841BC – Queen Athaliah the 7th King of Judah

Queen Athaliah

2 Chronicles 22:10-12. Queen Athaliah, who ruled for six years, was 7th King – actually a Queen – of Judah. She was the mother of King Ahaziah the 6th king of Judah. When she learned her son was dead, she then took control of the kingdom of Judah and killed all the members of the royal household. But she missed one child, Joash, who later was to rule in her place as the 8th king of Judah. The army officers killed her at the Horse Gate on the orders of Jehoiada the priest.

Queen Athaliah was not liked by the people because of what she did and they were happy when she was slain by the sword.

Queen Athaliah was a very unpleasant person in God’s eyes.
The name Athaliah in Hebrew means: God is exalted.

Background Reading:

Athaliah’s Revolt

10 As soon as Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah learned that her son had died, she set out to destroy the entire royal family of Judah. 11 However, the king’s daughter Jehoshabeath took Ahaziah’s son Joash away from the king’s children who were about to be assassinated and hid him and his nurse in a bedroom. That’s how King Jehoram’s daughter Jehoshabeath, who was also the priest Jehoiada’s wife and Ahaziah’s sister, hid him from Athaliah. As a result, she was not able to kill him. 12 Joash remained with them for six years, hidden in God’s Temple while Athaliah reigned over the land.
2 Chronicles 22:10-12
Also read 2 Kings 11:1—20 and 2 Chronicles 22:1-23:23.


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