Tuesday, June 9, 2009

June 12

The Era of Joash in Judah - 2 Kings 11:1-3; 2 Chronicles 22:10-12; 2 Kings 10:18-31, 11:4-16, 11:21, 12:1, 11:17-20, 12:2-3; 2 Chronicles 23:1-15, 24:1, 23:16-21, 24:2

A Disney-esque Queen Athaliah Googled and found on Learn Hebrew Online.

"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." 2 Chronicles 22:10

This is one ruthless mama, Athaliah.  She has enough power and intestinal fortitude to whip out everyone who might threaten her in the royal family.  But she misses her infant nephew, Joash, who is hidden from her in the temple of God.  Being the kind of woman Athaliah was, I guess everyone knew she'd never look in the temple.  For anything.  

So here's a woman ruling Judah.  We don't have a whole lot of her rule recorded here.  Within a handful of verses she's being put to death.  I'm sure, given her ruthless manner, she wasn't too popular with the people.  It's intriguing, though, that a woman could rule such a male dominated society as Judah. I wonder what those six years of her rule where like with a woman at the wheel?  She could turn up the heat at the palace now whenever she pleased.  I wonder what her greatest accomplishment was during her six years?

Lord knows.  And He's not talking about it right now.

No comments:

Post a Comment