Queen Athaliah Slaughters Her Own Grandchildren to Seize the Throne

When Queen Athaliah learns that her son King Ahaziah is dead, she acts immediately: she systematically destroys all the royal offspring of the house of Judah — her own grandchildren — so that no rival heir can survive. Only infant Joash escapes, hidden in a bedroom by his aunt. Athaliah rules for six years while the hidden king grows in the temple. In the seventh year the priest Jehoiada arms the Levites, produces the child-king, and crowns him. The people cheer. Athaliah rushes into the temple, tears her robes, and cries 'Treason!' She is seized, dragged to the horse gate, and executed there.