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Kings of Israel and Judah |
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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.[1]
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 support the united monarchy's existence but believe that the Bible contains theological exaggerations.[2][3][4][5]
Overview tables
[edit]Kings and prophets
[edit]Table: kings and prophets |
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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
[edit]Summary diagram |
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Family tree | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Abimelech, son of Gideon
[edit]- Abimelech – the son of Gideon, was the first man declared a king in the Land Israel;[6] he ruled from Sichem over the territory of Manasseh.
House of Saul
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Saul_and_David_by_Rembrandt_Mauritshuis_621.jpg/220px-Saul_and_David_by_Rembrandt_Mauritshuis_621.jpg)
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) (1000–991 BCE)
House of David: united monarchy
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/JRSLM_300116_Tel_Dan_Stele_01.jpg/200px-JRSLM_300116_Tel_Dan_Stele_01.jpg)
Albright | Thiele | Galil | Kitchen | Common/ Biblical name |
Regnal Name and style |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1000–962 | 1010–970 | 1010–970 | David | דוד בן-ישי מלך ישראל
David ben Yishai, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Judah for 7 years in Hebron, then Israel & Judah in Jerusalem for 33 years; 40 years in total. Death: natural causes | |
962–922 | 970–931 | 971–931 | Solomon | שלמה בן-דוד מלך ישראל
Shelomo ben David, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned 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 | |
922–915 | 931–913 | 931–914 | 931–915 | Rehoboam | רחבעם בן-שלמה מלך יהודה
Rechav'am ben Shlomo, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 17 years. After 3 years, the kingdom was split into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. Death: natural causes |
Separation into two kingdoms
[edit]After Rehoboam reigned three years,[7] 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.
Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)
[edit]Albright | Thiele | Galil | Kitchen | Common/Biblical name | Regnal Name and style | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The House of Jeroboam[edit] | ||||||
922–901 BC | 931–910 BC | 931–909 BC | 931–911 BC | Jeroboam I | ירבעם בֵּן-נבט מלך ישראל
Yarob'am ben Nevat, Melekh Yisra'el |
Led the rebellion and divided the kingdoms. Reigned in Israel (Northern Kingdom) for 22 years. Death: Natural Causes |
901–900 BC | 910–909 BC | 909–908 BC | 911–910 BC | Nadab | נדב בֵּן-ירבעם מלך ישראל
Nadav ben Yarob'am, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned in Israel for 2 years. Death: Killed by Baasha, son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar, along with his whole family. |
The House of Baasha[edit] | ||||||
900–877 BC | 909–886 BC | 908–885 BC | 910–887 BC | Baasha | בעשא בֵּן-אחיה מלך ישראל
Ba'sha ben Achiyah, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Israel in Tirzah for 24 years. Death: Natural Causes |
877–876 BC | 886–885 BC | 885–884 BC | 887–886 BC | Elah | אלה בֵּן-בעשא מלך ישראל
'Ela ben Ba'sha, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Israel in Tirzah for 2 years. Death: Zimri, one of his officials, got him drunk and killed him at his house in Azra. |
The House of Zimri[edit] | ||||||
876 BC | 885 BC | 884 BC | 886 BC | Zimri | זמרי מלך ישראל
Zimri, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned 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. |
The House of Tibni[edit] | ||||||
876–871 BC | 885–880 BC | – | – | Tibni | תבני מלך ישראל
Tibni, Melekh Yisra'el |
Rival 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. |
The House of Omri[edit] | ||||||
876–869 BC | 885–874 BC | 884–873 BC | 886–875 BC | Omri | עמרי מלך ישראל
'Omri, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Israel in Samaria for 12 years. Death: Natural Causes |
869–850 BC | 874–853 BC | 873–852 BC | 875–853 BC | Ahab | אחאב בֵּן-עמרי מלך ישראל
Ach'av ben 'Omri, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned 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 BC | 853–852 BC | 852–851 BC | 853–852 BC | Ahaziah | אחזיהו בֵּן-אחאב מלך ישראל
'Achazyahu ben 'Ach'av, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned 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 BC | 852–841 BC | 851–842 BC | 852–841 BC | Joram | יורם בֵּן-אחאב מלך ישראל
Yehoram ben 'Ach'av, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Israel in Samaria for 12 years. Death: Killed by Jehu, the next king of Israel |
The House of Jehu[edit] | ||||||
842–815 BC | 841–814 BC | 842–815 BC | 841–814 BC | Jehu | יהוא בֵּן-נמשי מלך ישראל
Yehu ben Yehoshafat, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Israel in Samaria for 28 years.[8] Death: Natural Causes |
815–801 BC | 814–798 BC | 819–804 BC | 814–806 BC | Jehoahaz | יהואחז בֵּן-יהוא מלך ישראל
Yeho'achaz ben Yehu, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Israel in Samaria for 17 years. Death: Natural Causes |
801–786 BC | 798–782 BC | 805–790 BC | 806–791 BC | Jehoash (Joash) | יואש בֵּן-יואחז מלך ישראל
Yo'ash ben Yeho'achaz, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Israel in Samaria for 16 years. Death: Natural Causes |
786–746 BC | 782–753 BC | 790–750 BC | 791–750 BC | Jeroboam II | ירבעם בֵּן-יואש מלך ישראל
Yarob'am ben Yo'ash, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned 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 BC | 753 BC | 750–749 BC | 750 BC | Zachariah | זכריה בֵּן-ירבעם מלך ישראל
Zekharya ben Yarob'am, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Israel in Samaria for 6 months. Death: Shallum son of Jabesh killed him in front of the people and succeeded as king. |
The House of Shallum[edit] | ||||||
745 BCE | 752 BCE | 749 BCE | 749 BCE | Shallum | שלם בֵּן-יבש מלך ישראל
Shallum ben Yavesh, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Israel in Samaria for 1 month. Death: Menahem son of Gadi attacked Shallum and assassinated him. |
The House of Menahem (also known as the House of Gadi)[edit] | ||||||
745–738 BCE | 752–742 BCE | 749–738 BCE | 749–739 BCE | Menahem | מְנַחֵם בֵּן-גדי מלך ישראל
Menachem ben Gadi, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Israel in Samaria for 10 years. Death: Natural Causes |
738–737 BCE | 742–740 BCE | 738–736 BCE | 739–737 BCE | Pekahiah | פקחיה בֵּן-מְנַחֵם מלך ישראל
Peqachya ben Menachem, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned 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. |
The House of Pekah[edit] | ||||||
737–732 BCE | 740–732 BCE | 736–732 BCE | 737–732 BCE | Pekah | פקח בֵּן-רמליהו מלך ישראל
Peqach ben Remalyahu, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Israel in Samaria for 20 years. Death: Hoshea son of Elah conspired against him and assassinated him. |
The House of Hoshea[edit] | ||||||
732–722 BCE | 732–722 BCE | 732–722 BCE | 732–722 BCE | Hoshea | הושע בֵּן-אלה מלך ישראל
Hoshea' ben 'Ela, Melekh Yisra'el |
Reigned over Israel in Samaria for 9 years.[9] 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
[edit]Albright | Thiele | Galil | Kitchen | Common/Biblical name | Regnal Name and style | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
House of David[edit] | ||||||
915–913 | 913–911 | 914–911 | 915–912 | Abijah | אבים בן-רחבעם מלך יהודה
'Aviyam ben Rechav'am, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 3 years. Death: natural causes. |
913–873 | 911–870 | 911–870 | 912–871 | Asa | אסא בן-אבים מלך יהודה
'Asa ben 'Aviyam, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 41 years. Death: severe foot disease. |
873–849 | 870–848 | 870–845 | 871–849 | Jehoshaphat | יהושפט בן-אסא מלך יהודה
Yehoshafat ben 'Asa, Melekh Yahudah |
Reigned for 25 years. Death: natural causes. |
849–842 | 848–841 | 851–843 | 849–842 | Jehoram | יהורם בן-יהושפט מלך יהודה
Yehoram ben Yehoshafat, Melekh Yahudah |
Reigned for 8 years. Death: severe stomach disease. |
842–842 | 841–841 | 843–842 | 842–841 | Ahaziah | אחזיהו בן-יהורם מלך יהודה
'Achazyahu ben Yehoram, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 1 year. Death: killed by Jehu, who usurped the throne of Israel. |
House of Omri[edit] | ||||||
842–837 | 841–835 | 842–835 | 841–835 | Athaliah
(Queen) |
עתליה בת-עמרי מלכת יהודה
'Atalya bat 'Omri, Malkat Yehudah |
Reigned 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. |
House of David[edit] | ||||||
837–800 | 835–796 | 835–802 | 835–796 | Jehoash (Joash) | יהואש בן-אחזיהו מלך יהודה
Yeho'ash ben 'Achazyahu, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 40 years. Death: killed by his officials namely: Zabad, son of Shimeath, an Ammonite woman, and Jehozabad, son of Shimrith, a Moabite woman. |
800–783 | 796–767 | 805–776 | 796–776 | Amaziah | אמציה בן-יהואש מלך יהודה
'Amatzyah ben Yehoash, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 29 years. Death: killed in Lachish by the men sent by his officials who conspired against him. |
783–742 | 767–740 | 788–736 | 776–736 | Uzziah | עזיהו בן-אמציה מלך יהודה
'Uzziyahu ben 'Amatzyah, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 52 years. Death: Tzaraath. George Syncellus wrote that the First Olympiad took place in Uzziah's 48th regnal year. |
742–735 | 740–732 | 758–742 | 750–735/30 | Jotham | יותם בן-עזיהו מלך יהודה
Yotam ben 'Uzziyahu, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 16 years. Death: natural causes. |
735–715 | 732–716 | 742–726 | 735/31–715 | Ahaz | אחז בן-יותם מלך יהודה
'Achaz ben Yotam, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 16 years. Death: natural causes. The Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III records he received tribute from Ahaz; compare 2 Kings 16:7-9. |
715–687 | 716–687 | 726–697 | 715–687 | Hezekiah | חזקיהו בן-אחז מלך יהודה
Chizeqiyahu ben 'Achaz, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 29 years. Death: Natural Causes. Contemporary with Sennacherib of Assyria and Merodach-Baladan of Babylon. |
687–642 | 687–643 | 697–642 | 687–642 | Manasseh | מנשה בן-חזקיהו מלך יהודה
Menashe ben Chizeqiyahu, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 55 years. Death: natural causes. Mentioned in Assyrian records as a contemporary of Esarhaddon. |
642–640 | 643–641 | 642–640 | 642–640 | Amon | אמון בן-מנשה מלך יהודה
'Amon ben Menashe, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 2 years. Death: killed by his officials, who were killed later on by the people of Judah. |
640–609 | 641–609 | 640–609 | 640–609 | Josiah | יאשיהו בן-אמון מלך יהודה
Yo'shiyahu ben 'Amon, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 31 years. Death: shot by archers during the battle against Neco of Egypt. He died upon his arrival on Jerusalem. |
609 | 609 | 609 | 609 | Jehoahaz | יהואחז בן-יאשיהו מלך יהודה
Yeho'achaz ben Yo'shiyahu, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned 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. |
609–598 | 609–598 | 609–598 | 609–598 | Jehoiakim | יהויקים בן-יאשיהו מלך יהודה
Yehoyaqim ben Yo'shiyahu, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 11 years. Death: Natural Causes. The Battle of Carchemish occurred in the fourth year of his reign (Jeremiah 46:2). |
598 | 598 | 598–597 | 598–597 | Jehoiachin/Jeconiah | יהויכין בן-יהויקים מלך יהודה
Yehoyakhin ben Yehoyaqim, Melekh Yehudah יכניהו בן-יהויקים מלך יהודה Yekhonyahu ben Yehoyaqim, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned 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. |
597–587 | 597–586 | 597–586 | 597–586 | Zedekiah | צדקיהו בן-יאשיהו מלך יהודה
Tzideqiyahu ben Yo'shiyahu, Melekh Yehudah |
Reigned for 11 years. Death: In prison.[10] 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
[edit]Dates | Common name | Name and style | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Hasmonean Dynasty[edit] | |||
104–103 BCE | Judah | Aristobulus I
King and High Priest of Judaea |
The 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 BCE | Jonathan Yannai | Alexander Jannaeus
King and High Priest of Judaea |
|
76–67 BCE | Shelomzion | Salome Alexandra
Queen of Judaea |
|
67–63 BCE | Aristobulus | Aristobulus II
King and High Priest of Judaea |
|
63–40 BCE | Jonathan Hurqanos | Hyrcanus II
King and High Priest of Judaea; Ethnarch of Judaea |
King from 67 BCE, High Priest from 76 BCE |
40–37 BCE | Matityahu | Antigonus II Mattathias
King and High Priest of Judaea |
Herodian Dynasty
[edit]- Herod the Great (r. 37–4 BCE)
- Herod Agrippa (r. 41–44 CE)
Family Tree
[edit]See also
[edit]- History of ancient Israel and Judah
- List of Jewish leaders in the Land of Israel
- Lists of ancient kings
References
[edit]- ^ Lipschits, Oded (2014). "The history of Israel in the biblical period". In Berlin, Adele; Brettler, Marc Zvi (eds.). The Jewish Study Bible (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-997846-5.
The promonarchic period long ago became a literary description of the mythological roots, the early beginnings of the nation, and the way to describe the right of Israel on its land. The archeological evidence also does not support the existence of a united monarchy under David and Solomon as described in the Bible, so the rubric of "united monarchy" is best abandoned, although it remains useful for discussing how the Bible views the Israelite past.
- ^ Lipschits, Oded (2014). "The history of Israel in the biblical period". In Berlin, Adele; Brettler, Marc Zvi (eds.). The Jewish Study Bible (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-997846-5.
The promonarchic period long ago became a literary description of the mythological roots, the early beginnings of the nation, and the way to describe the right of Israel on its land. The archeological evidence also does not support the existence of a united monarchy under David and Solomon as described in the Bible, so the rubric of "united monarchy" is best abandoned, although it remains useful for discussing how the Bible views the Israelite past.
- ^ Finkelstein, Israel; Silberman, Neil Asher (2001). The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of its Stories. New York: Simon & Schu. ISBN 0-684-86912-8.
- ^ Kuhrt, Amélie (1995). The Ancient Near East, c. 3000–330 BC, Band 1. New York: Routledge. p. 438. ISBN 978-0-41516-762-8.
- ^ Wright, Jacob L. (July 2014). "David, King of Judah (not Israel)". The Bible and Interpretation.
- ^ Judges 9:6
- ^ 2 Chronicles 11:17
- ^ 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 The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III showing "Yaua" son of Omri paying tribute, dated to 841 BCE.
- ^ Paid tribute to the Assyrian King Shalmaneser V (727–722 BCE) but rebelled in 725 BCE. Shalmaneser besieged the capital, 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.
- ^ Jeremiah 52:11
External links
[edit]- King at the Jewish Encyclopedia
- Kings of the Jews at Project MUSE
- Kings of the Jews: Israel, Judah, Hasmoneans & Herodians at The Algemeiner