Athaliah

Athaliah (ăth"ulī'u) [key]. 1. The only queen to occupy the throne of Judah, daughter of Ahab of Israel, wife of Jehoram 2. of Judah, and mother of Ahaziah 2 of Judah, whom she succeeded. She had the males of the royal family murdered, but her stepdaughter Jehosheba hid away a baby son of Ahaziah. Some years later, Jehosheba and her husband Jehoiada 1 effected a coup in favor of this baby, Jehoash 2. Athaliah they killed. These events are the subject of Racine's Athalie. 2. Benjamite. 3. Father of one who returned with Ezra.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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