Athaliah: The Destroyer of Royal Family

Ahab and his wife Jezebel we considered in a previous post did lots of evil before the Lord. Although Ahab was forgiven because he humbled himself, his son still faced the consequences of Ahab’s sins. 1 Kings 21: 28-29, the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.” Ahab’s first successor was Ahaziah, his son. Ahaziah died because he fell from his lattice and injured himself. Instead of consulting God, he consulted  Baal-Zebub. 2 Kings 1:17 states that, “So he died, according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. Because Ahaziah had no son, Joram succeeded him as king. Joram was another son of Ahab. During the kingship of Joram, Jehu, the army commander rebelled. Joram (king of Israel) was with Ahaziah, the king of Judah (remember Joram’s own late brother was also known as Ahaziah!) when Jehu attacked them. When Joram discovered Jehu’s evil intentions, “Joram turned about and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, “Treachery, Ahaziah!” When Ahaziah king of Judah saw what had happened, he fled up the road to Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him, shouting, “Kill him too!” They wounded him in his chariot on the way up to Gur near Ibleam, but he escaped to Megiddo and died there. His servants took him by chariot to Jerusalem and buried him with his ancestors in his tomb in the City of David” (2 Kings 9:23‭, ‬27‭-‬28). Thus both Israel and Judah lost their kings in the hands of Jehu, the commander of Israel’s army.

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. (2 Kings 11:1)

This incident didn’t go down well with Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah (king of Judah). 2 Kings 11:1 states that, “When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.” How can a single woman hold so much power? Who did she collaborate with to exterminate the royal family? However, one son was spared by the sister of Ahaziah known as Jehosheba. She took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed (see 2 Kings 11:2). Joash remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land (2 Kings 11:3). Thus, Athaliah did not just destroy the royal family, she assumed a leadership role and reigned over the land. She destroyed the royal family so she could become the ruler of the land. Her quest for violence was not justified. Her son Ahaziah was attacked by Jehu in Israel (the Northern Kingdom) so she had no excuse to murder the people in Judah (the Southern Kingdom). Her vengeance was unjustified and barbaric. 

After six years, Jehoiada, the priest, brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!” (2 Kings 11:12). Athaliah was unaware of the activities in the temple. She didn’t even know that a remnant remained after her mass murder of the royal house. The shouts from the temple got to the palace. “When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the Lord. She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, “Treason! Treason!” (2 Kings 11:13‭-‬14). Athaliah felt betrayed that the legitimate son of the late king was being crowned as the king. She wanted to rule, she wanted power and she was not ready to share the throne. However, it was too late for her. Athaliah’s evil cup was full. When she got to the temple, Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, 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 temple of the Lord.” So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to death (2 Kings 11:15‭-‬16).

The land was rid of an evil and wicked woman and the true son of the late king was given his rightful position. Joash was seven years old when he began to reign (2 Kings 11:21). Joash’s father (Ahaziah) had a wrong association with the wrong king (Joram). The death destined for Joram also took Ahaziah. Not happy with the death of his son, Athaliah took matters in her own hands and destroyed the royal family. The confusion in the whole palace began because of Ahaziah’s meeting with Joram. 

You should be intentional about who you mingle with. Not every good person is a God-fearing person. If you follow the crowd, you might end up a victim.