Kings of Israel & Judah
A chronological history from the United Monarchy through the Divided Kingdom to the Babylonian Exile.
Saul
The first King of Israel, chosen from the tribe of Benjamin. United the tribes against the Philistines before turning away from God’s commands.
Ish-bosheth (Eshbaal)
Son of Saul made king over northern tribes by Abner, reigning for two years in opposition to David until his assassination.
David
Anointed king who consolidated the kingdom, established Jerusalem as the capital, brought the Ark of the Covenant, and received the Davidic covenant.
Solomon
Famed for wisdom, wealth, and peaceful expansion. Built the First Temple in Jerusalem, though heavy taxation and pagan altars fostered division.
Rehoboam
Son of Solomon whose refusal to ease taxes split the realm into two kingdoms; ruled Judah and Benjamin from Jerusalem.
Jeroboam I
Led the 10 northern tribes in revolt. Set up golden calves at Dan and Bethel to prevent worshipers from traveling to Jerusalem.
Abijam (Abijah)
Son of Rehoboam who continued the border wars against Jeroboam I; maintained worship in Jerusalem despite spiritual lapses.
Nadab
Son of Jeroboam I; continued his father’s idolatry and was assassinated during a siege by his commander Baasha.
Asa
A god-fearing reformer who purged idol shrines, fortified cities, and experienced 41 years of prosperous stability.
Baasha
Seized power by wiping out Jeroboam’s house; established Tirzah as capital and waged continuous war against Asa.
Elah
Son of Baasha; assassinated by his chariot commander Zimri while drinking drunk at his steward’s home.
Zimri
Reigned for only seven days before setting fire to the royal palace around himself when General Omri besieged Tirzah.
Tibni
Rival king supported by half the northern population who fought Omri in a 5-year civil war before losing his life.
Omri
Military commander who founded the powerful Omride Dynasty and built the new northern capital city of Samaria.
Jehoshaphat
Godly ruler who sent priests across Judah to teach the Law; formed judicial courts and made peace with Northern Israel.
Ahab
Married Jezebel of Tyre, introducing state-sponsored Baal worship; frequently confronted by the prophet Elijah.
Ahaziah
Son of Ahab and Jezebel; suffered a fatal fall through a palace lattice after reigning less than two years.
Jehoram (Joram)
Brother of Ahaziah; removed Baal pillars but sustained calf worship. Slain by Jehu in Jezreel field.
Jehoram
Son of Jehoshaphat who married Ahab’s daughter Athaliah, introducing Baal worship to Judah and executing his brothers.
Ahaziah
Son of Jehoram and Athaliah; walked in the ways of Ahab and was killed by Jehu while visiting his wounded uncle Joram.
Queen Athaliah
Daughter of Ahab who seized Judah’s throne by slaughtering the royal family; ruled usurped kingdom until executed in temple revolt.
Jehu
Anointed commander who violently ended the Omride dynasty, killed Jezebel, and eliminated Baal temples across Israel.
Joash (Jehoash)
Rescued from Athaliah’s purge as an infant; crowned king at age 7 by High Priest Jehoiada and restored the Temple.
Jehoahaz
Son of Jehu whose army was reduced to virtual powerlessness by heavy Syrian (Aramaean) invasions from Hazael.
Jehoash (Joash)
Visited prophet Elisha on his deathbed; recovered cities from Aram and defeated King Amaziah of Judah in battle.
Amaziah
Avenged his father Joash’s murder and defeated Edomites, but brought back Edomite idols and was captured by Israel.
Jeroboam II
Longest reigning northern king; presided over a golden age of territorial expansion and wealth, rebuked by Amos and Hosea for oppression.
Uzziah (Azariah)
Strengthened Judah’s military and economy over 52 years, but was struck with leprosy for usurping priest’s burning of incense.
Zechariah
Final king of the Dynasty of Jehu; ruled 6 months before being publicly assassinated by Shallum.
Shallum
Usurped power by killing Zechariah, only to be slain one month later by Menahem of Tirzah.
Menahem
Brutal ruler who paid massive tribute to Pul (Tiglath-Pileser III) of Assyria by taxing Israel’s wealthy landowners.
Pekahiah
Son of Menahem; sustained Assyrian tribute policies until assassinated in Samaria citadel by captain Pekah.
Jotham
Served as regent during his father Uzziah’s leprosy; built temple gates, fortified Judah, and subdued Ammonites.
Pekah
Allied with Aram against Judah (Syro-Ephraimite War); lost vast territories in Galilee and Gilead to Assyria.
Ahaz
Wicked ruler who sacrificed his own son to Moloch, rejected Isaiah’s warnings, and bribed Assyria for protection.
Hoshea
Assassinated Pekah and became last King of Israel. Stopped tribute to Assyria and sought Egypt’s help, resulting in Assyria destroying Samaria (722 BC).
Hezekiah
One of Judah’s best kings; destroyed high places, reopened temple, and survived Sennacherib’s Assyrian siege through divine deliverance.
Manasseh
Longest reign in Davidic line (55 years); introduced rampant occultism and child sacrifice, though repented after Assyrian captivity.
Amon
Son of Manasseh who revived idolatry and was assassinated by his own palace servants after two years.
Josiah
Crowned at age 8; rediscovered the Book of the Law in temple, abolished idols across the land, and renewed Passover celebration.
Jehoahaz (Shallum)
Son of Josiah chosen by citizens; ruled 3 months before Pharaoh Necho II deposed him and took him captive to Egypt.
Jehoiakim (Eliakim)
Placed on throne by Pharaoh Necho II; burned Jeremiah’s prophetic scroll and defaulted on tribute to Nebuchadnezzar.
Jehoiachin (Jeconiah)
Surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar during first siege of Jerusalem; exiled to Babylon, where he was later released and honored by Evil-merodach.
Zedekiah (Mattaniah)
Brother of Jehoiakim made puppet king by Babylon. Rebellious alignment with Egypt brought total siege, destruction of Jerusalem, and burning of Solomon’s Temple in 586 BC.