Less-known Women of the Bible

Athaliah

(Hebrew: ; meaning is uncertain)

Daughter (or sister) of Ahab, queen consort as wife of Jehoram (king of Judah), mother of Ahaziah, and queen regnant for six years after his death. She was a “wicked woman” (2 Chr. 24:7), killing all the royal heirs to protect her position as the only woman to sit on the throne of David, and reintroducing Baal worship (2 Kin. 8:26; 2 Kin. 11:1-20; 1 Chr. 8:26; 2 Chr. 22:2-12; 2 Chr. 23:12-21). Joash, the only royal heir she did not kill, was saved by his aunt Jehosheba. When Athaliah was killed, “all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet” (2 Chr. 23:21). Nothing in Athaliah’s life is redemptive. Woman have nothing to learn from her, except to be her opposite in every aspect. When preparing for leadership, women need to realize that leadership is given by those who know their skills and support their advancement.