The answer is: Athaliah

2 Kings 11:1 - Athaliah’s thirst for power nearly wiped out David’s lineage, threatening God’s covenant promise. Her defeat and the preservation of Joash underscore divine protection over God’s plans.

Athaliah was no ordinary villain; she was the only queen to reign over Judah, making her story both fascinating and a bit shocking. Daughter of Ahab and Jezebel—two notorious figures herself—Athaliah inherited a legacy of ruthless ambition. When her son, King Ahaziah, met a violent end, Athaliah didn’t take it lying down. Instead of mourning, she sprang into action with a chilling resolve to eliminate any rivals that could threaten her grip on power. You might think of her as a sort of "Game of Thrones" character, intent on keeping the Iron Throne, no matter the cost.

Her gruesome plot, involving the murder of her own grandchildren, put the future of David's lineage at severe risk. That lineage was crucial because it tied back to the promise made to David that there would always be a member of his line on the throne—a covenant of divine importance.

But here’s where the tale takes a twist! Miraculously, a tiny baby named Joash was saved by his aunt Jehosheba, hidden away and nurtured. Years later, Joash emerged to avenge his family and restore the rightful line. So, Athaliah's ambition didn't go unchallenged. Her downfall was not just a story of treachery but also a powerful echo of hope, symbolizing how light can shine through even the darkest plans of malevolence.

In this saga, we get a peek at the key themes in the Bible—God's unyielding promise and the reminder that evil, though powerful, is never ultimate.