Despite the fact that the House of Ahav is in ruins after Yehu's rebellion, Atalya, driven like her mother Izevel by power, seizes the opportunity of her son Ahazyahu's death, killing her children and grandchildren and seizes the throne. Her rule marks the first break in the Davidic dynasty and is only overturned by a conspiracy in the highest circles of the kingdom. Yoash, her grandson, becomes the king at the age of seven and his heavily influenced by the Kohanim and the Beit HaMikdash. When he grows into a man he demands that the Kohanim raise money to repair the Beit HaMikdash. The initial method for raising funds - private initiatives by the Kohanim - fails and is not accountable. Only when a public and accountable system is initiated are the necessary funds raised.

Courtesy of the Virtual Beit Midrash, Yeshivat Har Etzion