Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.

Athaliah and Joash

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.

He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the Lord.

She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, “Treason! Treason!”

All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.

Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,

Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri.

Athaliah and Joash

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah.

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him.

He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went to them at the temple of the Lord.

She looked, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and musicians with their instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her robes and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”

All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword.

Now the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the temple of God and had used even its sacred objects for the Baals.

of the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;