The reign of AthaliahThe reign of Athaliah

Laindon Bible Class – 20th July 2011Laindon Bible Class – 20th July 2011

Athaliah 2

The plan of our studyThe plan of our study

• Who was Athaliah?• The events of this period of Israel’s

history• Thoughts on some spiritual patterns

and foreshadowing of what was to come

• Some lessons for us

Athaliah 3

Who was Athaliah? (1)Who was Athaliah? (1)

A mother who murdered her own grandchildren .

“…when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.” 2 Chronicles 22:10

Queen circa 841-835BC

Athaliah 4

Who was Athaliah? (2)Who was Athaliah? (2)

OmriKing of Israel

EthbaalKing of Zidon

JehoshaphatKing of Judah

Joash(Jehoash)

Jezebel

AthaliahAhaziah Joram(Jehoram)

JehoiadaJehosheba(Jehoshebeath)

Ahab

Jehoram

Ahaziah

Other wives

Other wives

The axis ofevil

Athaliah 5

The events of this period (1)The events of this period (1)

• The opening scene: Jehoshaphat is King of Judah and Ahab King of Israel

• Jehoshaphat establishes the Law of Yahweh in Judah

• Ahab marries Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal and establishes Baal worship

• Jehoshaphat enters into an alliance with Ahab

Athaliah 6

The events of this period (2)The events of this period (2)

• The alliance is cemented by Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram marrying Jezebel’s daughter Athaliah (note 1 Kings 21:25)

• When Jehoshaphat appoints Jehoram as co-regent, he slays all his brothers and many of the princes (see 2 Chronicles 21:4,6 & also 24:7)

• After 2 years of a terrible disease, Jehoram dies (see 2 Chronicles 21:19)

Athaliah 7

The events of this period (3)The events of this period (3)

• Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest and only remaining son takes the throne (age 22)

• Ahaziah reigns for just one year (slain in battle see 2 Chronicles 22:7)

• Athaliah sees her opportunity to complete the corruption of Judah and kills all the seed royal (bar one) and takes the throne to herself (see 22:10)

Athaliah 8

The events of this period (4)The events of this period (4)

• Jehosheba (Ahaziah’s sister), wife of Jehoiada (High(?) Priest), hides Jehoash (see 2 Chronicles 22:11)

• Jehoash is raised in secret, whilst Athaliah’s evil & idolatrous reign continues

• The corruption of Judah is apparently complete

• Jehoiada secretly gathers and arms the faithful princes

Athaliah 9

The events of this period (5)The events of this period (5)

• Jehoiada enters into a hidden covenant with the princes showing them the son and heir Jehoash

• Jehoash is crowned in the temple (see 2 Chronicles 23:11)

• Athaliah hearing the tumult came to the temple and shouted treason

• Jehoiada commands that she be taken from the temple and slain (see 23:14-15)

Athaliah 10

Spiritual patterns (1)…Spiritual patterns (1)…

• The Kingdom of God was established by David and his son Solomon, a man of war and a prince of peace, respectively

• The Kingdom of God was destroyed at this time by Jezebel and her daughter Athaliah, destroying the priesthood and the royal line respectively (cf Revelation 2:20)

• Patterns that point to the time of the end

Athaliah 11

Spiritual patterns (2)…Spiritual patterns (2)…

The return of the promised

seed

The idolatrous woman

The hidden children of the

covenant

The age of apostasy

The Lord Jesus Christ

The Kingdom of God re-

established

The faithful saints

Corrupt Christianity

The Catholic church

Athaliah 12

Lessons for us…Lessons for us…

• The dangers of association with the world• “Be ye not unequally yoked together with

unbelievers”• The need to maintain the purity of the

Truth against corrupting influences• “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such

an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”