Athaliah (mother of Ahaziah, queen)
Judah's only female ruler
Athaliah descended from the Omride dynasty of the northern kingdom and is referred to in the biblical text as the granddaughter of Omri—likely she was the daughter of King Ahab. Through a dynastic marriage with King Joram, she became linked to the royal house of Judah and brought the Baal cult southward. When Jehu carried out his revolution and killed her son Ahaziah, Athaliah responded by seizing the throne herself and attempting to wipe out the entire Davidic royal line. For six years she ruled as Judah's only female monarch, a reign marked by idolatry and covenant-breaking. The turning point came when the high priest Jehoiada revealed that the young Joash had survived the massacre, hidden in the temple by Jehosheba. Jehoiada organized a revolt that led to Athaliah’s execution and the restoration of both the Davidic throne and the worship of Yahweh. The account highlights the tension between human ambition for power and God's preservation of David's lineage—a line that, according to the promise in 2 Sam 7, would never cease.
Famille
Événements clés
Marriage to Joram of Judah
Athaliah married King Joram of Judah as part of a dynastic alliance between Israel and Judah, bringing with her the worship of Baal from the religious practices of the Omride dynasty.
6He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he had married a daughter of Ahab. He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD.
וַיֵּ֜לֶךְ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ ׀ מַלְכֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשׂוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית אַחְאָ֔ב כִּ֚י בַּת־אַחְאָ֔ב הָ֥יְתָה לּ֖וֹ אִשָּׁ֑ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃
18He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for he had married a daughter of Ahab. And he did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD.
וַיֵּ֜לֶךְ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ ׀ מַלְכֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשׂוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית אַחְאָ֔ב כִּ֚י בַּת־אַחְאָ֔ב הָֽיְתָה־לּ֖וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃
Extermination of the royal line
When Athaliah learned that her son Ahaziah had been killed by Jehu, she seized power by destroying nearly all the royal descendants of David's house in Judah.
1When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she rose up and destroyed the whole royal family.
וַֽעֲתַלְיָה֙ אֵ֣ם אֲחַזְיָ֔הוּ *וראתה **רָאֲתָ֖ה כִּ֣י מֵ֣ת בְּנָ֑הּ וַתָּ֙קָם֙ וַתְּאַבֵּ֔ד אֵ֖ת כָּל־זֶ֥רַע הַמַּמְלָכָֽה׃
10When Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, saw that her son was dead, she set about destroying the whole royal line of the house of Judah.
וַעֲתַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ אֵ֣ם אֲחַזְיָ֔הוּ רָאֲתָ֖ה כִּ֣י מֵ֣ת בְּנָ֑הּ וַתָּ֗קָם וַתְּדַבֵּ֛ר אֶת־כָּל־זֶ֥רַע הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה לְבֵ֥ית יְהוּדָֽה׃
Joash Saved by Jehosheba
The young prince Joash was saved from the massacre by his aunt Jehosheba, who according to Chronicles was married to the priest Jehoiada. The child was hidden in the temple for six years while Athaliah reigned.
2But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being put to death. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom, out of Athaliah's sight, and so he was not killed.
וַתִּקַּ֣ח יְהוֹשֶׁ֣בַע בַּת־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־י֠וֹרָם אֲח֨וֹת אֲחַזְיָ֜הוּ אֶת־יוֹאָ֣שׁ בֶּן־אֲחַזְיָ֗ה וַתִּגְנֹ֤ב אֹתוֹ֙ מִתּ֤וֹךְ בְּנֵֽי־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ *הממותתים **הַמּ֣וּמָתִ֔ים אֹת֥וֹ וְאֶת־מֵינִקְתּ֖וֹ בַּחֲדַ֣ר הַמִּטּ֑וֹת וַיַּסְתִּ֧רוּ אֹת֛וֹ מִפְּנֵ֥י עֲתַלְיָ֖הוּ וְלֹ֥א הוּמָֽת׃
3He remained hidden with her in the house of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
וַיְהִ֤י אִתָּהּ֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה מִתְחַבֵּ֖א שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים וַעֲתַלְיָ֖ה מֹלֶ֥כֶת עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ פ
11But Jehoshabeath, the king's daughter, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest—she was Ahaziah's sister—hid him from Athaliah, and Athaliah did not put him to death.
וַתִּקַּח֩ יְהוֹשַׁבְעַ֨ת בַּת־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־יוֹאָ֣שׁ בֶּן־אֲחַזְיָ֗הוּ וַתִּגְנֹ֤ב אֹתוֹ֙ מִתּ֤וֹךְ בְּנֵֽי־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַמּ֣וּמָתִ֔ים וַתִּתֵּ֥ן אֹת֛וֹ וְאֶת־מֵֽינִקְתּ֖וֹ בַּחֲדַ֣ר הַמִּטּ֑וֹת וַתַּסְתִּירֵ֡הוּ יְהוֹשַׁבְעַ֣ת בַּת־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יְהוֹרָ֡ם אֵשֶׁת֩ יְהוֹיָדָ֨ע הַכֹּהֵ֜ן כִּ֣י הִיא֩ הָיְתָ֨ה אֲח֧וֹת אֲחַזְיָ֛הוּ מִפְּנֵ֥י עֲתַלְיָ֖הוּ וְלֹ֥א הֱמִיתָֽתְהוּ׃
12He remained hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah ruled the land.
וַיְהִ֤י אִתָּם֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים מִתְחַבֵּ֖א שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים וַעֲתַלְיָ֖ה מֹלֶ֥כֶת עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ פ
Six Years of Reign
Athaliah ruled over Judah for six years as the only female ruler in the history of the two kingdoms and promoted the Baal cult in the land.
3He remained hidden with her in the house of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
וַיְהִ֤י אִתָּהּ֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה מִתְחַבֵּ֖א שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים וַעֲתַלְיָ֖ה מֹלֶ֥כֶת עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ פ
12He remained hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah ruled the land.
וַיְהִ֤י אִתָּם֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים מִתְחַבֵּ֖א שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים וַעֲתַלְיָ֖ה מֹלֶ֥כֶת עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ פ
Jehoiada's Revolution and the Fall of Athaliah
The high priest Jehoiada organized a revolution in the seventh year, crowned the young Joash as king in the temple, and Athaliah was seized, led out, and executed at the Horse Gate.
12Jehoiada brought out the king's son, placed the crown on him and gave him the covenant scroll. They proclaimed him king and anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!"
וַיּוֹצִ֣א אֶת־בֶּן־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיִּתֵּ֤ן עָלָיו֙ אֶת־הַנֵּ֙זֶר֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣עֵד֔וּת וַיַּמְלִ֥כוּ אֹת֖וֹ וַיִּמְשָׁחֻ֑הוּ וַיַּכּוּ־כָ֔ף וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יְחִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס
13When Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and the people, she went to the people at the house of the LORD.
וַתִּשְׁמַ֣ע עֲתַלְיָ֔ה אֶת־ק֥וֹל הָֽרָצִ֖ין הָעָ֑ם וַתָּבֹ֥א אֶל־הָעָ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
14There she saw the king standing by the pillar, as the custom was, with the officers and the trumpeters beside him, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, "Treason! Treason!"
וַתֵּ֡רֶא וְהִנֵּ֣ה הַמֶּלֶךְ֩ עֹמֵ֨ד עַֽל־הָעַמּ֜וּד כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט וְהַשָּׂרִ֤ים וְהַחֲצֹֽצְרוֹת֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכָל־עַ֤ם הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ שָׂמֵ֔חַ וְתֹקֵ֖עַ בַּחֲצֹֽצְר֑וֹת וַתִּקְרַ֤ע עֲתַלְיָה֙ אֶת־בְּגָדֶ֔יהָ וַתִּקְרָ֖א קֶ֥שֶׁר קָֽשֶׁר׃ ס
15Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds who were in charge of the troops, "Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest had said, "She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD."
וַיְצַו֩ יְהוֹיָדָ֨ע הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־שָׂרֵ֥י *המיאות **הַמֵּא֣וֹת ׀ פְּקֻדֵ֣י הַחַ֗יִל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ הוֹצִ֤יאוּ אֹתָהּ֙ אֶל־מִבֵּ֣ית לַשְּׂדֵרֹ֔ת וְהַבָּ֥א אַחֲרֶ֖יהָ הָמֵ֣ת בֶּחָ֑רֶב כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אַל־תּוּמַ֖ת בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
16So they seized her, and she was taken by the way the horses enter the palace, and there she was put to death.
וַיָּשִׂ֤מוּ לָהּ֙ יָדַ֔יִם וַתָּב֛וֹא דֶּֽרֶךְ־מְב֥וֹא הַסּוּסִ֖ים בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַתּוּמַ֖ת שָֽׁם׃ ס
11Then they brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, gave him the testimony, and proclaimed him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they shouted, "Long live the king!"
וַיּוֹצִ֣יאוּ אֶת־בֶּן־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ עָלָיו֙ אֶת־הַנֵּ֙זֶר֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣עֵד֔וּת וַיַּמְלִ֖יכוּ אֹת֑וֹ וַיִּמְשָׁחֻ֙הוּ֙ יְהוֹיָדָ֣ע וּבָנָ֔יו וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יְחִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס
12When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to them at the house of the LORD.
וַתִּשְׁמַ֣ע עֲתַלְיָ֗הוּ אֶת־ק֤וֹל הָעָם֙ הָֽרָצִ֔ים וְהַֽמְהַֽלְלִ֖ים אֶת־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַתָּב֥וֹא אֶל־הָעָ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
13She looked, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance, with the officers and the trumpeters beside him. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers were leading the praise with their instruments. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, "Treason! Treason!"
וַתֵּ֡רֶא וְהִנֵּ֣ה הַמֶּלֶךְ֩ עוֹמֵ֨ד עַֽל־עַמּוּד֜וֹ בַּמָּב֗וֹא וְהַשָּׂרִ֣ים וְהַחֲצֹצְרוֹת֮ עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְ֒ וְכָל־עַ֨ם הָאָ֜רֶץ שָׂמֵ֗חַ וְתוֹקֵ֙עַ֙ בַּחֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת וְהַמְשֽׁוֹרֲרִים֙ בִּכְלֵ֣י הַשִּׁ֔יר וּמוֹדִיעִ֖ים לְהַלֵּ֑ל וַתִּקְרַ֤ע עֲתַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ אֶת־בְּגָדֶ֔יהָ וַתֹּ֖אמֶר קֶ֥שֶׁר קָֽשֶׁר׃ ס
14Jehoiada the priest brought out the commanders of hundreds who were in charge of the troops and said to them, "Take her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest had said, "Do not put her to death in the house of the LORD."
וַיּוֹצֵא֩ יְהוֹיָדָ֨ע הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־שָׂרֵ֥י הַמֵּא֣וֹת ׀ פְּקוּדֵ֣י הַחַ֗יִל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ הֽוֹצִיא֙וּהָ֙ אֶל־מִבֵּ֣ית הַשְּׂדֵר֔וֹת וְהַבָּ֥א אַחֲרֶ֖יהָ יוּמַ֣ת בֶּחָ֑רֶב כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן לֹ֥א תְמִית֖וּהָ בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
15So they seized her, and when she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate at the royal palace, they put her to death there.
וַיָּשִׂ֤ימוּ לָהּ֙ יָדַ֔יִם וַתָּב֛וֹא אֶל־מְב֥וֹא שַֽׁעַר־הַסּוּסִ֖ים בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְמִית֖וּהָ שָֽׁם׃ פ
Baal's Temple Destroyed
After Athaliah's fall, Baal's temple in Jerusalem was torn down, Baal's priest Mattan was killed, and the worship of the Lord was restored in Judah.
17Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they would be the LORD's people; and also between the king and the people.
וַיִּכְרֹ֨ת יְהוֹיָדָ֜ע אֶֽת־הַבְּרִ֗ית בֵּ֤ין יְהוָה֙ וּבֵ֤ין הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָעָ֔ם לִהְי֥וֹת לְעָ֖ם לַֽיהוָ֑ה וּבֵ֥ין הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וּבֵ֥ין הָעָֽם׃
18All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and its images to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest appointed officers to oversee the house of the LORD.
וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ כָל־עַם֩ הָאָ֨רֶץ בֵּית־הַבַּ֜עַל וַֽיִּתְּצֻ֗הוּ אֶת־*מזבחתו **מִזְבְּחֹתָ֤יו וְאֶת־צְלָמָיו֙ שִׁבְּר֣וּ הֵיטֵ֔ב וְאֵ֗ת מַתָּן֙ כֹּהֵ֣ן הַבַּ֔עַל הָרְג֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י הַֽמִּזְבְּח֑וֹת וַיָּ֧שֶׂם הַכֹּהֵ֛ן פְּקֻדּ֖וֹת עַל־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
16Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the LORD's people.
וַיִּכְרֹ֤ת יְהוֹיָדָע֙ בְּרִ֔ית בֵּינ֕וֹ וּבֵ֥ין כָּל־הָעָ֖ם וּבֵ֣ין הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ לִהְי֥וֹת לְעָ֖ם לַיהוָֽה׃
17All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and its images, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.
וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ כָל־הָעָ֤ם בֵּית־הַבַּ֙עַל֙ וַֽיִּתְּצֻ֔הוּ וְאֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתָ֥יו וְאֶת־צְלָמָ֖יו שִׁבֵּ֑רוּ וְאֵ֗ת מַתָּן֙ כֹּהֵ֣ן הַבַּ֔עַל הָרְג֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י הַֽמִּזְבְּחֽוֹת׃