Study note

2 Kings 11:1–16

Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and the wife of King Jehoram of Judah (2 Kings 8:18, 26). As queen mother, she had significant influence, but she used it for evil (2 Kings 8:18, 27; 2 Chronicles 22:3–4). Her plans included destroying the rest of the royal family (see 2 Chronicles 22:10).

While Ahab’s family in Samaria was completely destroyed, Athaliah took control in Judah through a massacre similar to Jehu’s slaughter of her family in Samaria.