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Kings of Israel and Judah

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Kings of Israel and Judah

Summary

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Coronation of [[David]], as depicted in the [[Paris Psalter]].

The article deals with the biblical and historical kings of the Land of Israel—Abimelech of Sichem, the three kings of the United Kingdom of Israel and those of its successor states, Israel and Judah, followed in the Second Temple period, part of classical antiquity, by the kingdoms ruled by the Hasmonean and Herodian dynasties.

The Hebrew Bible describes a succession of kings of a United Kingdom of Israel, and then of divided kingdoms, Israel and Judah.

In contemporary scholarship, the united monarchy is debated, due to a lack of archaeological evidence for it. It is generally accepted that a "House of David" existed, but some scholars believe that David could have only been the king or chieftain of Judah, which was likely small, and that the northern kingdom was a separate development. There are some dissenters to this view, including those who support the traditional narrative, and those who support the united monarchy's existence but believe that the Bible contains theological exaggerations.

Overview tables

Kings and prophets

This table describes the kings, their parents, age they lived, the prophets who influenced them, and the emperors they encountered in battle.

Diagrams, Saul to Zedekiah

[[File:Genealogy of the kings of Israel and Judah.svgcenter600px]]
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Abimelech, son of Gideon

  • Abimelech – the son of Gideon, was the first man declared a king in the Land of Israel; he ruled from Sichem over the territory of Manasseh.

House of Saul

''Saul and David'' by Rembrandt

According to the Bible, the Tribes of Israel lived as a confederation under ad hoc charismatic leaders called judges. In around 1020 BCE, under extreme threat from foreign peoples, the tribes united to form the first United Kingdom of Israel. Samuel anointed Saul from the Tribe of Benjamin as the first king.

  • Saul (1020–1000 BCE) or (1040-1000 BCE)
  • Ish-bosheth (Esbaal) (1000–998 BCE)

House of David: united monarchy

Main article: Davidic line

The [[Tel Dan Stele]] with reference to the "House of David"
AlbrightThieleGalilKitchenCommon/
Biblical
nameRegnal Name
and styleNotes
1000–9621010–9701010–970Davidדוד בן-ישי מלך ישראלReigned over Judah for 7 years in Hebron, then Israel & Judah in Jerusalem for 33 years; 40 years in total.
Death: natural causes
962–922970–931971–931Solomonשלמה בן-דוד מלך ישראלReigned over Israel & Judah in Jerusalem for 40 years.
Death: natural causes
Son of David by Bathsheba, his rights of succession were disputed by his older half-brother Adonijah
922–915931–913931–914931–915Rehoboamרחבעם בן-שלמה מלך יהודהReigned for 17 years. After 3 years, the kingdom was split into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel.
Death: natural causes

Separation into two kingdoms

After the death of king Solomon the United Kingdom of Israel was divided in two – the northern Kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam, with its capital, first in Shechem, then Penuel, Tirzah, and finally Samaria, and ruled by a series of dynasties beginning with Jeroboam; and the southern Kingdom of Judah with its capital still in Jerusalem and ruled by the House of David. Under Hezekiah's rule in the Kingdom of Judah, the Neo-Assyrian Empire conquered and destroyed the northern kingdom 722 BCE leaving only the southern kingdom of Judah.

The Bible judges all kings of Israel and Judah by their attitude towards Hashem's Torah, and on this basis they all belong to one of the categories: the good kings, the bad kings, and the kings who acted both good as well as bad.

All kings of Israel are considered to be bad, except of Jehu who is considered to have acted both good, since he is credited with the suppression of a cult of Baal, as well as bad, since he failed to suppress a cult of golden calves in Bethel and Dan.

Amongst kings of Judah, five of them are judged to have acted good throughout their reign: Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jotham, Hezekiah, and Josiah, whereas Jehoash, Amaziah, Uzziah and Manasseh are all described as kings who acted good as well as bad during their reign. The remaining monarchs are considered to have acted bad throughout their reign.

Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)

AlbrightThieleGalilKitchenCommon/Biblical nameRegnal Name and styleNotes
922–901 BCE931–910 BCE931–909 BCE931–911 BCEJeroboam Iירבעם בֵּן-נבט מלך ישראלLed the rebellion and divided the kingdoms. Reigned in Israel (Northern Kingdom) for 22 years. Death: Natural Causes
901–900 BCE910–909 BCE909–908 BCE911–910 BCENadabנדב בֵּן-ירבעם מלך ישראלReigned in Israel for 2 years. Death: Killed by Baasha, son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar, along with his whole family.
900–877 BCE909–886 BCE908–885 BCE910–887 BCEBaashaבעשא בֵּן-אחיה מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Tirzah for 24 years. Death: Natural Causes
877–876 BCE886–885 BCE885–884 BCE887–886 BCEElahאלה בֵּן-בעשא מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Tirzah for 2 years. Death: Zimri, one of his officials, got him drunk and killed him at his house in Azra.
876 BCE885 BCE884 BCE886 BCEZimriזמרי מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Tirzah for 7 days. Death: He set his palace on fire when Omri and all the Israelites with him withdrew from Gibbethon and laid siege to Tirzah.
876–871 BCE885–880 BCETibniתבני מלך ישראלRival claimant to Omri, reigned for several years. Death: Was apparently killed while assailed by the soldiers of Omri – his death is recorded, but the circumstances surrounding it go unexplained.
876–869 BCE885–874 BCE884–873 BCE886–875 BCEOmriעמרי מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 12 years. Death: Natural Causes
869–850 BCE874–853 BCE873–852 BCE875–853 BCEAhabאחאב בֵּן-עמרי מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 22 years. Death: Shot by an archer during the battle at Ramoth Gilead. He died upon his arrival at Samaria.
850–849 BCE853–852 BCE852–851 BCE853–852 BCEAhaziahאחזיהו בֵּן-אחאב מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 2 years. Death: He fell through the lattice of his upper room and injured himself. Elijah the prophet told him he would never leave his bed and would die on it.
849–842 BCE852–841 BCE851–842 BCE852–841 BCEJoramיורם בֵּן-אחאב מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 12 years. Death: Killed by Jehu, the next king of Israel
842–815 BCE841–814 BCE842–815 BCE841–814 BCEJehuיהוא בֵּן-נמשי מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 28 years. Death: Natural Causes
815–801 BCE814–798 BCE819–804 BCE814–806 BCEJehoahazיהואחז בֵּן-יהוא מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 17 years. Death: Natural Causes
801–786 BCE798–782 BCE805–790 BCE806–791 BCEJehoash (Joash)יואש בֵּן-יואחז מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 16 years. Death: Natural Causes
786–746 BCE782–753 BCE790–750 BCE791–750 BCEJeroboam IIירבעם בֵּן-יואש מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 41 years. Death: Natural Causes. The Book of Jonah or Jonah's journey to Nineveh (when he was swallowed by a whale or fish) happened at that time.
746 BCE753 BCE750–749 BCE750 BCEZachariahזכריה בֵּן-ירבעם מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 6 months. Death: Shallum son of Jabesh killed him in front of the people and succeeded as king.
745 BCE752 BCE749 BCE749 BCEShallumשלם בֵּן-יבש מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 1 month. Death: Menahem son of Gadi attacked Shallum and assassinated him.
745–738 BCE752–742 BCE749–738 BCE749–739 BCEMenahemמְנַחֵם בֵּן-גדי מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 10 years. Death: Natural Causes
738–737 BCE742–740 BCE738–736 BCE739–737 BCEPekahiahפקחיה בֵּן-מְנַחֵם מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 2 years. Death: Pekah son of Remaliah, one of the chief officers, took 50 men with him and assassinated the king in his palace at Samaria.
737–732 BCE740–732 BCE736–732 BCE737–732 BCEPekahפקח בֵּן-רמליהו מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 20 years. Death: Hoshea son of Elah conspired against him and assassinated him.
732–722 BCE732–722 BCE732–722 BCE732–722 BCEHosheaהושע בֵּן-אלה מלך ישראלReigned over Israel in Samaria for 9 years. Death: King Shalmaneser attacked and captured Samaria. He charged Hoshea with treason and he put him in prison, then, he deported the Israelites to Assyria.

Kingdom of Judah

Main article: Kings of Judah

AlbrightThieleGalilKitchenCommon/Biblical nameRegnal Name and styleNotes
915–913913–911914–911915–912Abijahאבים בן-רחבעם מלך יהודהReigned for 3 years. Death: natural causes.
913–873911–870911–870912–871Asaאסא בן-אבים מלך יהודהReigned for 41 years. Death: severe foot disease.
873–849870–848870–845871–849Jehoshaphatיהושפט בן-אסא מלך יהודהReigned for 25 years. Death: natural causes.
849–842848–841851–843849–842Jehoramיהורם בן-יהושפט מלך יהודהReigned for 8 years. Death: severe stomach disease.
842–842841–841843–842842–841Ahaziahאחזיהו בן-יהורם מלך יהודהReigned for 1 year. Death: killed by Jehu, who usurped the throne of Israel.
842–837841–835842–835841–835Athaliahעתליה בת-עמרי מלכת יהודהReigned for 6 years. Death: killed by the troops assigned by Jehoiada the Priest to protect Joash. Queen Mother, widow of Jehoram and mother of Ahaziah.
837–800835–796835–802835–796Jehoash (Joash)יהואש בן-אחזיהו מלך יהודהReigned for 40 years. Death: killed by his officials namely: Zabad, son of Shimeath, an Ammonite woman, and Jehozabad, son of Shimrith, a Moabite woman.
800–783796–767805–776796–776Amaziahאמציה בן-יהואש מלך יהודהReigned for 29 years. Death: killed in Lachish by the men sent by his officials who conspired against him.
783–742767–740788–736776–736Uzziahעזיהו בן-אמציה מלך יהודהReigned for 52 years. Death: Tzaraath. George Syncellus wrote that the First Olympiad took place in Uzziah's 48th regnal year.
742–735740–732758–742750–735/30Jothamיותם בן-עזיהו מלך יהודהReigned for 16 years. Death: natural causes.
735–715732–716742–726735/31–715Ahazאחז בן-יותם מלך יהודהReigned for 16 years. Death: natural causes. The Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III records he received tribute from Ahaz; compare 2 Kings 16:7-9.
715–687716–687726–697715–687Hezekiahחזקיהו בן-אחז מלך יהודהReigned for 29 years. Death: Natural Causes. Contemporary with Sennacherib of Assyria and Merodach-Baladan of Babylon.
687–642687–643697–642687–642Manassehמנשה בן-חזקיהו מלך יהודהReigned for 55 years. Death: natural causes. Mentioned in Assyrian records as a contemporary of Esarhaddon.
642–640643–641642–640642–640Amonאמון בן-מנשה מלך יהודהReigned for 2 years. Death: killed by his officials, who were killed later on by the people of Judah.
640–609641–609640–609640–609Josiahיאשיהו בן-אמון מלך יהודהReigned for 31 years. Death: shot by archers during the battle against Neco of Egypt. He died upon his arrival on Jerusalem.
609609609609Jehoahazיהואחז בן-יאשיהו מלך יהודהReigned for 3 months. Death: Necho II, king of Egypt, dethroned him, and got him replaced by his brother, Eliakim. Carried off to Egypt, where he died.
609–598609–598609–598609–598Jehoiakimיהויקים בן-יאשיהו מלך יהודהReigned for 11 years. Death: Natural Causes. The Battle of Carchemish occurred in the fourth year of his reign (Jeremiah 46:2).
598598598–597598–597Jehoiachin/Jeconiahיהויכין בן-יהויקים מלך יהודהReigned for 3 months & 10 days. Death: King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon sent for him and brought him to Babylon, where he lived and died. Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians and Jehoiachin deposed on 16 March, 597 BCE. Called Jeconiah in Jeremiah and Esther.
597–587597–586597–586597–586Zedekiahצדקיהו בן-יאשיהו מלך יהודהReigned for 11 years. Death: In prison. His reign saw the second rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar (588–586 BCE). Jerusalem was captured after a lengthy siege, the temple burnt, Zedekiah blinded and taken into exile, and Judah reduced to a province.

Hasmonean Dynasty

DatesCommon nameName and styleNotes
104–103 BCEYehudahAristobulus IThe first leader from the Hasmonean lineage to call himself king, and also the first of any Judean king to claim both the high priesthood and kingship title.
103–76 BCEYonatan YannaiAlexander Jannaeus
76–67 BCEShelomzionSalome Alexandra
67–63 BCEAristobulusAristobulus II
63–40 BCEYohanan HurqanosHyrcanus IIKing from 67 BCE, High Priest from 76 BCE
40–37 BCEMatityahuAntigonus II Mattathias

Herodian Dynasty

  • Herod the Great (r. 37–4 BCE)
  • Herod Agrippa (r. 41–44 CE)

Family Tree

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References

References

  1. Lipschits, Oded. (2014). "The Jewish Study Bible". Oxford University Press.
  2. (2014). "The Jewish Study Bible". Oxford University Press.
  3. (2001). "The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of its Stories". Simon & Schu.
  4. Kuhrt, Amélie. (1995). "The Ancient Near East, c. 3000–330 BC, Band 1". Routledge.
  5. (July 2014). "David, King of Judah (not Israel)".
  6. {{Bibleverse. Judges. 9:6. HE
  7. Gijsbert J.B. Sulman, ''Facts, Fiction, and the Bible. The Truth Behind the Stories in the Old Testament.'' (2016), p. 65
  8. {{Bibleverse. 2 Kings. 10:28. HE
  9. {{Bibleverse. 2 Kings. 10:29. HE
  10. Considered to be a contemporary of the Assyrian King [[Shalmaneser III]] (858–824 BC) to whom he paid tribute. This is based on an inscription on [[Black Obelisk. The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III]] showing "Yaua" son of Omri paying tribute, dated to 841 BCE.
  11. Paid tribute to the Assyrian King [[Shalmaneser V]] (727–722 BCE) but rebelled in 725 BCE. Shalmaneser besieged the capital, [[Samaria (ancient city). Samaria]], but died shortly before the fall of the city. His brother [[Sargon II]] (722–705 BCE) completed the siege with success in 722. Some of the population of the Northern Kingdom was exiled to other parts of the Assyrian Empire and new population groups were resettled in the new Assyrian province of Samaria. A small group of people fled south to take refuge in Judah.
  12. Jeremiah 52:11
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