Athaliah (Ath-uh-LIE-ah) was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel of Israel and the wife of Jehoram (Jih-hoh-ruhm), king of Judah. She followed the path set by her parents and influenced her husband to "walk in the ways of the kings of Israel" (2 Kings 8:18) and worship Baal. Athaliah proved to be as dedicated to paganism as her mother. She also turned away from the Lord. The text will prove that she was a powerful influence on her husband and her sons. They enthusiastically adopted her faith and her wicked ways. Why are her wicked acts recorded for us in Scripture? It must be for us to study and learn from her mistakes. Our goal in this study is to better understand the mistakes this wicked queen made, learn from her and thus avoid similar mistakes in our walk with God.
Historical Background:
The united Kingdom of Israel divided after the death of Solomon (931 BC). The ten northern tribes follow Jeroboam into idolatry. He is succeeded by 18 wicked kings, the last being Hoshea. It was in his reign, in 722 BC, the Assyrians captured and ultimately brought about the end of the Northern Kingdom. As far as the Southern Kingdom (the two tribes of Benjamin and Judah), they followed Rehoboam who was succeeded by 11 bad kings and 8 good kings. It is through this line of succession we find our character, Queen Athaliah. After Rehoboam (931—913 BC) his son Abijah reigns briefly (912 BC). Abijah is succeeded by his son Asa (911 - 870 BC). Asa is succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat who reigns until 848 BC. Jehoshaphat was a godly king who "did not turn aside from doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (1 Kings. 22:43). However, Jehoshaphat made one disastrous mistake: he made peace with the wicked king Ahab of the Northern Kingdom and married his son Jehoram to Athaliah. In so doing Jehoshaphat welcomed a poisonous viper into his family and exposed his son to a woman dedicated to doing evil. After Jehoshaphat’s death, his son Jehoram, with Athaliah at his side, becomes king of Judah. Jehoram ruled for only 8 years (until 841 BC) but during this time the sons of Athaliah, "that wicked woman… had presented all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord to the Baals" (2 Chr. 24:7). Where did this idolatry come from? Her parents, Ahab and Jezebel, king and queen of the Northern Kingdom!
When Jehoram died his son Ahaziah (A-huh-zI-uh) succeeded him. But Ahaziah was killed during his first year as king. When Athaliah learned that her son was dead, she acted quickly to destroy all the royal heirs, her grandchildren (cf. 2 Kings 11:1). With the royal family apparently wiped out, Athaliah took the throne and ruled as queen for six years. However, one of the kings sons (her grandson) survived and was hidden by his aunt Jehosheba for six years. When the boy was seven years old, the high priest Jehoiada organized a coup. Athaliah was executed immediately, to great rejoicing and thus Joash becomes the youngest king of Judah.
Text: 2 Kings 11:1-21—2 Chron. 22; 23; 24:1-7)
The historical events we just discussed, as it relates to Athaliah, are recorded for us in two separate Biblical accounts— 2 Kings 11 and 2 Chron. 22—24. Before we look at Athaliah close-up, learning from her mistakes, let’s take the time to read the complete text both in Kings and Chronicles. I realize this is a long reading; however, it should strengthen our understanding of this wicked woman.
Lesson 1 - Parents Set The Course of Their Children’s Lives (2 Kings 11:1; 2 Chron. 22:3-4)
Athaliah’s commitment to her parents’ wicked ways reminds us that parents often do set the course of their children’s lives. Athaliah’s parents, Ahab and Jezebel, were idol worshippers (Baal); they were wicked, evil, people turning to even murder to get their way — Naboth is a prime example. Athaliah’s parents stood in direct opposition of God and godly values. We can only imagine the environment Athaliah was raised in. How does she turn out? Just like mom and dad. She too is bent on worshipping Baal, turning hearts from God and will even stoop to murder to get her way. The actions, values and principles of parents are more times than not passed on to their children.
I realize the wicked ways of Athaliah’s parents are the most extreme examples of values passed on to a child. However, the point is certainly driven home — parents really do set the course of their children’s lives. How can we learn from Athaliah’s life? As parents and even grandparents, what valuable lesson should we gain from this wicked family? Our children are going to grow up doing or not doing things just as their parents before them. Consider the following:
- A child grows up in a home lacking in family prayer. They never see their parents praying over their food. They never see their parents praying when there is crisis or tribulation in the family. They are never reminded to say their own prayers when going to bed. They never start their day out with a family prayer. They never come together, as a family, and pray. How do you suppose that child, when grown, will act as a mom or dad with their family?
- A child grows up in a home lacking spiritual commitment. As a family, they never study the Bible. They never see mom or dad reading from God’s word on a consistent basis. The family Bible receives more attention on cleaning day when it’s time to remove the dust. It’s greatest value to the family is to conveniently house the families genealogy record. When grown, how much Bible study do you suppose this child will engage in?
- A child grows up in a home bent on serving God out of duty rather than love. This family attends Sunday morning service, come rain or shine, except during the family vacation, or during the big ball game, or during the family reunion, or during opening weekend of deer season, or during… you fill in the blank. This family attends only when there are no other more important events standing in the way. They are a Sunday morning only family. There is no true love for God, no need to come back for additional worship or fellowship, they have “punched their card” for the week, they have put in their time. How will this child grow up to serve and worship God?
- A child grows up in a home not knowing God. In this home there is never prayer, nor study, nor worship. This home only knows the world and the pleasures of it. Things such as divorce, domestic violence, drugs, alcohol, abusive language, adultery and the like are simply the way of life. Will this child grow up and lead his or her family to the Lord? It’s not likely, is it?
Proverbs 22:6 states: Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. How do we as parents best do this? How do we train our children to grow up being committed, obedient children of God? By our actions! The way we live everyday of our lives.
Athaliah stands as a sobering reminder for us today regarding parental influence. Parents really do, more often than not, set the course, by their actions, of their children’s lives. Are there exceptions? Of course! If we do it all right, follow the book to the letter, does this guarantee our children will grow up to serve God? Not always. The psalmist reminds us that like the arrow leaving a bow, our children often drift, even though they were pointed in the right direction (cf. Ps. 127:3-4). Yet, even though there are exceptions, the best course of action as parents is to raise our children in a home totally committed to God and serving Him.
Lesson 2 - Choosing a Godly Spouse Should be High on our Checklist (2 Kings 8:16-18; 11:18; 2 Chron. 21:5-6; 12-15; 24:7)
Athaliah’s husband (Jehoram) was raised in a godly home, we must assume, for his father (Jehoshaphat)did right in the eyes of the Lord (cf. 2 Chron. 20:31-32). What happened to his son, Jehoram? Why didn’t he too following the ways of his father and even his grandfather (Asa)? Why didn’t he too grow up and when he became king do right in the eyes of the Lord? I think the answer is simple—he married the wrong woman!
Athaliah appears to have been a totally self-centered individual. Like her mother, Jezebel, she was a strong personality who was able to dominate her husband. By aligning himself with wickedness in marrying Athaliah, Jehoram abandoned the ways of his father and grandfather and turned to idolatry. Note the influence Athaliah had on Jehoram in the text above. Apparently, years of training, righteous living, and fatherly examples are “thrown out the window” due to the influence of a wicked, crafty, dominating wife. What’s the lesson for us? Choosing a Godly spouse should be a criteria that is high on ones checklist.
I realize this is a touchy subject and I’m not saying that a strong Christian cannot marry a non-Christian and eventually lead them to Christ. However, with so many other obstacles facing young married couples today, I strongly believe if this one is removed (by marrying a Christian) a couple has one less “issue” to destroy their marriage.
When looking for a spouse, what do most people put on their “checklist?” Would a typical list closely resemble this one:
- Physical attributes (handsome or pretty)
- Financial position
- Education
- Career objectives
- Compatibility (what do we have in common)
I’m sure you could add many more “desires” to this list. Yet I wonder, how many people consider religious preference when picking a spouse? If it is a consideration, how high would it rank on the list? I believe the story of Athaliah and her influence on her husband is but one of many Biblical examples teaching us the importance of marrying a Christian, or at least a person that we strongly believe we can convert to Christianity.
Do you remember Abraham’s criteria when searching for a wife for Isaac? Abraham, at the age of about 140 years, charges his oldest servant (perhaps Eliezer) with this most serious task. Abraham said to this servant, "Please place your hand under my thigh (a very special custom for accepting a serious oath) and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, but you shall go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac" (Gen. 24:2-4). What was on the top of Abraham’s criteria list? Was it beauty? Was it wealth? It was a relative. Why? He knew they were godly people!
Paul says, "Do not be bound together (unequally yoked) with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?" (2 Cor. 6:14). The key term in this verse is bound together or a better translation being unequally yoked. Regardless of the relationship: a business partnership, a marriage, or even a close friendship, the message here is the same — don’t enter into it if you are unequally yoked. In other words, if you are the weaker person, not physically, but emotionally and spiritually, then don’t enter into this relationship. Like two oxen joined together by a yoke, the weaker will be pulled or influenced by the stronger (cf. Deut 22:10). If you can be pulled from God, such as was Athaliah’s husband, then the safest course of action would be to shy away from a relationship with this stronger person.
What valuable lesson can we learn from the union of Jehoram and Athaliah? Regardless of parental upbringing, a weaker spouse can be wrongly influenced and pulled away from God!
Lesson 3 - Selfish Ambition Brings Certain Destruction (2 Kings 11:1; 16)
In the ancient world it was common practice to appoint a regent to rule on behalf of an under-age heir to the throne. When Ahaziah was killed, it would have been customarily proper for Athaliah to claim regentship and rule on behalf of one of her young grandsons. Apparently, Athaliah wanted more than to be the power behind the throne. When her son was killed, she jumped at the chance to rule in her own right. She choose to murder all the royal heirs so she might grasp absolute power. This action reveals the utter selfishness and wickedness that characterized this evil queen.
Ambition can be a positive thing. This great country we live in today was built by ambitious, honest, hard working people. However, Athaliah is an example of selfish ambition run riot.
Whenever we consider doing wrong to achieve a personal goal or gain, we need to remember this wicked queen’s fate. As Christians, our business dealings and transactions with people on a daily basis should be trustworthy and even godly.
Paul said, "whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Col. 3:17). As Christians, our actions outside of the church building are just as important, if not more important than those inside. What message does one send if they “act” like a Christian on Sunday while allowing selfish, perverse ambition rule them during the week? Will these actions win the souls of people they come in contact with to Christ? I seriously doubt it! We should learn from Athaliah, "whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).
Summary:
From Athaliah’s life, the text clearly teaches us the importance of a godly upbringing. Parents really do set the course of their children’s lives. We should never forget that our children are going to grow up doing, or not doing, things just as their parents before them.
Athaliah has also taught us the importance of choosing a godly spouse. We have learned how a strong, dominating spouse can wrongly influence the weaker. In her marriage, we see a lifetime of godly values, which were passed down from her husband’s family, totally abandoned due to Athaliah’s wicked influence. We should encourage our children, if possible, to marry a Christian.
Finally, we learned of Athaliah’s rise to the throne being accomplished by riotous ambition. Rather than following the prescribed, godly course to the throne, she chooses a deadly route by murdering the competition. In the end, her actions not only cost her the throne, but her life as well. Our actions and dealings with people should also be “Christ-like.” If we try to get ahead by deploying riotous ambition, such as Athaliah, we might be successful in this life, but in the end, such a course of action could cost us our souls!
