Changes

== Lone Reign ==

== Lone Reign ==

In 884 BC (or 841 BC), General [[Jehu]] seized the Northern Kingdom and systematically destroyed all of Athaliah's extended family in that kingdom. Jehu also killed her son [[Ahaziah]] and several other minor princes of the [[House of David]]. Athaliah, when she heard this, proceeded to kill as many members of the royal family as she could hunt down.<ref name=Konig/><ref name=Columbia>Authors unknown. "[http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0805178.html Athaliah]." ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'', 6th ed., 2007. Retrieved June 11, 2007.</ref><ref name=WebBible>Authors unknown. "[http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/athaliah.html Entry for Athaliah]." WebBible Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 11, 2007.</ref> But she missed one key member: her grandson [[Joash]]. Princess [[Jehosheba]] took Joash away from the palace,<ref name=Konig/> and she and her husband [[Jehoiada]] raised the boy for six years, during which time Athaliah ruled in the land. Apparently Athaliah did not even realize that Joash was alive.<ref name=Konig/><ref name=Columbia/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Kings>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=11|verses=1-16}}</ref><ref name=Chronicles>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=22|verses=10-12}}</ref>

In 884 BC (or 841 BC), General [[Jehu]] seized the Northern Kingdom and systematically destroyed all of Athaliah's extended family in that kingdom. Jehu also killed her son [[Ahaziah]] and several other minor princes of the [[House of David]]. Athaliah, when she heard this, proceeded to kill as many members of the royal family as she could hunt down.<ref name=Konig/><ref name=Columbia>Authors unknown. "[http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0805178.html Athaliah]." ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'', 6th ed., 2007. Retrieved June 11, 2007.</ref><ref name=WebBible>Authors unknown. "[http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/athaliah.html Entry for Athaliah]." WebBible Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 11, 2007.</ref> But she missed one key member: her grandson [[Joash]]. Princess [[Jehosheba]] (an aunt of Joash) took him away from the palace,<ref name=Konig/> and she and her husband [[Jehoiada]] (who was High Priest) raised the boy for six years, during which time Athaliah ruled in the land. Apparently Athaliah did not even realize that Joash was alive<ref name=Konig/><ref name=Columbia/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Kings>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=11|verses=1-16}}</ref><ref name=Chronicles>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=22|verses=10-12}}</ref>, not unsurprising given he was being raised in the home of the High Priest of the true God she did not serve; if she did see him she may well have presumed it was the High Priest's own child and not a member of the royal family.

Then in the seventh (and last) year of her reign, she heard a loud noise of celebration and music coming from the [[Temple of Jerusalem]]. She entered the temple and saw something that must have horrified her: here was a seven-year-old boy, wearing a crown, and clearly identified as Joash, son of Ahaziah, with High Priest Jehoiada and a large company of [[Levi (tribe)|Levites]] by his side.<ref name=Konig/><ref name=Columbia/><ref name=WebBible/> In uncontrollable fury, she tore her royal robes and cried, {{Bible quote|Treason! Treason!|book=II_Chronicles|chap=23|verses=13}}

Then in the seventh (and last) year of her reign, she heard a loud noise of celebration and music coming from the [[Temple of Jerusalem]]. She entered the temple and saw something that must have horrified her: here was a seven-year-old boy, wearing a crown, and clearly identified as Joash, son of Ahaziah, with High Priest Jehoiada and a large company of [[Levi (tribe)|Levites]] by his side.<ref name=Konig/><ref name=Columbia/><ref name=WebBible/> In uncontrollable fury, she tore her royal robes and cried, {{Bible quote|Treason! Treason!|book=II_Chronicles|chap=23|verses=13}}