Who
A daughter of the house of Ahab, called “the daughter of Omri” (2 Kings 8:26), married to Joram king of Judah to seal an alliance with Israel; she led her husband and her son Ahaziah in the ways of Ahab. When Ahaziah was killed, she “destroyed all the royal offspring” (2 Kings 11:1) and reigned six years, the only ruler of Judah not of David’s house. But the infant Joash was hidden by his aunt Jehosheba “in the LORD’s house six years while Athaliah reigned” (2 Kings 11:3); the priest Jehoiada crowned him, and she was killed. Jerome and Hilary saw in her marriage the reason Matthew passes over the next three kings.
Key verses
- 2 Kings 8:26
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
- 2 Kings 11:1
Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring.
- 2 Kings 11:3
He was with her hidden in the LORD’s house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Where the Bible names her
Family
- Children
Discussed by
Comments on the verses that name her.
- Gregory the Great, The Book of Pastoral Rule I.4
Of the weight of government; and that all manner of adversity is to be despised, and prosperity feared. Of the weight of government; and that all manner of adversity is to be despised, and prosperity feared. So much,…