A Visit With Jesus: Kings of Israel and Judah

Josiah

Hebrew Name: Yo'shiyahu ben 'Amon

Judah (Southern Kingdom) Prophets: Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Nahum, Zephaniah

Became king at age 8, instituted religious reform after finding book of the law. Listened to prophetess Huldah. Celebrated Passover. He was killed in battle by archers during the battle against Neco of Egypt when he foolishly tried to prevent them from crossing his land to get to Assyria. Reigned for 31 years.

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Jehoahaz (south)

Hebrew Name: Yeho'achaz ben Yo'shiyahu

Judah (Southern Kingdom) Prophets: Habakkuk, Jeremiah

Reigned for 3 months. Necho II, king of Egypt, dethroned him, had him replaced by his brother, Eliakim. He was carried off to Egypt, where he died.

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Jehoiakim

Hebrew Name: Yehoyaqim ben Yo'shiyahu

Judah (Southern Kingdom) Prophets: Jeremiah

His name was Eliakim, but it was changed by Pharaoh Necho, who appointed him puppet ruler of Judah. Jeremiah said he deserved the burial of an ass because he built himself a palace when his people were heavily taxed to pay Egyptian tribute.

In 605 BCE, Babylonia won Judah from Egypt. After three years of their rule, Jehoiakim rebelled and then promptly died, leaving his son to cope with Babylonian revenge.

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Jehoiachin

Hebrew Name: Yehoyakhin ben Yehoyaqim

Judah (Southern Kingdom) Prophets: Ezekiel, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Zephaniah

Reigned for 3 months & 10 days. Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians and Jehoiachin deposed on 16 March, 597 BC and taken captive to Babylon. Judah kept hoping for his return. After 37 years in prison, he was freed, but never returned to Jerusalem.

He was called Jeconiah in Jeremiah and Esther.

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Zedakiah

Hebrew Name: Tzideqiyahu ben Yo'shiyahu

Judah (Southern Kingdom) Prophets: Jeremiah

Appointed to throne by Nebuchadnezzar, who changed his name from Mattaniah, Zedekiah ruled under a handicap: his subjects considered Jehoiachin their king. Moreover, the land was desolate, and most skilled laborers had been deported to Babylon. Nevertheless, he rebuilt Jerusalem’s defenses and saved the city from the Edomites.

He then conspired against Babylon so that Nebuchadnezzar laid siege and destroyed Jerusalem. Zedekiah was taken in chains to Nebuchadnezzar, who forced him to watch the execution of his sons and then blinded him and sent him in chains to Babylon, where he died.

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Jeroboam I

Israel (Northern Kingdom) Prophets: Ahijah

Son of Nebat of Ephraim who served Solomon, Jeroboam was promised rule of ten tribes by prophet Ahijah as God’s judgment on Solomon for idolatry. After an unsuccessful plot to overthrow Solomon, he had taken asylum with Pharaoh Shishek I.

He returned to rule Israel on Solomon’s death, built a new capital at Tirzah, and was condemned for setting up gold calves at new structures in Bethel and Dan to keep his people from worshipping in Jerusalem. He reigned only four years before Pharaoh Shishek overran Israel. Border wars with Judah began.

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Nadab

Israel (Northern Kingdom)

Continued battles with Judah over borders and idolatrous practices of his father. While he was warring with Philistines, Baasha killed him and seized the throne.

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Baasha

Israel (Northern Kingdom)

Unsuccessfully invaded Judah and was, in turn, invaded by Damascus. Lost much of Galilee and continued idolatry.

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Elah

Israel (Northern Kingdom)

Ruled only until he was murdered by Zimri, one of his officers, while “drinking himself drunk.” (1 Kings 16:8-10).

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