Tyndale Open Study Notes2 Chronicles 22

The queen mother, Athaliah, had a lot of influence over the king (see study note on 2 Chronicles 15:16). Athaliah was similar to her mother, Jezebel (see 2 Chronicles 22:10–23:15; compare 1 Kings 16:31–21:28), and she followed her grandfather Omri's example (see 1 Kings 16:21–26).

one year: Ahaziah, also called Jehoahaz, ruled Judah briefly in 841 BC.

• Ramoth-gilead, a city for the Levites in the land of Gad (Joshua 21:38), was on a major trade route. It was important for both Aram and Israel.

• Jezreel, located at the base of Mount Gilboa in the Jezreel plain, became the summer residence of the Israelite kings.

Ahaziah died as a punishment for allying with the king of Israel. The king of Judah, who followed the advice of the Israelite house of Omri, shared their fate and found no safety when he died. Ahaziah's unfaithfulness nearly brought David's family line to the same end as Saul's, with no one left to take the throne.

Athaliah was not seen as a legitimate monarch. She did not receive the usual royal recognition of age or reign length like other rulers. She focused on eliminating potential male successors in Judah's royal family. Those who could not rule, like Ahaziah’s sister, survived. Jehosheba, Ahaziah’s half-sister, was the daughter of King Jehoram by a different wife than Athaliah. Athaliah ruled for six years, from 841 to 835 BC.