4–16; 2 Chronicles 23:1–15)

He made the covenant with the captains, had the king crowned, and commanded that she be had forth between the ranks.

Major sections

• 2 Kings 8:25–27
• 2 Kings 11:1–20
• 2 Chronicles 22:1–23:21
• 2 Chronicles 24:7

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