An often overlook person from the Old Testament is Athaliah. She was the wife (consort) of Jehoram the fifth King of Judah (not to be confused with Jehoram King of Israel). He died after being struck with illness by the LORD (2 Chron. 21:18-19). Note this is the same Jehoram found in Matthew's genealogy (1:8)
Then Athaliah's son Ahaziah became King of Judah. She now is the Queen Mother. About a year or so later Ahaziah is killed by King Jehu while fleeing the battlefield (2 Kings 9:27).
THEN Athaliah took control of Judah for herself and become the sole ruling monarch of Judah for 6 years. This makes her the only female Queen to rule the kingdom of Judah or the kingdom of Israel.
So what is the first thing she does?
And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal (2 Kings 11:2).
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 (2 Chon. 22:10).
Joash the son of Ahaziah (the rightful heir) was hidden "in the house of the LORD six years; and Athaliah reigned over the land (2 Kings 11:3, 2 Chron. 22:12). Please notice the text says she "reigned over the land." She was the one and only monarch.
Another point of interest, in my opinion, are the above two passages 2 Kings 11:2 and 2 Chon. 22:10. No doubt Athaliah's motivation was to clear her way to the throne by eliminating all rivals thereby leaving her the sole ruler. However her method could have end with the extermination of the royal line of Judah, the royal line of the Messianic King the son of David.
That is, if she had succeeded. Divine providence is a wonderful thing.
Just food for thought.
Then Athaliah's son Ahaziah became King of Judah. She now is the Queen Mother. About a year or so later Ahaziah is killed by King Jehu while fleeing the battlefield (2 Kings 9:27).
THEN Athaliah took control of Judah for herself and become the sole ruling monarch of Judah for 6 years. This makes her the only female Queen to rule the kingdom of Judah or the kingdom of Israel.
So what is the first thing she does?
And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal (2 Kings 11:2).
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 (2 Chon. 22:10).
Joash the son of Ahaziah (the rightful heir) was hidden "in the house of the LORD six years; and Athaliah reigned over the land (2 Kings 11:3, 2 Chron. 22:12). Please notice the text says she "reigned over the land." She was the one and only monarch.
Another point of interest, in my opinion, are the above two passages 2 Kings 11:2 and 2 Chon. 22:10. No doubt Athaliah's motivation was to clear her way to the throne by eliminating all rivals thereby leaving her the sole ruler. However her method could have end with the extermination of the royal line of Judah, the royal line of the Messianic King the son of David.
That is, if she had succeeded. Divine providence is a wonderful thing.
Just food for thought.
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