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Prompt: List all the kings of the Kingdom of Judah (Southern Kingdom) from the beginning of the divided monarchy to the babylonian invasion and exhile. cite all sources
The Divided Monarchy period, approximately from 930 to 722 BCE, marks a time when the unified Kingdom of Israel split into two separate kingdoms after the death of Solomon: the Kingdom of Israel (Northern Kingdom) and the Kingdom of Judah (Southern Kingdom). Here’s a list of the kings and their reigns in both kingdoms:
Kingdom of Israel (Northern Kingdom)
The Kingdom of Israel, with its capital initially at Shechem and later at Samaria, went through a turbulent period with multiple dynasties and many assassinations or coups.
Here is a complete table of the kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (also called Ephraim, Samaria, or simply Israel in the Bible), from the division of the monarchy after Solomon’s death (c. 930 BCE) to the Assyrian conquest and exile in 722 BCE.
Kings of Israel (Northern Kingdom) – From Jeroboam I to Hoshea (c. 930–722 BCE)
| No. | Name | Reign (approx.) | Scripture References | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeroboam I | c. 930–910 BCE | 1 Kings 11:26–14:20 | First king after the division; set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan. |
| 2 | Nadab | c. 910–909 BCE | 1 Kings 15:25–28 | Son of Jeroboam I; assassinated by Baasha. |
| 3 | Baasha | c. 909–886 BCE | 1 Kings 15:27–16:7 | Killed Nadab and wiped out Jeroboam’s house. |
| 4 | Elah | c. 886–885 BCE | 1 Kings 16:6–10 | Son of Baasha; murdered by Zimri while drunk. |
| 5 | Zimri | c. 885 BCE (7 days) | 1 Kings 16:9–20 | Ruled one week; committed suicide during Omri’s siege. |
| 6 | Omri | c. 885–874 BCE | 1 Kings 16:21–28 | Powerful king; founded Samaria as capital; father of Ahab. |
| 7 | Ahab | c. 874–853 BCE | 1 Kings 16:29–22:40 | Married Jezebel; promoted Baal worship; opposed by Elijah. |
| 8 | Ahaziah | c. 853–852 BCE | 1 Kings 22:51–2 Kings 1:18 | Son of Ahab; fell through lattice and died from injury. |
| 9 | Joram (Jehoram) | c. 852–841 BCE | 2 Kings 1:17; 3–9:24 | Brother of Ahaziah; killed by Jehu. |
| 10 | Jehu | c. 841–814 BCE | 2 Kings 9–10 | Anointed by prophet; wiped out Ahab’s house; began partial reforms. |
| 11 | Jehoahaz | c. 814–798 BCE | 2 Kings 13:1–9 | Son of Jehu; oppressed by Aram (Syria). |
| 12 | Jehoash (Joash) | c. 798–782 BCE | 2 Kings 13:10–25 | Defeated Aram; visited dying Elisha. |
| 13 | Jeroboam II | c. 793–753 BCE (co-reigned) | 2 Kings 14:23–29 | Prosperous reign; restored borders; criticized by prophets. |
| 14 | Zechariah | c. 753 BCE (6 months) | 2 Kings 15:8–12 | Last of Jehu’s dynasty; assassinated by Shallum. |
| 15 | Shallum | c. 752 BCE (1 month) | 2 Kings 15:13–15 | Short reign; killed by Menahem. |
| 16 | Menahem | c. 752–742 BCE | 2 Kings 15:16–22 | Brutal ruler; paid tribute to Assyria. |
| 17 | Pekahiah | c. 742–740 BCE | 2 Kings 15:23–26 | Son of Menahem; assassinated by Pekah. |
| 18 | Pekah | c. 752–732 BCE (overlapping rival reign), 740–732 (sole rule) | 2 Kings 15:27–31 | Opposed Assyria; assassinated in a conspiracy. |
| 19 | Hoshea | c. 732–722 BCE | 2 Kings 17:1–6 | Last king; deposed by Assyria; Israel exiled and lost. |
Fall of Israel
- 722 BCE: Samaria fell to the Assyrian Empire under Shalmaneser V and Sargon II (2 Kings 17:6).
- The northern tribes were exiled and scattered; these are often called the “Ten Lost Tribes.”
- The Northern Kingdom was never restored.
Sources
Primary (Biblical Texts)
- 1–2 Kings, especially chapters 11–17
- Some supplemental info in 2 Chronicles 10–28 (though Chronicles focuses mainly on Judah)
- Prophetic books: Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Isaiah (for historical context)
Secondary (Scholarly and Historical)
- Edwin R. Thiele, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings (rev. ed., 1983)
- Gershon Galil, The Chronology of the Kings of Israel and Judah (1996)
- John Bright, A History of Israel (2000)
- K.A. Kitchen, On the Reliability of the Old Testament (2003)
- Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992), entries on Israelite kings and Assyrian conquest
Kingdom of Judah (Southern Kingdom)
Here’s a complete list of the kings of the Kingdom of Judah (Southern Kingdom) from the beginning of the divided monarchy (after Solomon’s reign) to the Babylonian invasion and exile, with scriptural citations and chronological notes based on a synthesis of biblical and scholarly sources.
From Rehoboam to Zedekiah (c. 930–586 BCE)
| No. | Name | Reign (approx.) | Scripture References | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rehoboam | c. 930–913 BCE | 1 Kings 11:43–14:31; 2 Chronicles 9:31–12:16 | Son of Solomon; kingdom split under his rule. |
| 2 | Abijah (Abijam) | c. 913–911 BCE | 1 Kings 14:31–15:8; 2 Chronicles 13:1–22 | Also called Abijam in 1 Kings; fought Jeroboam of Israel. |
| 3 | Asa | c. 911–870 BCE | 1 Kings 15:8–24; 2 Chronicles 14–16 | Religious reformer; long reign marked by peace and later war. |
| 4 | Jehoshaphat | c. 870–848 BCE | 1 Kings 22:41–50; 2 Chronicles 17–20 | Formed alliances with Israel; encouraged worship of YHWH. |
| 5 | Jehoram (Joram) | c. 848–841 BCE | 2 Kings 8:16–24; 2 Chronicles 21 | Married Ahab’s daughter; idolatry and judgment followed. |
| 6 | Ahaziah | c. 841 BCE | 2 Kings 8:25–29; 2 Chronicles 22:1–9 | Reigned one year; killed by Jehu in Israel. |
| 7 | Athaliah (Queen) | c. 841–835 BCE | 2 Kings 11:1–20; 2 Chronicles 22:10–23:21 | Mother of Ahaziah; seized power and ruled until overthrown. |
| 8 | Joash (Jehoash) | c. 835–796 BCE | 2 Kings 11:21–12:21; 2 Chronicles 24 | Crowned as child; repaired temple; later assassinated. |
| 9 | Amaziah | c. 796–767 BCE | 2 Kings 14:1–20; 2 Chronicles 25 | Initially faithful; later idolatry and defeat by Israel. |
| 10 | Uzziah (Azariah) | c. 792–740 BCE (co-reigned) | 2 Kings 15:1–7; 2 Chronicles 26 | Prosperous reign; struck with leprosy for usurping priestly role. |
| 11 | Jotham | c. 750–735 BCE (co-regent, then sole) | 2 Kings 15:32–38; 2 Chronicles 27 | Ruled well; temple and fortress builder. |
| 12 | Ahaz | c. 735–715 BCE | 2 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 28 | Promoted idolatry; allied with Assyria against Israel and Aram. |
| 13 | Hezekiah | c. 715–686 BCE | 2 Kings 18–20; 2 Chronicles 29–32; Isaiah 36–39 | Major reformer; resisted Assyria; experienced miraculous healing. |
| 14 | Manasseh | c. 697–643 BCE (co-reigned from c. 697; sole 686–643) | 2 Kings 21:1–18; 2 Chronicles 33:1–20 | Longest reign; extremely wicked, later repented. |
| 15 | Amon | c. 643–641 BCE | 2 Kings 21:19–26; 2 Chronicles 33:21–25 | Continued idolatry; assassinated by servants. |
| 16 | Josiah | c. 641–609 BCE | 2 Kings 22–23; 2 Chronicles 34–35 | Religious revival; rediscovered Book of the Law; died at Megiddo. |
| 17 | Jehoahaz (Shallum) | 609 BCE (3 months) | 2 Kings 23:31–34; 2 Chronicles 36:1–4 | Deposed by Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt. |
| 18 | Jehoiakim (Eliakim) | 609–598 BCE | 2 Kings 23:34–24:7; 2 Chronicles 36:5–8; Jeremiah 22 | Installed by Pharaoh Necho; rebelled against Babylon. |
| 19 | Jehoiachin (Jeconiah, Coniah) | 598–597 BCE (3 months) | 2 Kings 24:8–17; 2 Chronicles 36:9–10; Jeremiah 22:24–30 | Taken captive to Babylon in 597 BCE. |
| 20 | Zedekiah (Mattaniah) | 597–586 BCE | 2 Kings 24:17–25:7; 2 Chronicles 36:11–21; Jeremiah 37–39 | Last king; rebelled against Babylon; Jerusalem destroyed. |
Fall of Judah and the Babylonian Exile
- 586 BCE: Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon.
- Many Judeans exiled to Babylon (2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 52).
- This marked the end of the Davidic monarchy in Judah, although Jehoiachin was later released and honored in Babylon (2 Kings 25:27–30).
Sources for the Southern Kingdom List
Primary (Biblical Texts)
- 1–2 Kings, 1–2 Chronicles, Isaiah, Jeremiah, 2 Samuel (for background on the monarchy).
- American Standard Version (ASV) for Old Testament Scriptures as per your preference.
Secondary (Scholarly and Historical)
- Edwin R. Thiele, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings (rev. ed., 1983).
- Gershon Galil, The Chronology of the Kings of Israel and Judah (1996).
- John Bright, A History of Israel (4th ed., 2000).
- Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, ed. David Noel Freedman (1992), entries on individual kings and chronology.
- William F. Albright and later refinements by Kenneth Kitchen on Near Eastern synchronization.
Would you like a visual timeline chart of these kings or a downloadable table for your website archive?
This period ended for the Northern Kingdom in 722 BCE when Assyria conquered Israel, while the Kingdom of Judah survived until the Babylonian conquest in 586 BCE.
