Athaliah
Athaliah (Hebrew: ʻAṯalyā (עֲתַלְיָה), "God is exalted") was the queen of Judah during the reign of King Jehoram, and later became sole ruler of Judah for five years. William F. Albright has dated her reign to 842 B.C.E. – 837 B.C.E., while E. R. Thiele offers the dates 841 B.C.E. – 835 B.C.E. Athaliah was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel; her marriage to Jehoram sealed a treaty between Israel and Judah.
Jehoram, a descendant of King David, actively promoted the worship of the Hebrew Lord in his country, but he tolerated Athaliah's worship of Baal. After Jehoram's death, their son Ahaziah became Judah's king with Athaliah acting as queen mother. She used her power in that role to establish the worship of Baal in Judah after Ahaziah was killed in a state visit to Israel along with the then-king of Israel, also named Jehoram, who was Athaliah's brother. Jehu assassinated them both in Yahweh's name and had Athaliah's entire extended family in Israel murdered.
Athaliah, as queen of Judah, had all possible successors to David executed except one. However, a grandson of hers named Jehoash was rescued from the purge by Jehosheba, Ahaziah's sister, and was raised in secret by the priest Jehoiada. Six years later, Athaliah was surprised when Jehoiada revealed Jehoash and proclaimed him king of Judah. She rushed to stop this rebellion, but was captured and executed.
Though the Bible presents her as a negative character, not to be emulated, "Athaliah" is attested, though infrequently, as a female first name in contemporary Israel.
| House of David Cadet Branch of the Tribe of Judah | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Ahaziah |
Queen of Judah Albright: 842 B.C.E. – 837 B.C.E. Thiele: 841 B.C.E. – 835 B.C.E. Galil: 843 B.C.E. – 835 B.C.E. |
Succeeded by: Jehoash |
Sources
- II Paralipomenon 22:1-23:15
- Josheph, Antiquitates iudaicae viii-ix
- Hebrew Bible - her story of her actions are told in 2 Kings 8:16 – 11:16
- Virginia Brown's translation of Giovanni Boccaccio’s Famous Women, pp. 102-106; Harvard University Press 2001; ISBN 0-674-01130-9
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