Seemingly faraway in time and space Athaliah was the daughter of Jezebel and King Ahab and the wife of Jehoram son of King Jehoshaphat of the southern hill country.
She observed how her mother handled the problem of Naboth when he refused to trade his vineyard to please her father. In her husband’s name Jezebel directed two false witnesses to accuse Naboth of cursing God and king resulting in him being stoned to death. As her father took possession of the vineyard like windfall from the forbidden tree in the middle of the garden a prophet gave Ahab a piece of God’s mind.
That her mother got away with stuff like that bewitched Athaliah allowing toxic ingredients of cold-blooded manipulation to manifest. She was ready to usurp the reign of the southern hill country.
Denise offers the word “ingredient” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories. Eugenia offers “faraway” for her prompt this week.
For the details of what happened to Naboth see 1 Kings 21. To read about Athaliah see 2 Kings 11.

Wow so impresive how you took the simple word and created an intense storyline! Very unique way of using the prompt word.
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Thank you, Pragalbha! I am glad you liked that retelling of Jezebel and her daughter.
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As I recall, the piece of God’s mind that Ahab got was not pleasant. And we know Jezebel had a really bad end. I wonder how Athalia ended up?
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She didn’t end up any better than her father and mother. Before writing this I didn’t realize she was Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter, but now I won’t forget it. Thank you, Rebecca!
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I also did not know she was their daughter. …”gave a piece of God’s mind” Witty.
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Thank you, Oneta! I am glad you liked that phrase.
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Story of a great teaching.
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Thank you, Cassa! It is a memorable part of Kings.
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Wow, I will have to read this story as I don’t recall what happened. It is true the apple doesn’t fall from the tree. Great use of the word ingredient.
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Thank you, Mary! I hope I got the story straight.
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Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat, Frank. Nice story you obviously heard through the grapevine. 😉
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Thank you, Doug! I think I finally figured out who those characters were in that old account.
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Great story to generate a little research and reading to understand more. Apparently Athaliah was know as the “usurper queen”. Athaliah used her power to establish the worship of Baal in Judah. Six years later, Athaliah was surprised when Jehoiada revealed that Jehoash lived and proclaimed him king of Judah. She rushed to stop the rebellion, but was captured and executed.
Thanks for making this happen.
Shalom.
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I was trying to make the story suggestive enough that the reader would want to know what really happened. Thank you, Michael, and shalom!
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Wow, you brought us some Bible history, Frank–cool!!
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I offered just a hint of what happened leaving the rest to the reading to look up. Thank you, Zelda!
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My pleasure! I love when we read the Bible and the people all come to life for us!
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I know the names but not the story. I must read up on this, Frank! Thanks for the links.
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The story is rather interesting. I didn’t understand it until I tried retelling it. Thank you, Chris!
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A potent story there, plus excellent photo of those trees at Lake Michigan.
Some standout lines: “like windfall from the forbidden tree in the middle of the garden” and Athaliah, bewitched “allowing toxic ingredients of cold-blooded manipulation to manifest.”
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I am glad you liked those lines. Thank you, Ford!
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I’d like to give god a piece of my mind. 😉
Never could get him to listen to me. 😦
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He’s listening and speaking. The problem is hearing Him. Our own desires and expectations get in the way. Thank you!
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Excellent Sixifying!*
My own from reading Six Sentence Story(s) is not derived solely from the plot, the narrative, if you will. I also enjoy (attempting) to figure out the writer accomplishes what the real challenge in writing, i.e. engaging the Reader and keeping them engaged right through the end. That’s half the fun.
Great story, ‘plot’ but holding all the characters and transitions (through time and place), that is really impressive.
not a ‘real’ verb
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Good point – the real challenge is engaging the reader. I do focus a lot on the plot which is my crutch, but then these stories are only six sentences long. Thank you, Clark!
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Your storytelling is superb, Frank. I’ll have to access your links (appreciated) to gain more knowledge on this. Thank you for joining in.
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Thank you, Eugenia! I think I realized what was going on after trying to write a story about those characters, but I probably only realized a small part of it.
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Most welcome, Frank.
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Jezebel was pure evil. good retelling… BTW the 1939 movie of the same name with Bette DAvis has nothing to do with the Biblecharacter, but is a GREAT film. ONe of my top ten. good six
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Jezebel makes a wonderful evil character to write about. Such stories are a reminder not to be like her. Thank you, Paul!
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An excellent retelling. Things haven’t changed since then, have they.
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They haven’t changed. Thank you, Mimi!
And I agree with the message of your story that the best ingredient is love.
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Frank, I have wanted to share with you the six-sentence story I discovered in the Bible a few weeks ago. I was reading Romans 5 and paid attention to the pucnctuation marks. Verses 1 -9 is six sentences, a period marking each end. It begins with being justified by faith and ends with much more being justified by His blood. A full thought indeed!!!!
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Romans 5:1-9 does have six sentences:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A1-9&version=KJV
Good point that it starts with being justified by faith and ends with being justified by His blood. There is a plot in this story as well. Thank you, Mary!
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Seems to me that poor Athaliah was a victim of both nature and nurture, so doubly difficult to chose the right path.
Powerful piece, Frank
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I think of her being under a generational curse that she did not want to overcome, but it is not easy overcoming something like that. Thank you!
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I like that ‘a prophet gave Ahab a piece of God’s mind.’ Powerful story, Frank.
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I am glad you liked that part. The stories associated with Jezebel and Ahab are powerful. I think I finally figured out who Athaliah was by retelling this portion of the story.
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Wow seeing Jezebel through the eyes of her daughter makes the sins of Jezebel..so much more sinful/sinister and tragic
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I didn’t realize that Athaliah was Jezebel’s daughter until trying to trace down the details for this story. Thank you, Jim!
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Good detective eye; didn’t know that either. Thanks!
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Well done with this readable retell.
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Thank you!
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Also thanks for your supporting comments on my blog, appreciate it
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You are welcome! Thank you for posting them.
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Hope the rest of your Saturday (3/19) is blessed!
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Well done, Frank.
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Thank you!
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