Athaliah

Athaliah
Athaliah from Guillaume Rouillé's Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum, 1553
Queen of Judah
Reign	c. 841 – 835 BC
Predecessor	Ahaziah
Successor	Jehoash
Died	c. 836 BC Jerusalem, Kingdom of Judah
Consort	Jehoram, King of Judah
Issue	Ahaziah, King of Judah
Dynasty	House of Omri
Father	Ahab, King of Israel
Mother	Jezebel (disputed)
Religion	Baalism

Athaliah (/ˌæθəˈlaɪ.ə/; Hebrew: עֲתַלְיָה, ʻĂṯalyâ; "God is exalted"; Greek: Γοθολία; Latin: Athalia) was queen consort of Judah as the wife of King Jehoram, a descendant of King David, and later queen regnant c.841–835 BCE.

Athaliah is usually considered the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel. Athaliah was married to Jehoram of Judah to seal a treaty between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and to secure his position Jehoram killed his six brothers. Jehoram became king of Judah in the fifth year of Jehoram of Israel's reign. (2 Kings 8:16) Jehoram of Israel was Athaliah's brother (or possibly nephew).

Jehoram of Judah reigned for eight years. His father Jehoshaphat and grandfather Asa were devout kings who worshiped the Lord and walked in His ways. However, Jehoram chose not to follow their example but rejected God and married Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab in the line of Omri. Jehoram's rule of Judah was shaky. Edom revolted, and he was forced to acknowledge their independence. A raid by Philistines, Arabs and Ethiopians looted the king's house, and carried off all of his family except for their youngest son, Ahaziah.