Kings of Israel and Judah
When Eve and then Adam rejected God’s will (Genesis 2-3), the relationship and fellowship of God with his creation was broken. God then put into action his plan to solve the sin problem. Many years later God called Abraham, and because Abraham believed God, God formed from Abraham the special nation, Israel. Through Israel God revealed his word and sent his son, the Messiah. Israel was and is God’s chosen nation to record God’s revelation, to demonstrate God to the world, to bring the Messiah into the world, and to reestablish God’s rightful rule over his creation. As we study the Old Testament we note the successes and failures of the Israelites. They would not believe God and obey him in any consistent manner. God promised to bless Israel when they believed and obeyed him. When they disobeyed him, especially over a period of time, he promised to discipline them in order to correct and bring them back to fellowship with him. Deuteronomy 28-30 summarizes God’s plan regarding Israel’s obedience and disobedience. During the period of the monarchies God ruled through kings and revealed his will through prophets. Who were the kings and when did they live? Were they good or bad? All of this can be confusing? When reading a prophet such as Isaiah or Ezekiel or Amos or any others, it helps to have some kind of understanding of which king ruled when and which prophets ministered at the time of a certain king.
What follows is the chronological list of the kings of Israel and Judah. I have added the main biblical prophets. There are many sources for the kings of Israel and Judah. Note that there is some variation in dating due to co-regencies in which the son ruled with his father until the father died, and due to differing views of the biblical record. The problems have, for the most part, been worked out. A difference of a year or two either way should is not a problem.
Encyclopedias and Bible dictionaries also have helpful information on the kings of Israel and Judah.
United Kingdom of Israel
King Verdict Rule Prophet
Saul, Tribe of Benjamin Failed 1050-1010 BC Samuel
David, Son of Jesse, Tribe of Judah Best, with failures 1010-970 BC Samuel, Gad, Nathan
Solomon, Son of David and Bathsheba Good, with failures 970-930 BC Nathan, Ahijah
Kings of Israel Verdict Rule Prophets
Jeroboam I, Led secession of Israel when Solomon died bad 931-909 BC Ahijah
Nadab, Son of Jeroboam I bad 909-908 BC
Baasha, Overthrew Nadab bad 908-886 BC Jehu, son of Hanni
Elah, Son of Baasha bad 886-885 BC
Zimri, Overthrew Elah bad 885 BC
Tibni, Son of Ginath (division after Zimri’s death) bad 885-880 BC
Omri, Tibni died and Omri became king extra bad 885-874 BC
Ahab, Son of Omri; husband of Jezebel the worst 874-853 BC Elijah
Ahaziah, Son of Ahab bad 853-852 BC Elisha
Joram (Jehoram), Son of Ahab bad mostly 852-841 BC Elijah and Elisha
Jehu, Overthrew Joram bad mostly 841-814 BC Elisha
Jehoahaz (Joahaz), Son of Jehu bad 814-798 BC Elisha
Joash (Jehoash), Son of Jehoahaz bad 798-782 BC Elisha
Jeroboam II, Son of Jehoash bad 793-753 BC Jonah, Amos, Hosea
Zechariah, Son of Jeroboam II bad 753 BC Hosea
Shallum, Overthrew Zechariah bad 752 BC Hosea
Menahem, Overthrew Shallum bad 752-742 BC Hosea
Pekahiah, Son of Menahem bad 742-740 BC Hosea
Pekah, Overthrew Pekahiah bad 752-732 BC Hosea
Hoshea, Overthrew Pekah. Sargon II of Assyria destroyed Israel bad 732-722 BC Hosea
Kings of Judah Verdict Rule Prophets
Rehoboam, Son of Solomon bad mostly 931-916 BC Shemaiah
Abijah (Abijam), Son of Rehoboam bad mostly 912-872 BC
Asa, Probably son of Abijah GOOD 912-972 BC Azariah
Jehoshaphat, Son of Asa GOOD 874-850 BC
Jehoram (Joram), Son of Jehoshaphat, husband of Athaliah bad 850-843 BC Obediah, Elijah
Ahaziah, Son of Jehoram and Athaliah bad 843 BC
Athaliah, Daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Only Queen devilish 843-837 BC
Joash (Jehoash), Son of Ahaziah good mostly 843-803 BC Joel
Amaziah, Son of Joash good mostly 803-775 BC
Uzziah (Azariah), Son of Amaziah GOOD mostly 787-735 BC Amos, Isaiah, Micah
Jotham, Son of Uzziah. Regent then king GOOD 749-734 BC Isaiah, Micah
Ahaz, Son of Jotham wicked 741-726 BC Isaiah, Micah
Hezekiah, Son of Ahaz THE BEST 726-697 BC Isaiah, Micah
Manasseh, Son of Hezekiah the worst 697-642 BC Isaiah, Nahum
Amon, Son of Manasseh the worst 641-640 BC Nahum
Josiah (Josias), Son of Amon THE BEST 639-608 BC Jeremiah, Nahum, Zephaniah
Jehoahaz (Joahaz), Son of Josiah bad 608 BC Jeremiah
Jehoiakim, Son of Josiah wicked 608-597 BC Jeremiah, Habakkuk
Jehoiachin, Son of Jehoiakim bad 597 BC Jeremiah
Zedekiah, Son of Josiah; kingdom overthrown by Babylonians. bad 597-586 BC Jeremiah Ezekiel.
The prophets Haggai ((520 BC), Zechariah (520-518 BC) and Malachi (450-400 BC) wrote after the destruction of Israel and Judah, when Israel had no king.