The idea
The queen mother 'held an official position in the kingdom, second in rank only to the king himself.' Two symbols show it. She wore a crown: Jeremiah tells 'the king and the queen mother' together to humble themselves, for their crowns are coming down. And she sat or stood at the king's right hand, as Psalm 45 pictures the queen 'in gold of Ophir' — Old Testament scholars agree this queen is the king's mother. The right hand means 'a share in his authority,' just as the king who sits at God's right hand (Psalm 110:1) shares in God's authority. After the monarch himself, she has 'the place of highest honor.'
Key verses
- Psalm 110:1 — 'Sit thou at my right hand' — shared authority.
- Psalm 45:9 — the queen at the king's right hand.
- Jeremiah 13:18 — 'the king and the queen mother' and their crowns.
The connection
| Old Testament root | New Testament fulfilment | |
|---|---|---|
| The queen mother crowned at the king's right hand | → | Mary crowned with twelve stars, sharing her Son's kingship |
Queenship in Israel was not ceremonial. The crown and the right hand are the marks of a share in royal authority, and both reappear in the crowned Woman of Revelation 12.
Sources
- Modern scholars Pitre cites — Susan Ackerman (p 71)