2 Kings 11:1

2 Kings 11:1-3. Athaliah, having slain all the seed royal of Judah, except Joash, usurps the throne for six years (2 Chronicles 22:10-12)

1. And[R.V. Now] when Athaliah Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and became the wife of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat.

she arose and destroyed The verb here rendered -arose" is often joined with another verb to give the notion of -setting earnestly about" any business. Thus in Exodus 32:1 it is used - Upmake us gods", and in 1 Kings 14:2 - Ariseand disguise thyself", also 1 Chronicles 22:19 - Arisetherefore and build ye the sanctuary". See too Genesis 37:35 -And all his sons and all his daughters rose upto comfort him".

all the seed royal i.e. All those that remained after the destruction wrought by Jehu on the brethren of Ahaziah (see above 2 Kings 10:4). Judah, as well as Israel, seems at this date to have had no lack of families in the royal houses. Those whom Athaliah slew were of course the male members of the royal family.