SG Heritage Dictionary

Athaliah Encyclopedia Britannica

ATHALIAH, the daughter of Ahab and wife of Jeho-ram, king of Judah, who, after the death of King Ahaziah, her son, caused all the male members of the royal house of Judah to be massacred, in order that she might usurp the throne. Among the victims were her own grandchildren, except the youngest, Joash, who was concealed in the temple by his aunt, Jehosheba, wife of the high priest, Jehoiada. After six years Jehoiada organised a successful revolution in favour of Joash, and caused Athaliah to be put to death by the Levitical guards (2 Kings xi.; 2 Chron. xxii. 10-12, xxiii.) The story of Athaliah forms the subject of one of Racine’s best tragedies. It has been musically treated by Handel and Mendelssohn.

9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 2, p. 827
[127 words — estimated reading time: 1 minute]

Athaliah Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

the daughter of Omri, king of Samaria, and wife to Jehoram, king of Judah. This princess, being informed that Jehu had slain her son Ahaziah, resolved to take the government upon herself, 2 Kings xi; which that she might effect without opposition, she destroyed all the children that Jehoram had by other wives, and all their offspring. But Jehosheba, the sister of Ahaziah, by the father’s side only, was at this time married to Jehoiada, the high priest; and while Athaliah’s executioners were murdering the rest, she conveyed Joash the son of Ahaziah away, and kept him and his nurse concealed in an apartment of the temple, during six years. In the seventh year, his uncle Jehoiada being determined to place him on the throne of his ancestors, and procure the destruction of Athaliah, he engaged the priests and Levites, and the leading men in all the parts of the kingdom in his interest, and in a public assembly produced him, and made them take an oath of secrecy and fidelity to him. He then distributed arms among the people, whom he divided into three bodies, one to guard the person of the king, and the other two to secure the gates of the temple. After this, he brought out the young prince, set the crown on his head, put the book of the law into his hand, and with sound of trumpet proclaimed him; which was seconded with the joyful shouts and acclamations of the people. Athaliah, hearing the noise, made all haste to the temple; but when, to her astonishment, she saw the young king seated on a throne, she rent her clothes and cried out, “Treason!” But, at the command of Jehoiada, the guards seized and carried her out of the temple, putting all to the sword who offered to rescue or assist her; and then taking her to the stable gate belonging to the palace, there put her ...

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
[327 words — estimated reading time: 2 minutes]

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

17 KJV and 19 BSB verses contain “Athaliah”

2 Kings 8:26

Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.

Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.

2 Kings 11:1

And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.

2 Kings 11:2

But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.

2 Kings 11:3

And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.

And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

2 Kings 11:13

And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD.

When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people in the house of the LORD.

2 Kings 11:14

And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.

And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”

2 Kings 11:16

And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king’s house: and there was she slain.

So they seized Athaliah as she reached the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.

2 Kings 11:20

And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king’s house.

and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace.

1 Chronicles 8:26

And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,

Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,

2 Chronicles 22:2

Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.

Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.

2 Chronicles 22:10

But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs of the house of Judah.

2 Chronicles 22:11

But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.

But Jehoshabeath daughter of King Jehoram took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and the wife of Jehoiada the priest, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah so that she could not kill him.

2 Chronicles 22:12

And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

And Joash remained hidden with them in the house of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

2 Chronicles 23:12

Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD:

When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went out to them in the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 23:13

And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.

And she looked out and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason, treason!”

2 Chronicles 23:15

So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king’s house, they slew her there.

So they seized Athaliah as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate to the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.

2 Chronicles 23:21

And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword.

2 Chronicles 24:7

For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim.

For the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the house of God and had even used the sacred objects of the house of the LORD for the Baals.

Ezra 8:7

And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.

from the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;