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[[Athaliah]] ([[Hebrew]] ʻAṯalyā ('''עֲתַלְיָה'''), [[YHWH]] is exalted) (927-r. 884-878BC according to [[James Ussher|Ussher]]<ref name=Ussher>[[James Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World]]'', [[Larry Pierce]], ed., Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2003 (ISBN 0890513600), pghh. 503, 511, 528, 532, 536, 537</ref> or 883-r. 841-835BC according to [[Edwin Thiele|Thiele]]<ref name=Wood>Leon J. Wood, ''A Survey of Israel's History'', rev. ed. David O'Brien, Grand Rapids, MI: Academie Books, 1986 (ISBN 031034770X), pp. 295-296</ref><ref name=Konig>Konig, George. "[http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/p8.htm Athaliah, Queen of Judah]." ''About Bible Prophecy'', 2007. Retrieved June 11, 2007.</ref>) was a princess of the [[House of Omri]] and a [[viceroy|vicereine]] and queen in the [[Southern Kingdom]]. She was the only woman ever to occupy the throne of either kingdom in her own right. She is also remembered for introducing [[Baal]]ism to the Southern Kingdom and for trying to destroy the [[House of David]] and seize power in the Southern Kingdom, until a High Priest and his wife would defeat her.
== Family ==
Athaliah was presumably born in 927 BC or 883 BC, to [[Ahab]] and [[Jezebel]] during the four years of civil war during which [[Omri]] was fighting for control of the [[Northern Kingdom]].<ref name=Ussher2>[[James Ussher|Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World|op. cit.]]'', pgh. 503</ref> (The Chronicler calls her "daughter of Omri"; he probably means "granddaughter."<ref name=daughter>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=22|verses=2}}</ref>)
When she was nine, her father became king of the Northern Kingdom on Omri's death. Jezebel came from [[Tyre]], in [[Phoenicia]]n country (known as "The Levant" today), where [[Baal]]ism had lately become prominent. Jezebel introduced this false religion to the Northern Kingdom. That she also introduced it to her daughter as well as to her sons is only reasonable to assume.
When Athaliah was twenty, she married [[Jehoram]], son of King [[Jehoshaphat]] of the Southern Kingdom, to seal a treaty between Jehoshaphat and her father.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=21|verses=6}}</ref> She bore him at least one son, [[Ahaziah]], who at the age of twenty-two would reign alone in the Southern Kingdom.
=== Controversy on the Age of Ahaziah ===
This last might explain an anomalous verse by the Chronicler, in which he seems to state that Ahaziah was 42 years old when he began to reign.<ref name=daughter/> In fact, ''Ahaziah'' was not 42 years of age, but ''Athaliah'' was.
== Career of Jehoram ==
Toward the end of the reign of Jehoshaphat, Jehoram became [[viceroy]] of the Southern Kingdom--and immediately after Jehoshaphat died, Jehoram murdered all his brothers and several minor princes. Whether Athaliah incited him to do this or merely learned from his example, the [[Bible]] does not make clear. In any case, the Bible clearly credits her with (or, perhaps more properly, blames her for) introducing the worship of [[Baal]] to the Southern Kingdom, as her mother Jezebel had done in the Northern.
Athaliah survived the [[Philistia|Philistine]]-[[Arab]]ian raid that destroyed much of the rest of the royal family, as did her son Ahaziah. She watched as her husband suffered a severe gastrointestinal disease, and also watched her husband's death and the coronation of her son.
== 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=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><ref name=Konig/><ref name=Columbia/><ref name=WebBible/>
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}}
Jehoiada shouted an order, and several company commanders seized her, carried her out to the horse gate of the Temple, and summarily executed her.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=23|verses=13-14}}</ref><ref name=Konig/><ref name=Columbia/><ref name=WebBible/>
== Commentary ==
Kestner comments<ref name=AlabasterJars>Kestner, Jackie. "[http://www.alabaster-jars.com/biblewomen-a.html#Athaliah Entry for Athaliah]." ''Alabaster Jars Ministry.'' Retrieved June 11, 2007.</ref> that the Bible nowhere criticized Athaliah for being a woman reigning in her own right, but rather for her wicked deeds, first in introducing Baalism to the kingdom and then in trying to exterminate the entire royal family.
== References ==
<references/>
== See Also ==
* [[Ahab]]
* [[Jehoram]]
* [[Jehoshaphat]]
* [[Ahaziah]]
* [[Jehosheba]]
* [[Jehoiada]]
* [[Joash]]
* [[Southern Kingdom]]
* [[Northern Kingdom]]
* [[Biblical chronology dispute]]
[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Biblical persons]]
[[Category:Biography]]
[[Category:Israel]]
[[Category:Ancient History]]
== Family ==
Athaliah was presumably born in 927 BC or 883 BC, to [[Ahab]] and [[Jezebel]] during the four years of civil war during which [[Omri]] was fighting for control of the [[Northern Kingdom]].<ref name=Ussher2>[[James Ussher|Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World|op. cit.]]'', pgh. 503</ref> (The Chronicler calls her "daughter of Omri"; he probably means "granddaughter."<ref name=daughter>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=22|verses=2}}</ref>)
When she was nine, her father became king of the Northern Kingdom on Omri's death. Jezebel came from [[Tyre]], in [[Phoenicia]]n country (known as "The Levant" today), where [[Baal]]ism had lately become prominent. Jezebel introduced this false religion to the Northern Kingdom. That she also introduced it to her daughter as well as to her sons is only reasonable to assume.
When Athaliah was twenty, she married [[Jehoram]], son of King [[Jehoshaphat]] of the Southern Kingdom, to seal a treaty between Jehoshaphat and her father.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=21|verses=6}}</ref> She bore him at least one son, [[Ahaziah]], who at the age of twenty-two would reign alone in the Southern Kingdom.
=== Controversy on the Age of Ahaziah ===
This last might explain an anomalous verse by the Chronicler, in which he seems to state that Ahaziah was 42 years old when he began to reign.<ref name=daughter/> In fact, ''Ahaziah'' was not 42 years of age, but ''Athaliah'' was.
== Career of Jehoram ==
Toward the end of the reign of Jehoshaphat, Jehoram became [[viceroy]] of the Southern Kingdom--and immediately after Jehoshaphat died, Jehoram murdered all his brothers and several minor princes. Whether Athaliah incited him to do this or merely learned from his example, the [[Bible]] does not make clear. In any case, the Bible clearly credits her with (or, perhaps more properly, blames her for) introducing the worship of [[Baal]] to the Southern Kingdom, as her mother Jezebel had done in the Northern.
Athaliah survived the [[Philistia|Philistine]]-[[Arab]]ian raid that destroyed much of the rest of the royal family, as did her son Ahaziah. She watched as her husband suffered a severe gastrointestinal disease, and also watched her husband's death and the coronation of her son.
== 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=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><ref name=Konig/><ref name=Columbia/><ref name=WebBible/>
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}}
Jehoiada shouted an order, and several company commanders seized her, carried her out to the horse gate of the Temple, and summarily executed her.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=23|verses=13-14}}</ref><ref name=Konig/><ref name=Columbia/><ref name=WebBible/>
== Commentary ==
Kestner comments<ref name=AlabasterJars>Kestner, Jackie. "[http://www.alabaster-jars.com/biblewomen-a.html#Athaliah Entry for Athaliah]." ''Alabaster Jars Ministry.'' Retrieved June 11, 2007.</ref> that the Bible nowhere criticized Athaliah for being a woman reigning in her own right, but rather for her wicked deeds, first in introducing Baalism to the kingdom and then in trying to exterminate the entire royal family.
== References ==
<references/>
== See Also ==
* [[Ahab]]
* [[Jehoram]]
* [[Jehoshaphat]]
* [[Ahaziah]]
* [[Jehosheba]]
* [[Jehoiada]]
* [[Joash]]
* [[Southern Kingdom]]
* [[Northern Kingdom]]
* [[Biblical chronology dispute]]
[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Biblical persons]]
[[Category:Biography]]
[[Category:Israel]]
[[Category:Ancient History]]