Athaliah was the only woman to have sat on the throne of David. Ahab was her father and though her mother isn’t clearly identified; she was influenced by his wife, Jezebel.
She was married to godly King Jehoshaphat’s son, Jehoram, who was as wicked as his father was good.
After reaping a deserved painful demise, Athaliah doted on their son, Ahaziah training him up in the way he should go…to hell, which he did after he died following his mama’s advice.
Athaliah channeled her grief by making the royal house of David pay…for her bad decision. She ordered her loyalist to kill every son of the royal family.
She almost succeeded, except for her quick-thinking sister-in-law, Jehosheba, who hid Joash (Ahaziah’s son no doubt, by another wife) from the massacre. Jehosheba and her husband, the priest Jehoiada hid Joash in the temple until he was seven years old.
By that time Jehoiada had strengthened the opposition to overthrow Athaliah and have her killed. At her death, Jerusalem rejoiced when Joash was anointed. The lamp of David had not gone out.
Reference 2 Chronicles 22-23
