Chapter 1: The Poison Bride

King Jehoshaphat of Judah was a faithful king. But he made one decision that would haunt his bloodline for generations.

He allied himself with King Ahab of Israel.

Ahab ruled the northern kingdom from Samaria. His wife was Jezebel, the woman who had filled Israel with Baal worship, slaughtered the prophets of God, and hunted Elijah across the wilderness. Jehoshaphat chose this man as his ally. To seal the alliance, he arranged a marriage. His eldest son, Jehoram, would marry Athaliah. The daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Walking through the gates of Jerusalem. Into the royal house of David.

Then the two kings rode to war together at Ramoth-gilead. Ahab was killed in battle. When Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem, a prophet was waiting for him.

JEHU SON OF HANANI“Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has come upon you from the Lord.”— 2 Chronicles 19:2

The warning came too late. The alliance was sealed. The marriage was done.

When Jehoshaphat died, Jehoram took the throne at thirty-two years old. With Athaliah beside him, the first thing he did as king was kill. All six of his brothers. Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. Gone. Along with other nobles who might oppose him.

A SOLDIER (reporting to Athaliah)“It is done. The princes are dead. All six. No one remains.”

He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for he had the daughter of Ahab as his wife, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. (2 Kings 8:18)

Athaliah did not sit on the throne. She did not need to. She ruled through her husband. And altars to Baal began to rise across Judah.