Who

A CHRONOLOGY OF THE KINGS OF ISRAEL

The first three kings of Israel rule a united monarchy, which has been formed from two tribal groups with different traditions. They are

Saul, who rules c. 1020-1000 B.C.E.
David, c. 1000-961
Solomon, c. 961-931

After the death of Solomon his son is unable to maintain the unity of the kingdom, and the country divides into a northern kingdom Israel and a southern kingdom Judah. As the map show scholars differ in their estimates of the sizes of the kingdoms. The green spot marks the capital of Judah, Jerusalum.

ISRAEL - THE NORTHERN KINGDOM

Who	Dates	Parents	References	Notes
Jeroboam I	931-910	F: Zeredah	I K 12:20-14:19	Some differences between Hebrew and Greek versions of text. Organizer of forced labor under Solomon. Anointed by Ahijah (from Shiloh). Attends meeting with Rehoboam at Shechem. Sets up calf images at Bethel and Dan.
Nadab	909	F: Jeroboam	I K15:25-26
Baasha	909-886	F: Ahijah	I K 15:27-31;16-22	Kills Nadab and all of Jeroboam’s family. Loses territory when Ben-Hadad of Damascus is paid by Asa of Judah to invade.
Elah	885	F: Baasha	I K 16:8-10,14	Assassinated when drunk in his capital Tirza
Zimri	885 (7 days)		I K 16:9-13,15-20	Commander of half the royal chariots. Kills Elah. Army revolts, proclaims Omri, the army commander, as King.
Omri	885-874		I K 16:16-28	Builds capital at Samaria. Alliances with Judah and Tyre. Mentioned in Mesha stone "Omri humbled Moab for many years" and in Assyrian inscriptions.
Ahab	873-853	F: Omri	I K 16:29-22:40	Coincides with Prophet Elijah. Marries Jezebel from Sidon. Builds temple to Baal. Three wars with Damascus. Story of Naboth’s vineyard. Most evil!
Ahaziah	853-852	F: Ahab M: Jezebel (?)	I K 22:51-3 II K 1:1-18	Falls in his palace and later dies. Seeks out Elijah, who predicts his death.
Jehoram	852-841	F: Ahab M: Jezebel	II K: 3:1-9:26	Not as evil as his parents. Loses ground to Syria; wins battle against Mesha, but probably loses war. Internal; opposition from prophetic groups led by Elisha.
Jehu	841-813	F: Jehoshaphat	II K 9:1-10:36	Army commander; has himself proclaimed king. Part of prophetic revolution. Eliminated Baal prophets and Jezebel. Paid tribute to Shalmanesar of Assyria. Loss of links to Sidon leads to invasions from Damascus.
Jehoahaz	813-879	F: Jehu	II K 13:1-9	Army nearly wiped out by Syria.
Jehoash	797-782	F: Jehoash	II K 13:10-19, 14:15-16	Overcomes Syrian threat; recovers lost territories. Fights Judah and wind; invades Jerusalem
Jeroboam II	787-747	F: Jehoash	II K 14:23-29	Extended northern border, captured Damascus. Time of prophet Amos
Zechariah	747	F: Jeroboam	II K 15:8-30,17:1-6	Assassinated
Shallum	747	F: Jabesh		Assassinated
Menahem	747-742	F: Gadi		Possibly part of takeover from Transjordan (towns of Jabesh-Gilead and Gad). Taxes citizens to pay protection to Pul (Tiglath-Pilesar).
Pekahiah	742-740	F: Menahem
Pekah	740-731	F: Remaliah		His coup probably a stand against subservience to the Assyrians. Loses much territory to Assyria. In Isaiah 7:1-9 there is an account of a coalition with Damascus against Judah. Ahaz of Judah appeals to Assyria for help. Assyria invades Israel, leaving only Samarian hills.
Hoshea	731-722/1	F: Elah		Pays Tribute to Shalmanesar V, but then rebels, possibly with Egypt. Sargon II lays siege to Samaria, sends "27,290" Israelites into exile.

JUDAH - THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM

Who	Dates	Parents	References	Notes
Rehoboam	931-914	F: Solomon M: Naamah	I K 12:1-24,14:21-31 II Ch 10:1-12 —12:12:16	Responsible for breakup of kingdom. May have tried to reconquer Israel. Paid tribute to Pharaoh Sheshonq.
Ahijam	914-911	F: Rehoboam M: Maacah	I : 15:1-18 II Ch 13:1-22	Continues war with Jeroboam
Asa	911-871	F: Abijam M: Maacah ?!	I K 15:9-24 II Ch 14:1-16	Allies with Damascus to relieve pressure from Israel.
Jehoshaphat	871-848	F: Asa M: Azubah	I K 22:41-50 II Ch: 17:1-20:34	Made peace with Israel. Attempted maritime venture that failed. Possibly ally or vassal of Israel.
Jehoram	848-841	F: Jehosephat	2 K 1:17,8:16-24 II Ch:21:1-20	Killed his six younger brothers. Some incidents from his reign may have been transposed to Ahab. Some confusion between him and Jehoran of Israel. Some theories suggest they may have been the same.
Ahaziah	841-840	F: Jehoram M: Athaliah	II K 8:25-29, 9:16, 27-29 II Ch: 22:1-9	If the two Jehoram’s are the same, did Ahaziah actually exist. Is it coincidence that Ahab’s son was also named Ahaziah and that he reigned briefly? If he existed he was killed in Jehu’s rebellion.
Athaliah	840-835	F: Ahab H: Jehoram	II K 11:1-20 II Ch 22:10-23:15	Only Queen of either kingdom. First break in line of David. Killed all of Jehoram’s other sons after death of Ahaziah (except Jehoash).
Jehoash	835-796	F: Ahaziah M: Zibiah	II K 11:1-12:21 II Ch 25:1-18	Had the Temple spruced up. Did what was pleasing to the Lord but did not get rid of the shrines.
Amaziah	796-767	F: Jehoash M: Jeho-addin	II K 14:1-22 II Ch 25:1-28	Followed his father vis-à-vis religion. Conquered some lands to South, but then challenged Israel and lost.
Uzziah (Azariah)	767-739	F: Amaziah M: Jecoliah	II K 15:1-17 II Ch 26:1-22	Chronicles claims many victories. Reign was a period of peace and prosperity.
Jotham	739-734	F: Uzziah M: Jerush	II K 15:32-38 II Ch 27:1-22	Builds cities, may have extended centralized power over whole of Jerusalem
Ahaz	734-728	F: Jotham	II K 16:1-20 II Ch 28:1-27	Besieged by Israel and Damascus turns to Assyria for help, becomes vassal.
Hezekiah	728-698	F: Ahaz M: Abi	II K 18:1-20:21 II Ch 29:1-32:33	War with Assyria Judah absorbs refugees from North. Abolished shrines and smashed pillars and sacred post. Time of First Isaiah.
Manasseh	698-643	F: Hezekiah M: Hephzibah	II K 21:1-18 II Ch 33:1-30	Placed image of Asherah in Temple. Sacrificed children. Ch peaks of a captivity in Babylon and religious repentance.
Amon	642-641	F: Manesseh M: Meshullemeth	II K 21:19-26 II Ch 33:21-25	As evil as his dad.
Josiah	640-609	F: Amon M: Jedidah	II K 22:1-23:30 II Ch 34:1-35:27	Decline of Assyria. Discovery of "Book of Law." (See parallels in Deut. 12-13, 16, 29. Centralized religion. Passover.
Jehohaz	609	F: Josiah M: Hamutal	II K 23:31-24:17 II Ch 36:1-10	Quickly deposed by Egypt.
Jehoiakim	609-598	F: Josiah M: Zebidah		Switches allegiance from Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar. Burns Jeremiah scroll. Dies during siege of Jerusalem (K) or is taken in chains to Babylon (Ch).
Jehoiachin	597	F: Jehoakim M: Nehushtah		Surrenders Jerusalem. Taken as captive with 10,000-17,000 skilled exiles.
Zedekiah	597-587	F: Josiaah M: Hamutal	II K 234:18-25:7 II Ch 36:11-14	Rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. Taken as captive to Babylon Time of Jeremiah (in Jerusalem) and Ezekial (in exile). Destruction of Temple.

What comes next?

The Exile: 587-539
The return (II Ch 36:23 and Ezra 1:2-4) and rebuilding of Temple. Return of 43,000 exiles.
Priesthood of Ezra (?458-428); revitalization of the religion, reading of the law in front of the people. Nehemiah is a nationalist who fights against foreign cultural interests and restores importance of Jerusalem.
Rule of the Greeks: Ptolemies (333-200) and Seleucids (200-166).
Hasmoneans (Maccabees): Judas, Jonathan and Simon 166-135.
John Hyrcanus (135-104): Attack by Antiochis VII stopped by bribery (and possibly Roman support). Extended territory, including forced conversions.
Aristobulus I, Alexander Jannaeus, Alexandra Salome, Hyrcanus, Antigonus (104-37)
Herod the Great (37-4): A major builder; cruel and arrogant but respected Jewish law. "Appointed" by Roman Senate, extended territory. Not a Hasmonean but married into family.
Archelaus, Herod Antipas, Philip, Herod Agrippa (4 B.C.E. — 44 C.E.) Judea is governed by Rome.
The first revolt: (66-73) Foillowed raid on Temple treasury and rampage of soldiers, but had been smoldering for years. Lead by Eleazar and Zealots. Temple destroyed in 70. Masada held out until 73.

Reference: Rogerman, John, Chronicle of the Old Testament Kings, Thames and Hudson, London, 1998