The Kings and the Prophets of Israel and Judah

Note: Some modifications and

corrections have been made to
THE KINGS OF THE
dates. This will cause a slight UNITED KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
difference with those found in
the Bible Dictionary. Saul
David
Solomon
(abt. 1050–930 B.C.)

THE PROPHETS
THE KINGS OF ISRAEL Israel Both Judah THE KINGS OF JJUDAH
UDAH

Jeroboam I: Reigned twenty-two years (abt. 930–909 B.C.). Rehoboam: Reigned seventeen years (abt. 930–913 B.C.).

Iddo
The Lord chose him to be king over the ten northern tribes, Rehoboam, a son of Solomon, was sometimes obedient to

Ahijah
but Jeroboam would not keep the commandments. Instead, the Lord and sometimes followed the wickedness of the
he turned Israel to idolatry and became the pattern for nearly neighboring countries. As a result, Shishak, pharaoh of

Shemaiah
all of Israel’s subsequent kings (see 1 Kings 12:25–14:20). Egypt, invaded Judah and plundered the temple (see 1 Kings
12:1–24; 14:21–31; 2 Chronicles 10:1–12:16).

Nadab: Reigned two years (abt. 909–908 B.C.). Nadab, the Abijam: Reigned three years (abt. 913–910). Abijam, also
son of Jeroboam, continued the wickedness begun by his called Abijah, was the son of Rehoboam. He continued the
father. He was assassinated by Baasha (see 1 Kings same sins his father had begun (see 1 Kings 15:1–8;
15:25–31). 2 Chronicles 13).
Baasha: Reigned twenty-four years (abt. 908–886 B.C.).
Asa: Reigned forty-one years (abt. 910–869 B.C.). Asa was
Baasha gained the throne by murdering Nadab and
the son of Abijam and “did that which was right in the eyes
destroying all of Jeroboam’s descendants. He continued in
of the Lord” (1 Kings 15:11). He instituted reforms to rid the
the wickedness of Jeroboam, and the prophet Jehu predicted
land of idolatry. He also strengthened the military and
that his house would be destroyed as he had destroyed the
defeated Israel and the Ethiopians when they attacked (see
house of Jeroboam (see 1 Kings 15:32–16:7).
1 Kings 15:9–24; 2 Chronicles 14–16).
Azariah

Elah: Reigned two years (abt. 886–885 B.C.). Elah, the son
of Baasha, was killed by Zimri, his chariot captain. Zimri then
killed all who belonged to the house of Baasha, fulfilling the
prophecy of Jehu (see 1 Kings 16:8–14).

Zimri: Reigned seven days (abt. 885 B.C.). The military

Jehu

revolted against Zimri, who then committed suicide (see

Hanani

1 Kings 16:9–20).

Omri (abt. 885–874 B.C.) and Tibni (abt. 885–880 B.C.):

Omri and Tibni contended for control of the kingdom for four
years. Tibni died, and Omri became king. Omri founded the Jehoshaphat: Reigned twenty-five years (abt. 872–848 B.C.).
city of Samaria and made it his capital. He reigned twelve Jehoshaphat ruled three years jointly with his father, Asa,
more years, more wickedly than his predecessors (see and five years with his son Jehoram. He ruled wisely and
1 Kings 16:16–28). righteously, except for being too closely allied to Ahab and
Ahaziah of Israel. This may have led to his son’s unfortunate
marriage to Ahab’s daughter (see 1 Kings 22:41–50;
Obadiah?

Ahab: Reigned twenty-two years (abt. 874–853 B.C.). Ahab, 2 Chronicles 17:1–21:3).
Jahaziel

the son of Omri, is considered to be the northern kingdom’s

worst king. He married Jezebel, an idolatrous Sidonian
princess who promoted Baal worship and persecuted those
who followed Jehovah. She tried to have the prophet Elijah
Micaiah

killed. Elijah prophesied the deaths of Ahab and Jezebel (see

1 Kings 16:29–22:40; 2 Chronicles 18).
Eliezer

Jehoram: Reigned eight years (abt. 853–841 B.C.). Jehoram

Elijah

Ahaziah: Reigned two years (abt. 853–852 B.C.). Ahaziah did not follow his father Jehoshaphat in righteousness. He
continued the wickedness of his father, Ahab (see 1 Kings murdered his brothers, married Athaliah, daughter of Jezebel
22:51–2 Kings 1:18). and Ahab, and reigned in wickedness (see 2 Kings 8:16–24;
2 Chronicles 21).
Joel?

Jehoram, or Joram: Reigned twelve years (abt. 852–

841 B.C.). Not as evil as his father and grandfather, but Ahaziah: Reigned one year (abt. 841 B.C.). Ahaziah was slain
continued in the sins of Jeroboam (see 2 Kings 3:1–8:15). by Jehu, who also slew Joram, king of Israel (see 2 Kings
Elisha

8:25–29; 9:27–29; 2 Chronicles 22:1–9).

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232
 The Kings and the Prophets of Israel and Judah

THE PROPHETS
THE KINGS OF ISRAEL continued Israel Both Judah THE KINGS OF JJUDAH
UDAH continued
Jehu: Reigned twenty-eight years (abt. 841–814 B.C.). Jehu Queen Athaliah: Reigned seven years (abt. 841–835 B.C.).
was anointed by a prophet to be king of Israel and destroy the Athaliah was Ahaziah’s mother and the daughter of Ahab and
house of Ahab. He destroyed Baal worship but not the golden Jezebel. After Ahaziah’s death she claimed the throne after
calves of Jeroboam (see 2 Kings 9:1–10:36). killing “all the seed royal” (2 Kings 11:1), except for one
grandson, Joash, who was hidden. She promoted Baal
worship and was executed (see 2 Kings 11; 2 Chronicles
22:10–23:21).

Joash, or Jehoash: Reigned forty years (abt. 835–796 B.C.).

Jehosheba, Ahaziah’s sister, saved the infant Joash from his
murderous grandmother Athaliah. She and her husband,

Elisha
Jehoiada the priest, hid Joash in the temple for six years.

Zechariah
Jehoiada led a popular revolt when Joash was seven years
old that put Joash on the throne and had Athaliah killed.
Joash stopped Baal worship and repaired the temple (see
2 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 24).
Jehoahaz: Reigned seventeen years (abt. 814–798 B.C.).
Jehoahaz reintroduced the worship of Baal, which his father,
Jehu, had tried to eliminate (see 2 Kings 13:1–9).

Jehoash: Reigned sixteen years (abt. 798–782 B.C.). Jehoash

continued in the sins of his father, Jehoahaz (see 2 Kings
13:10–25). Amaziah: Reigned twenty-nine years (abt. 796–767 B.C.).
Amaziah, the son of Joash, was partly faithful and partly
foolish. He defeated Edom by heeding the warning of a
prophet, but then participated in idolatry and was humiliated
by Jehoash, king of Israel. His son Azariah ruled jointly with
him during his last twenty-four years. Amaziah was murdered
in exile (see 2 Kings 14:1–22; 2 Chronicles 25).
Jeroboam II: Reigned forty-one years (abt. 793–753 B.C.).
Jeroboam ruled jointly with his father, Jehoash, for twelve
years. He was not righteous, but he was a powerful king
whom the Lord used to defeat Israel’s enemies and give the
Jonah

people one last time to repent (see 2 Kings 14:23–29).

Azariah, or Uzziah: Reigned fifty-two years (abt. 792–

740 B.C.). Azariah was strong militarily but weak spiritually. He
made Judah strong among its neighbors but did not rid the
Zachariah: Reigned six months (abt. 753 B.C.). Zachariah, the kingdom of idolatry. He was stricken with leprosy and during
Amos

son of Jeroboam, was murdered by Shallum (see 2 Kings his last ten years he ruled jointly with his son Jotham (see
15:8–12). 2 Kings 15:1–7; 2 Chronicles 26).

Shallum: Reigned one month (abt. 751 B.C.). Shallum was

killed by Menahem (see 2 Kings 15:10–15).

Menahem: Reigned ten years (abt. 752–742 B.C.). Menahem

Hosea

murdered Shallum to gain the throne. He taxed the people

heavily to pay tribute to Assyria (see 2 Kings 15:14–22).

Pekahiah: Reigned two years (abt. 742–740 B.C.). Pekahiah, Jotham: Reigned sixteen years (abt. 750–732 B.C.). Jotham
the son of Menahem, was killed by Pekah in a military coup was an able administrator but, like his father, he did not
(see 2 Kings 15:23–26). remove idolatry from Judah. He ruled jointly with his son
Isaiah

Ahaz for the last four years of his reign (see 2 Kings
Oded

Pekah: Reigned twenty years (abt. 752–732 B.C.). Pekah 15:32–38; 2 Chronicles 27).
began ruling in a rival kingdom east of the Jordan River during
Menahem’s reign. A second Assyrian invasion carried many Ahaz: Reigned sixteen years (abt. 735–715 B.C.). Against the
Israelites into captivity (see 2 Kings 15:27–31). advice of the prophet Isaiah, Ahaz made an alliance with
Assyria. He turned Judah to idolatry and even sacrificed his
Micah

own children in the fire (see 2 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 28).

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233
 The Kings and the Prophets of Israel and Judah

THE PROPHETS
THE KINGS OF ISRAEL continued Israel Both Judah THE KINGS OF JJUDAH
UDAH continued

Micah
Hoshea: Reigned nine years (abt. 732–722 B.C.). By the Hezekiah: Reigned twenty-nine years (abt. 715–686 B.C.).
time of Hoshea’s reign, Israel’s captivity was unavoidable. Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, is recognized as one of the most
Samaria fell to Assyria about 721 B.C. and most of the righteous kings of Judah. He stopped idolatry, cleansed the
inhabitants were deported. They were then scattered and temple, and renewed the worship of Jehovah. Because of his

Isaiah
became the “ten lost tribes” (see 2 Kings 17:1–34). faithfulness, the Lord turned back an Assyrian invasion and
also added fifteen years to Hezekiah’s life. It was during that
The End of the Northern Kingdom of Israel period that his son Manasseh was born (see 2 Kings 18–20;
2 Chronicles 29–32; Isaiah 36–39).

Manasseh: Reigned fifty-five years (abt. 697–642 B.C.),

Assyria eleven years jointly with his father, Hezekiah. In 2 Kings 21,
Manasseh is described as being more wicked than the
Media Amorites that the Israelites destroyed. He completely reversed
all the good that his father had accomplished. He enforced
The Great Sea idol worship and killed the prophets of Jehovah. He also
Babylonia
Samaria sacrificed his own children to false gods (see 2 Kings
21:1–18; 2 Chronicles 33:1–20).
EGYPT Arabian Desert
Red
Sea

The Assyrian Exile

“Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed
them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of

Nahum
Judah only” (2 Kings 17:18).

Amon: Reigned two years (abt. 642–640 B.C.). Amon

continued the wickedness of his father, Manasseh, and was
killed by his servants (see 2 Kings 21:19–26; 2 Chronicles
33:21–25).

Josiah: Reigned thirty-one years (abt. 640–609 B.C.). Josiah,

who ascended to the throne at the age of eight, is credited
Huldah (prophetess)

with instituting the most extensive religious reforms in

Judah’s history. The law of Moses was rediscovered and
taught. Unfortunately, Josiah was killed in a campaign against
the Egyptians, and his reforms did not last (see 2 Kings
22:1–23:30; 2 Chronicles 34–35).
Zephaniah

Jehoahaz: Reigned three months (abt. 609 B.C.). Pharaoh

removed Jehoahaz and put Jehoahaz’s brother, Eliakim, on
the throne (see 2 Kings 23:31–33; 2 Chronicles 36:1–4).
Habakkuk

Jehoiakim, or Eliakim: Reigned eleven years (abt. 609–

Jeremiah

598 B.C.). Pharaoh changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim.

Jehoiakim repeatedly rejected the counsel of Jeremiah and
tried to kill him. He was killed after rebelling against Babylon
(see 2 Kings 23:34–24:7; 2 Chronicles 36:5–8).
Daniel
Lehi

Jehoiachin: Reigned three months (abt. 598–597 B.C.).

Jehoiachin and many others were carried away captive into
Babylon (see 2 Kings 24:6–15; 25:27–30; 2 Chronicles
36:9–10).
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 The Kings and the Prophets of Israel and Judah

THE PROPHETS
Israel Both Judah THE KINGS OF JJUDAH
UDAH continued

Jeremiah
Zedekiah, or Mattaniah: Reigned eleven years
(abt. 597–586 B.C.). Zedekiah also rejected the counsel of
the prophet Jeremiah to submit to Babylon. He formed an

Ezekiel
alliance with Egypt, for which Babylon destroyed Jerusalem

Lehi
and carried away the Jews captive into Babylon
(see 2 Kings 24:18–25:21; 2 Chronicles 36:11–21).

Daniel
The Exile of the Southern Kingdom of Judah

Assyria
King Cyrus authorized the return
of the Jews to Jerusalem abt. Media
537 B.C. Haggai, Zachariah, and
Malachi were prophets to the The Great Sea
Jews after their return. Babylonia
Samaria

EGYPT Arabian Desert

Red
Sea
The Babylonian Exile
“Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did
not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned? for they
would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto
his law” (Isaiah 42:24).

APPENDIX

235