Scripture References:
2 Kings 8:25, 2 Kings 11:1-3, 2 Kings 11:13-16, 2 Kings 11:20, 2 Chronicles 22:2, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 2 Chronicles 23:12-15, 2 Chronicles 24:7
Name Meaning
afflicted of the Lord
Introduction:
The history of Judah is full of wicked people as well as righteous followers of God. We can learn from both the good and the bad. Athaliah was a bad woman, a woman who did evil in the eyes of the Lord and led an entire nation astray because of it. There is much we can learn from her life, her pursuit of power, and the destruction that befell her because of her ambitions.
Lesson:
Athaliah was the granddaughter of Omri, one of Israel ‘s most idolatrous and evil kings. She was the daughter of Ahab, and most likely Jezebel, making her half Israelite and half Phoenician. She had married the king of Judah, who at that time was Jehoram. Jehoram was the son of Jehosaphat, who was one of the godlier kings of the Northern Kingdom. The union between Ahab’s daughter and Jehosaphat’s son united north and south Judah for a while, though it ended up in bloodshed and idolatry. When Jehoram died, her son Ahaziah took the throne. He was murdered within a year of assuming the throne. Rather than taking the role as regent for one of her grandchildren, Athaliah did what she felt was necessary to preserve her power – which resulted in the murder of her own grandchildren, leaving her alone to rule.
2 Kings 11:1-3: Now when Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she set about to destroy all the royal family. But Jehosheba, King Joram’s daughter, Ahaziah’s sister, took Joash, son of Ahaziah and stole him away from the king’s children who were about to be killed; she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus, she hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not killed; he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the LORD, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Athaliah was the only woman in the history of Judah to rule. Others ruled for their children or grandchildren, but Athaliah was the only woman to rule of her own right. Her reign lasted for seven years, and the nation rejoiced at her overthrow, showing us that she was not a well-liked ruler. She established and promoted Baal worship in the region, as her parents had done in the south. She forced the beliefs on the people, driving them further away from God.
Unbeknownst to her, she was not entirely successful in snuffing out the royal line of Judah. Jehosheba, her stepdaughter, had hidden away the infant Joash (Jehoash) before he could be murdered. Jehosheba hid him in the temple for six years thanks to the support of her husband, the high priest. He then organized a coup, and they crowned the seven-year-old Joash as the rightful king. Jehoiada, the high priest, ruled as regent for him until he was old enough to rule on his own.
Upon learning of this Athaliah cried “Treason!” but no one cared, just as no one had cared for her mother Jezebel. Instead, they seized her, drug her out of the temple so as not to shed blood within it and executed her outside the temple. The temple of Baal was destroyed right after she was killed, its high priest executed, and the land rejoiced.
2 Kings 11:13-16: When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the LORD to the people; when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, according to custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, ‘Treason! Treason!’ Then the priest Jehoiada commanded the captains who were set over the army, ‘Bring her out between the ranks, and kill with the sword anyone who follows her.’ For the priest said, ‘Let her not be killed in the house of the LORD.’ So they laid hands on her; she went through the horses’ entrance to the king’s house, and there she was put to death.
2 Kings 11:20: So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been killed with the sword at the king’s house.
Athaliah was not the greatest example. She was definitely not a woman of faith. But there is much we can learn from her. 2 Chronicles 24:7 calls her a wicked woman. It is interesting that there were many wicked men in Judah, and many who ruled. Some were put to death, others continued to rule. But what is most interesting is the fact that God does not say anything about her rule. He does not criticize her for her actions, for ruling as a woman. It is not even mentioned. Of course, there are many men who will say that she was put to death and afflicted, as her name means, because she was a woman who usurped power. But the Scriptures are silent on this thought. She was afflicted for being wicked, not for being a woman who ruled.
So, what do we learn exactly?
Athaliah was a woman influenced greatly by her parents. Parents can see from this example that their influence extends far beyond their own homes. The examples we set as parents can have lasting effects on our children.
Power and the pursuit of it can be good, but when we let them consume us it results in our own destruction. Athaliah did evil in the eyes of the Lord. She murdered and hurt not only her own family, but the entire nation in her lust for power. She let it consume her and because of it she was not liked by the people, nor did she live out a happy life. She was executed, and her death was celebrated by the entire nation. Do you want your drive for success and power to result in your destruction? Healthy goals are one thing. But make sure you turn to God and seek Him as you strive to be better.
God is powerful and He alone should be praised. Athaliah learned the hard way that worshiping another god is not right. Don’t let power, money, your family, or anything else become the god in your life. Let God be your god.
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