Athaliah was Judah’s only Monarch.  Her story can be found in 2 Chronicles 22:10 and ends with 2 Chronicles 23:21.  She was a wicked, wicked woman who killed all of her descendants (save one).  She did this so that she could take the throne.  She succeeded.  I think that in her we get a glimpse of the depths of our human depravity.  What I find interesting is who her parents were.  Ahab and Jezebel!  The most wicked King of Israel and his wicked wife were the father and mother of Athaliah!  Having a father and mother like that probably propelled Athaliah into such wickedness.  Her father wanted a vineyard that he could not have.  Ahab and Jezebel killed the owner (Naboth).  In their selfishness, they killed for a vineyard!  Athaliah saw how to fulfill her covetous desires even by murder.  We see her do this very thing.

Evil parents don’t always make evil children, neither do good parents necessarily make good children.  I think we still make our own choices!  What is true is that parents have an influence on their children!  We must seek to be parents that point our children to Jesus!