3926 AM (166 CE) – THE END OF THE OLD MARE
Queen Athaliah was in mourning. She sat in her throne room in the palace and sulked. She was no longer in mourning for the death of her husband and king, Jehoram, as that was so long ago. Rather, she mourned for her son Ahaziah, who had been murdered by Jehu. Ahaziah had barely served for a year. Athaliah was full of a blazing contempt against Adonai and against Elijah for killing Ahab and then killing Jehoram, and then her beloved Ahaziah.
She had already consoled herself by killing all the royal children of Judah, save for that brat Joash who somehow just disappeared. This would at least prevent another king from being installed, which was why she was still queen.
Time was always short, and every moment of Athaliah’s day was consumed with how she could hunt down and kill Elijah, or how else she could hurt Adonai or thwart His future plans, or whom she could put forward to be king that the people would accept.
She brooded. She cogitated. She moped. Athaliah’s mental obsessions were interrupted by sounds down near and around the Temple. Curiosity prompted her to her feet. She looked out her window and saw a massive crowd — and there were many royal banners.
“But who?” she whispered to herself. But she already knew. “Joash!” she spat as venomously as any viper would have. She would see who was loyal to her. She would have Joash’s head!
She put on her robe and ran to the Temple, pushing her way violently through the crowd and up through the East Gate, past the altar and toward the steps of the Temple. He was there, on the steps of the Temple, between the great pillars.
Athaliah saw Joash anointed and dressed as a king.
But who was that with him? Jehoiada? He was nothing. He was a coward. He could not even look her in the eye. And now, she could not look him in the eye. Jehoiada was somehow like Elijah now. When did this happen?
Athaliah reached the steps. She started up them but turned around halfway up.
“Listen to me!” she belted over the crowd, who were busy celebrating with cheers and trumpets. “Listen to me!” she belted again, as the crowd, if only out of curiosity about what this madwoman wanted, started to quiet.
“This is conspiracy! Conspiracy! Jehoiada has no claim to the throne! Who is the boy? We don’t even know that this is the real Joash! That could be any boy. I killed all of the royal children of Judah,” she lied in a desperate attempt at deception. “This boy is a fraud!”
The crowd began to jeer unfavorably toward Queen Athaliah. Jehoiada stepped forward and motioned to the captains. They seized Athaliah as he spoke, “Adonai says to hate what is evil. Your own words convict you, dear queen. You are a venomous thorn in Judah. You, who have been given so much, have so little to show for it — except for spite, idolatry, and insubordination to Adonai. Your blood will be on your own head.”
Jehoiada looked to the captains again. “Take her out of the Temple. Do not defile this place with her blood. Go take her out by the Horse Gate, where we slaughter all the willful and unruly mules that have become too long in the tooth.”
Shouts of, “How dare you! How dare you! I am the queen! I am not a mule! I am your queen!” could be heard as Athaliah was taken away to receive the true and divine justice due her.
Used with permission by the author. Find the author’s complete works online: Complete Works of Mack Samuels
