Daughter of Ahab, king of Israel, and his Phoenician wife Jezebel. Athaliah became the wife of Jehoram, king of Judah (2 Kgs. 8: 18, 26; 2 Chr. 18: 1; 2 Chr. 21: 6), and introduced Baal worship into the southern kingdom as her mother had done in the northern kingdom (2 Chr. 22: 2-4; 2 Chr. 24: 7). In an effort to solidify her position she destroyed the royal heirs to the throne, but Joash escaped (2 Kgs. 11: 1-3; 2 Chr. 22: 2-12). She met her death by the sword (2 Kgs. 11: 13-20).