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Kings of Israel






Kings of Israel & Judah


**Kings of Israel & Judah**

An interactive and epic journey through the rulers of the divided kingdoms.

Key:

+ A good king who followed God’s ways.

– A bad king who led the people into idolatry or rebellion.

**United Monarchy**

**Saul** –

  • **The first king of Israel, chosen but disobedient.**
  • **Era:** United Monarchy (c. 1047–1007 BC)
  • **Info:** Anointed by the prophet Samuel, Saul was initially successful but his disobedience to God led to his downfall. He ruled for about 40 years.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Samuel 9-31

**David** +

  • **The shepherd-king who unified the nation.**
  • **Era:** United Monarchy (c. 1007–967 BC)
  • **Info:** A shepherd who famously defeated Goliath, David became the second king. He united the tribes of Israel, captured Jerusalem, and established a dynasty.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Samuel 16 – 2 Samuel 24, 1 Kings 1-2

**Solomon** –

  • **The wise king who built the First Temple.**
  • **Era:** United Monarchy (c. 967–927 BC)
  • **Info:** Known for his great wisdom and immense wealth, Solomon built the First Temple in Jerusalem. His reign marked a period of peace and prosperity, but his later years were marred by idolatry.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Kings 1-11

**Northern Kingdom of Israel**

**Jeroboam I** –

  • **The king who led the people into idolatry.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 931–910 BC)
  • **Info:** After the kingdom split, Jeroboam became the first king of the northern kingdom. He led the people into idolatry by setting up golden calves in Bethel and Dan.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Kings 11-14

**Nadab** –

  • **A short, unremarkable reign.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 910–909 BC)
  • **Info:** Ruled for a short time before being assassinated by Baasha, who then seized the throne.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Kings 15

**Baasha** –

  • **A king of constant war with Judah.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 909–886 BC)
  • **Info:** Baasha’s reign was marked by continuous war with the Kingdom of Judah. He was considered an evil king, continuing the sins of Jeroboam.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Kings 15-16

**Elah** –

  • **Killed while drinking heavily.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 886–885 BC)
  • **Info:** Elah’s reign ended quickly when he was assassinated by Zimri while drinking heavily.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Kings 16

**Zimri** –

  • **The king who ruled for only seven days.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 885 BC)
  • **Info:** Zimri ruled for only seven days. When the army besieged his capital, he set the palace on fire and perished in the flames.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Kings 16

**Omri** –

  • **A powerful king who built Samaria.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 885–874 BC)
  • **Info:** Omri founded a new dynasty and moved the capital to Samaria. He was a powerful and politically astute king.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Kings 16

**Ahab** –

  • **A promoter of idol worship, challenged by Elijah.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 874–853 BC)
  • **Info:** Ahab, son of Omri, was heavily influenced by his Phoenician wife Jezebel and promoted the worship of Baal. He had many conflicts with the prophet Elijah.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Kings 16-22

**Ahaziah** –

  • **A king who died from a fall.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 853–852 BC)
  • **Info:** Ruled for a brief time before dying from injuries sustained in a fall.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Kings 22

**Jehoram** –

  • **The king killed in a coup.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 852–841 BC)
  • **Info:** Jehoram ruled during a period of conflict with the Moabites and Aramaeans. He was killed by Jehu in a coup.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 2 Kings 3-9

**Jehu** –

  • **The military commander who purged the house of Ahab.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 841–814 BC)
  • **Info:** Anointed by Elisha, Jehu was a military commander who led a bloody coup to eradicate the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 2 Kings 9-10

**Jehoahaz** –

  • **Ruled during a time of oppression by the Arameans.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 814–798 BC)
  • **Info:** Jehoahaz’s reign was a time of oppression by the Arameans.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 2 Kings 13

**Jehoash** –

  • **A king who defeated the Arameans.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 798–782 BC)
  • **Info:** Also known as Joash, he defeated the Arameans and famously mocked the king of Judah.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 2 Kings 13-14

**Jeroboam II** –

  • **Ruled over a period of great prosperity.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 782–753 BC)
  • **Info:** Jeroboam II’s long reign brought a period of economic prosperity and territorial expansion for Israel.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 2 Kings 14

**Zechariah** –

  • **A king assassinated after only six months.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 753 BC)
  • **Info:** Ruled for only six months before being assassinated, fulfilling a prophecy against the house of Jehu.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 2 Kings 15

**Shallum** –

  • **A king who ruled for only one month.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 752 BC)
  • **Info:** Ruled for only one month before being assassinated by Menahem.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Kings 15

**Menahem** –

  • **A king who paid tribute to Assyria.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 752–742 BC)
  • **Info:** Menahem took the throne after assassinating Shallum. His reign was marked by a tribute paid to the Assyrians.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 2 Kings 15

**Pekahiah** –

  • **A king assassinated by his successor.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 742–740 BC)
  • **Info:** Ruled for a short time before being assassinated by Pekah.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 2 Kings 15

**Pekah** –

  • **Formed an alliance against Judah.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 740–732 BC)
  • **Info:** Pekah’s reign was marked by an alliance with Aram against Judah, which prompted Judah to seek help from Assyria.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 2 Kings 15

**Hoshea** –

  • **The final king of the Northern Kingdom.**
  • **Era:** Israel (c. 732–722 BC)
  • **Info:** Hoshea was the final king of the northern kingdom. He rebelled against Assyria, leading to the siege of Samaria and the end of the Kingdom of Israel.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 2 Kings 17

**Southern Kingdom of Judah**

**Rehoboam** –

  • **The king whose harsh policies divided the kingdom.**
  • **Era:** Judah (c. 931–914 BC)
  • **Info:** Son of Solomon, Rehoboam’s harsh policies led to the division of the kingdom, with the northern tribes rebelling and forming their own kingdom.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 1 Kings 12

**Hezekiah** +

  • **A reforming king who resisted the Assyrians.**
  • **Era:** Judah (c. 715–686 BC)
  • **Info:** Hezekiah initiated a widespread religious reform, centralizing worship in Jerusalem and destroying pagan altars and idols. His reign is known for the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 2 Kings 18-20, Isaiah 36-39

**Josiah** +

  • **The boy king who led a major religious revival.**
  • **Era:** Judah (c. 640–609 BC)
  • **Info:** Josiah became king at the age of eight. He carried out a major religious reform after the discovery of the ‘Book of Law’ in the Temple, purging the land of idolatry.
  • **Biblical Reference:** 2 Kings 22-23