Difference between revisions of "Athaliah" - New World Encyclopedia
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Athaliah succeeded in executing all possible successors to the throne David except one, a grandson of hers named [[Jehoash of Judah|Jehoash]]. She reigned for six years during which she tolerated the worship of both Baal and Yahweh, a policy unacceptable to the priests of Yahweh, who sheltered young Jehoash in the [[Temple of Jerusalem]]. Athaliah was overthrown and murdered in a coup led by the high priest Jehoiada. | Athaliah succeeded in executing all possible successors to the throne David except one, a grandson of hers named [[Jehoash of Judah|Jehoash]]. She reigned for six years during which she tolerated the worship of both Baal and Yahweh, a policy unacceptable to the priests of Yahweh, who sheltered young Jehoash in the [[Temple of Jerusalem]]. Athaliah was overthrown and murdered in a coup led by the high priest Jehoiada. | ||
| − | + | ==Background== | |
| − | + | Athaliah was the daughter of the northern king Ahab and his Phoenicia wife Jezebel. Her mother was known to be an ardent worshiper of "[[Baal]]," probably Baal [[Melqart]] of Tyre, while Ahab was a devotee of Yahweh who earned the disapproval of the prophets for his toleration of Baal worship. Athaliah's name, however, means "Yahweh is exalted." | |
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| − | + | Israel and Judah had been at war in earlier generations, but during the time of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, the two nations formed a strong alliance. This resulted in Ahab contracting a marriage between Athaliah and Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram. | |
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| + | After Jehoram's death, their son [[Ahaziah of Judah|Ahaziah]] became Judah's king with Athaliah acting as [[queen mother]]. | ||
==Biblical data== | ==Biblical data== | ||
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[[Jehu]] assassinated them both in Yahweh's name and had Athaliah's entire extended family in Israel murdered. | [[Jehu]] assassinated them both in Yahweh's name and had Athaliah's entire extended family in Israel murdered. | ||
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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]]. | 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]]. | ||
| + | [[Image:Joash-athaliah.jpg|thumb|Athaliah hides as Joash is proclaimed king]] | ||
| + | <br /><br /> | ||
| + | {{start}} | ||
| + | {{s-hou|[[Davidic line|House of David]]|||||[[Tribe of Judah]]}} | ||
| + | {{s-bef|before=[[Ahaziah of Judah|Ahaziah]]}} | ||
| + | {{s-ttl|title=[[Kingdom of Judah#The Kings of Judah|Queen of Judah]]|years=<small>[[William F. Albright|Albright]]: </small>842 B.C.E. – 837 B.C.E.<br/><small>[[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]]: </small>841 B.C.E. – 835 B.C.E.<br/><small>[[Gershon Galil|Galil]]: </small>843 B.C.E. – 835 B.C.E.}} | ||
| + | {{s-aft|after=[[Jehoash of Judah|Jehoash]]}} | ||
| + | {{end}} | ||
| + | |||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
Revision as of 13:38, 24 May 2008
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 the two sometimes warring Israelite nations.
After Jehoram's death, their son Ahaziah became Judah's king with Athaliah acting as queen mother. After Ahaziah was killed during a state visit to Israel along with several of Athaliah's northern royal family members, Althaliah staged a bloody coup in Jerusalem, placing herself on the throne.
Athaliah succeeded in executing all possible successors to the throne David except one, a grandson of hers named Jehoash. She reigned for six years during which she tolerated the worship of both Baal and Yahweh, a policy unacceptable to the priests of Yahweh, who sheltered young Jehoash in the Temple of Jerusalem. Athaliah was overthrown and murdered in a coup led by the high priest Jehoiada.
Background
Athaliah was the daughter of the northern king Ahab and his Phoenicia wife Jezebel. Her mother was known to be an ardent worshiper of "Baal," probably Baal Melqart of Tyre, while Ahab was a devotee of Yahweh who earned the disapproval of the prophets for his toleration of Baal worship. Athaliah's name, however, means "Yahweh is exalted."
Israel and Judah had been at war in earlier generations, but during the time of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, the two nations formed a strong alliance. This resulted in Ahab contracting a marriage between Athaliah and Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram.
After Jehoram's death, their son Ahaziah became Judah's king with Athaliah acting as queen mother.
Biblical data
Jehu assassinated them both in Yahweh's name and had Athaliah's entire extended family in Israel murdered.
Jehoash]]. was rescued from the purge by Jehosheba, Ahaziah's sister, and was raised in secret by the priest Jehoiada.
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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