Athali'ah

Athali'ah, the daughter of Ahab, king of Israel, married Jehoram, king of Judah, and introduced into the southern kingdom the worship of Baal. After the death of her son Ahaziah, who succeeded him, but reigned for only one year, she sought to pave her own way to the throne by putting to death all the seed-royal. Ahaziah's son Joash was, however, hidden by his aunt, and after Athaliah had reigned six years, the high-priest Jehoiada placed Joash on the throne (878 B.C.), and caused her to be put to death. This narrative (2 Kings, xi.; 2 Chronicles, xxii. xxiii.) is the subject of an oratorio by Handel, and of Racine's drama, Athalie, for which Mendelssohn composed the music.