Athaliah

Biblical Account

The story of Athaliah appears in 2 Kings 8 and 11 and in 2 Chronicles 21–24. Second Kings 8:18 records that Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, took "the daughter of Ahab" as his wife, and 2 Kings 8:26 introduces Ahaziah's mother, Athaliah, as "the daughter of Omri king of Israel," that is, his granddaughter. This marriage joined the royal house of southern Judah to the house of Ahab in northern Israel (see Ahab and Jezebel).

Athaliah's son Ahaziah became king of Judah and reigned for one year. Second Chronicles 22:3 states that "his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly." When Ahaziah was killed during the revolt of Jehu in northern Israel (2 Kings 9:27), Athaliah destroyed all the royal offspring and seized the throne for herself (2 Kings 11:1). However, Jehosheba (called Jehoshabeath in 2 Chronicles), daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, rescued Ahaziah's infant son Joash and hid him. Joash remained hidden in the house of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land (2 Kings 11:2–3).

In the seventh year, the priest Jehoiada, together with the guards, made Joash king and anointed him. Hearing the noise, Athaliah came to the temple, tore her clothes, and cried, "Treason, Treason." She was taken out of the temple precincts and put to death on the way by which the horses came into the king's house (2 Kings 11:13–16). The people then tore down the house of Baal and killed Mattan the priest of Baal (2 Kings 11:18). Second Chronicles 24:7 calls her "Athaliah, that wicked woman."

Significance Within Scripture

Athaliah is the only person outside the house of David to occupy the throne of Judah, which was ruled by the Davidic dynasty, and she is also its only female ruler. The Books of Kings do not apply to her the regnal formula used for other kings (age at accession, length of reign, and evaluation). For this reason, many scholars conclude that the biblical writer did not regard her rule as a legitimate reign. The narrative is read as an account of how, when David's line was in danger of being cut off, a single child survived and the royal succession continued, and it is often connected with the Davidic covenant.

The New Testament does not mention Athaliah directly.

Interpretation and Debated Issues

• Parentage: Scripture refers to Athaliah both as "the daughter of Ahab" and as "the daughter of Omri" (rendered "granddaughter of Omri" in some translations). Because the Hebrew word for "daughter" can broadly mean "female descendant," the common view is that the two expressions do not contradict each other. The claim that her mother was Jezebel is widespread, but Scripture does not state it explicitly.
• Matthew's genealogy: Matthew 1:8 states that "Joram begat Ozias," omitting three kings: Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah. Some interpreters link this omission to the marriage alliance with the house of Ahab and Athaliah. However, the text gives no reason, and others regard the omission as a way of arranging the genealogy into sets of fourteen generations.
• Later literature: The story of Athaliah is known to have served as the subject of Jean Racine's tragedy Athalie (1691) and George Frideric Handel's oratorio Athalia (1733).

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, Athaliah is mentioned chiefly in sermons on King Joash and the priest Jehoiada. Such sermons typically contrast Athaliah's wickedness in killing the royal family with the faith of Jehosheba and Jehoiada, who hid the child at great risk to themselves. She is also presented as an example of how idolatry entered the royal house of Judah through marriage.