Kings, First and Second Book of
Kings, First and Second Book of
These embrace a period of the history of Israel from B.C. 1015 to B.C. 562. They do not give the commencement of the kingdom under Saul, nor the history of David, but begin with the reign of Solomon. In the headings of these books the A.V. adds “Commonly called the ‘Third Book’ and ‘Fourth Book’ of the Kings” (copied probably from the LXX or the Vulgate, for this addition is not in the Hebrew), the two books of Samuel being the First and Second. The kingdom was at its height in the reign of Solomon, but because of his sin the kingdom was divided, and after many warnings from God through His prophets, to both Israel and Judah, both kingdoms were brought to a close, the people being carried away into captivity, and Jerusalem and the temple destroyed. See ISRAEL, JUDAH, and the various Kings The books of the Kings differ from the books of the Chronicles in that the former treat of kingly power established by God in the nation of Israel; (and, though it failed and apostatised, the will of God in its establishment will be carried out when Christ administers the government of God in power:) whereas the Chronicles are principally occupied with the house of David, and God’s promises concerning it.
The chronology of the period of the kings can be fairly well ascertained if it is remembered that parts of years were always reckoned as full years. In most cases, when a king began to reign, it is stated what year it was of the king reigning in the other kingdom, and these cross references help to check both lists. The dates are approximately as follows. The names of the contemporary PROPHETS are also added.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE KINGS
B.C.
1095Saul anointed King – Kingdom of Israel Begins
1055David King
1015Solomon King
1012Temple begun, 4th year of Solomon, 480th year from Exodus, 1Ki 6:1
1005Dedication of the Temple, 11th year of Solomon, 1Ki 6:38.
KINGDOM DIVIDED
JUDAHISRAEL
975Rehoboam 17Jeroboam 22(21)1Ki 14:20-21
SHEMAIAH, prophetAHIJAH, prophet
970Shishak king of Egypt attacks Jerusalem1Ki 14:25
958Abijam, or Abijah 318th year1Ki 15:1-2
955Asa 4120th year1Ki 15:9-10
9542nd YearNadab, 2(1)1Ki 15:25
9533rd YearBaasha, 24(23)1Ki 15:33
941Zerah attacks Asa 2Ch 14:9
AZARIAH, Prophet
940Asa leagues with Benhadad I, K. of Syria1Ki 15:18
HANANAI prophetJEHU prophet1Ki 16:1
93026th YearElah 2(1),1Ki 16:8
92927th YearZimri 121Ki 16:15
92531st YearOmri and Tibni 121Ki 16:23
Samaria built by Omri1Ki 16:24
91838th YearAhab 22(21)1Ki 16:29
914Jehoshaphat 25,(23)4th Year1Ki 22:41
ELIJAH Prophet1Ki 17:1
901Benhadad II, k Syria
besieges Samaria1Ki 20:1-21
JEHU, ProphetMICAIAH, son of Imlab, prophet
89717th Year Jehoram regentAhaziah, 2(1)1Ki 22:51
ELIEZER, son of Dodavah, prophet
89618th year, 2nd of JehoramJehoram 122Ki 1:17; 2Ki 3:1
ELISHA prophet
891Jehoram, 8(6) (his father being alive)5th year2Ki 8:16-17
885Hazael murders and succeeds Benhadad2Ki 8:15
885Ahaziah, 112th year2Ki 8:25
Ahab’s house extinct.
884Athaliah, 6Jehu, 282Ki 10:36; 2Ki 11:3
878Joash, or Jehoash 40(39)7th Year2Ki 12:1
85623rd YearJehoabaz, 17(16)2Ki 13:1
84137th YearJehoash, or Joash, co-regent 162Ki 13:10
840Benhadad III son of Hazael, k Syria 2Ki 13 etc.
839Amaziah 292nd Year Joash reigns alone2Ki 14:1
836 Jeroboam II. co-regent
82515th YearJeroboam II alone 41 JONAH2Ki 14:23
810Azariah, or Uzziah 5227th Year (from 836)2Ki 15:1
ZECHARIAH seer 2Ch 26:5 JOEL[Interregnum 11 years from 781] AMOS HOSEA
776Era of the Olympiads begins.
77338th YearZachariah 6 months HOSEA2Ki 15:8
77239th YearShallum 1 month HOSEA2Ki 15:13
771Pul KingMenahem 102Ki 15:17
76150th Year of Assyria, invades Israel 1Ch 5:262Ki 15:19
75952th YearPekahiah 22Ki 15:23
758Jotham 16MICAHISAIAHPekah 202Ki 15:27
753Rome built.ISAIAH2nd Year2Ki 15:32
745Later Assyrian empire foundedISAIAHthe era of A.U.C. (Years of Rome) begins.
by Tiglathpileser II or III.Israel and Syria doomed, Isa 7-8
742Ahaz 16 (15)MICAHISAIAH
Invasion by Pekah and Rezin;17th year2Ki 16:1
Ahaz comforted Isa 7:2-25Alliance with Rezin, king of Damascus,
741Second InvasionIsa 7:1-2 invades Judah2Ki 16:5
740Calls in Tiglath-pileserCaptives released through ODED prophet
Idolatrous altar in TempleTiglath-pileser kills Rezin, and destroys
Temple despoiled Damascus2Ki 16:7-9
Captivity of two and a half tribes east of
the Jordan, and some west of Jordan.
2Ki 15:29; 1Ch 5:26
Israel tributary to Assyria
739 Hosea kills Pekah in what would have
been the 20th of Jotham2Ki 15:30
anarchy for 9 years Hos 10
73012th YearHoshea 9HOSEA2Ki 17:1
727Shalmaneser succeeds Tiglath-pileserShalmaneser makes Hoshea tributary HOSEA 2Ki 17:3
Hezekiah 293rd year2Ki 18:1
725So (or Sobaco) king of EgyptHosea revolts from Assyria. He relies
MICAH on So, King of Egypt. Imprisoned by
Shalmaneser2Ki 17:4
722Sargon, king of AssyriaSamaria taken2Ki 17:5
6th year = 9th year of Hosea (2Ki 18:10)Rest of Israel carried into captivity2Ki 17:6
721Merodach-baladan, k. of BabylonEnd of Kingdom of Israel
714Sennacherib co-regent with Sargon,
invades JudeaNAHUM2Ki 18:13
714Sickness of Hezekiah2Ki 21:1
712Merodach sends an embassy to Hezekiah Isa 39:12Ki 20:12
705Sennacherib reigns aloneISAIAH
700Sennacherib’s second invasion2Ki 18:17 – 2Ki 19:36;
His army is destroyed by an angelISAIAH
698Manasseh 552Ki 21:1
681Sennacherib slain by his sons, and Esarhaddon succeeds him2Ki 19:37
Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, rebuilds Babylon, and reigns over both kingdoms
678Esarhaddon plants a colony of foreigners in Samaria. Ezr 4:22Ki 17:24
677Manasseh carried to Babyulon, but released 2Ch 33:11-13
643Amon 22Ki 21:19
641Josiah 312Ki 22:1
634Median empire founded by Cyaxares (Ahasuerus of Dan 9:1)ZEPHANIAH
625Nabo-polasar founds the later Babylonian empire.HABAKKUK
610Necho (or Pharaoh-necho) king of Egypt, attacks BabylonJEREMIAH
Josiah slain in battle by NechoJEREMIAH2Ki 23:29
610Jehoahaz 3 monthsJEREMIAH2Ki 23:31
610Jehoiakim, 11JEREMIAH2Ki 23:36
Nineveh destroyed by the Medes and Babylonians about 606
6064th year. Nebuchadnezzar co-regent with Nabo-polassar.JEREMIAHDANIEL
Battle of Carchemish 2Ch 35:20; Jer 46:2DANIEL
606Jeremiah prophesies of 70 years’ captivity Jer 25DANIEL
Nebuchadnezzar defeats Necho. Jer 46:2DANIEL
606Jerusalem taken – captives and vessels carried to Babylon. First Captivity of Judah.DANIEL
604Nabo-Polassar dies. Nebuchadnezzar reigns alone king of Babylon
603Jehoiakim revolts from Nebuchadnezzar
599Jehoiachin 3 months2Ki 24:6-8
Jerusalem taken by Nebuchadnezzar. The Great Captivity.2Ki 24:12
599Zedekiah 11
593Zedekiah rebels agains tthe king of Babylon Jer 52:3;EZEKIEL2Ki 24:20
590Nebuchadnezzar besieges JerusalemEZEKIEL2Ki 25:1
Nebuchadnezzar leaves to meet the king of Egypt.EZEKIEL
588Jerusalem taken and destroyed in 11th year of Zedekiah,EZEKIEL JEREMIAH
and 19th of Nebuchadnezzar (from 606)EZEKIEL JEREMIAH 2Ki 25:8
LAMENTATIONS JEREMIAH
END OF THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH JEREMIAH
OBADIAHDANIEL JEREMIAH
561Evil-merodach succeds Nebuchadnezzar.DANIEL
538Babylon taken. End of the Empire of Babylon.DANIEL
536Cyrus riengs alone in Babylon. Return of the Jews. Ezra 1
515The Temple dedicated Ezr 6:15HAGGAIZECHARIAH
475Artaxerxzes succeeds Xerxes
4687th year. Commission to Ezra. Ezr 7:8
45520th year. Commission to Nehemiah to rebuild the city. Neh 2 (See Seventy Weeks)
425Compare Mal 2:11-17 with Neh 13:23-30MALACHI