2001 Translation

~1010 BC

David Becomes King of Judah

After Saul’s death, David is anointed king over the tribe of Judah at Hebron, while Saul’s son Ish-bosheth rules the northern tribes.

2 Samuel 2:1-4; 2 Samuel 2:8-10; 1 Chronicles 11:1-3

~1003 BC

David Unifies the Kingdom

Following Ish-bosheth’s assassination, David becomes king over all Israel, unifying the northern and southern tribes. He establishes Jerusalem as his capital.

2 Samuel 5:1-5; 1 Chronicles 11:1-9; 1 Chronicles 12:23-40

~970 BC

Solomon Succeeds David

Solomon, David’s son by Bathsheba, becomes king. Known for his wisdom and wealth, he builds the First Temple in Jerusalem.

1 Kings 1:28-40; 1 Kings 2:12; 1 Chronicles 29:22-25; 2 Chronicles 1:1-17

~930 BC

Kingdom Divides Under Rehoboam and Jeroboam

After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam becomes king. His harsh policies lead to the kingdom splitting:

• Northern Kingdom (Israel): Led by Jeroboam I
• Southern Kingdom (Judah): Ruled by Rehoboam

1 Kings 12:1-24; 2 Chronicles 10:1-11:4; 2 Chronicles 11:13-17

~910 BC

Nadab Succeeds Jeroboam in Israel

Nadab, son of Jeroboam I, becomes king of Israel. He continues his father’s practice of idol worship.

1 Kings 15:25-26

~909 BC

Baasha Assassinates Nadab

Baasha kills Nadab and becomes king of Israel. He exterminates the entire house of Jeroboam, fulfilling prophecy. He reigns from Tirzah for 24 years.

1 Kings 15:27-29

~915 BC

Abijam Succeeds Rehoboam in Judah

Abijam (also called Abijah) becomes king of Judah. Despite military success against Israel, he follows his father’s sinful practices.

1 Kings 15:1-8; 2 Chronicles 13:1-22

~913 BC

Asa Becomes King of Judah

Asa succeeds his father Abijam. Unlike his predecessors, he institutes religious reforms:

• Removes pagan altars and high places
• Deposes his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother
• Destroys her Asherah pole

1 Kings 15:9-24; 2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14

~909 BC

Baasha Assassinates Nadab

Baasha kills Nadab and becomes king of Israel. He exterminates the entire house of Jeroboam, fulfilling prophecy. He reigns from Tirzah for 24 years.

1 Kings 15:27-29

~886 BC

Elah Succeeds Baasha in Israel

Elah, son of Baasha, becomes king of Israel. His reign is brief and marked by drinking and debauchery.

1 Kings 16:6-8

~885 BC

Zimri’s Seven-Day Reign

Zimri, a chariot commander, assassinates Elah while he is drunk. Zimri then destroys the entire house of Baasha but rules for only seven days before being overthrown.

1 Kings 16:9-20

~885 BC

Omri Takes the Throne of Israel

After a brief civil war with Tibni, Omri secures the throne of Israel. He:

• Builds Samaria as his new capital
• Establishes a powerful dynasty
• Creates alliances through marriage
• Is remembered for his military achievements

1 Kings 16:21-28; 2 Chronicles 22:2-4

~874 BC

Ahab Succeeds Omri

Ahab becomes king of Israel. His reign is marked by:

• Marriage to Jezebel
• Introduction of Baal worship
• Conflicts with the prophet Elijah
• Wars with Syria

1 Kings 16:29-34; 1 Kings 20-22; 2 Chronicles 18:1-34

~853 BC

Ahaziah Succeeds Ahab in Israel

Ahaziah becomes king after Ahab’s death in battle. His brief two-year reign is marked by:

• Continued worship of Baal
• Alliance with Judah
• Fatal accident falling through a lattice
• Consultation with Baal-zebub

2 Kings 1:1-18

~852 BC

Jehoram of Israel Takes the Throne

Jehoram (also called Joram) succeeds his brother Ahaziah. Though he removes some Baal worship, he maintains the golden calves of Jeroboam. His reign features:

• Alliance with Judah against Moab
• Conflicts with Syria
• Interactions with prophet Elisha
• Death by Jehu’s arrow

2 Kings 3:1-3; 2 Kings 9:24

~848 BC

Jehoshaphat Dies, Jehoram Rules Judah

Jehoram of Judah succeeds his father Jehoshaphat. His reign is marked by:

• Marriage to Ahab’s daughter Athaliah
• Murder of his brothers
• Introduction of idol worship in Judah
• Loss of Edom as a vassal state
• Death from painful disease

2 Kings 8:16-24; 2 Chronicles 21:1-20; 2 Chronicles 22:1

~841 BC

Ahaziah Becomes King of Judah

Ahaziah of Judah succeeds his father Jehoram. His brief one-year reign includes:

• Alliance with Israel against Syria
• Following his mother Athaliah’s counsel
• Death by Jehu alongside Jehoram of Israel

2 Kings 8:25-29; 2 Kings 9:27-28; 2 Chronicles 22:1-9

~841 BC

Jehu’s Bloody Coup in Israel

Jehu is anointed king and overthrows the house of Ahab. His actions include:

• Killing both kings of Israel and Judah
• Executing Jezebel
• Destroying Baal worship in Israel
• Maintaining Jeroboam’s golden calves
• Receiving tribute from Assyria

2 Kings 9-10

~841 BC

Athaliah Seizes Power in Judah

Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and mother of Ahaziah, takes the throne by:

• Killing all royal heirs (except hidden Joash)
• Establishing Baal worship in Jerusalem
• Becoming only female ruler of Judah

2 Kings 11:1-3; 2 Chronicles 22:10-12

~835 BC

Joash Restored to Judah’s Throne

Seven-year-old Joash is installed as king by Jehoiada the priest. His reign features:

• Restoration of the Temple
• Return to proper worship
• Later compromise with idol worship
• Death by assassination

2 Kings 11:4-12:21; 2 Chronicles 23:1-24:27; 2 Chronicles 25:1

~814 BC

Jehoahaz Succeeds Jehu in Israel

Jehoahaz becomes king of Israel. His reign is marked by:

• Continued worship of golden calves
• Oppression from Syria
• Repentance and divine deliverance
• Military losses

2 Kings 13:1-9

~798 BC

Jehoash Becomes King of Israel

Jehoash (also called Joash) succeeds his father Jehoahaz. His reign includes:

• Three prophesied victories over Syria
• Meeting with dying prophet Elisha
• Recapture of cities from Ben-hadad
• Victory over Amaziah of Judah

2 Kings 13:10-25

~796 BC

Amaziah Rules in Judah

Amaziah succeeds his father Joash. His reign features:

• Initial faithfulness to God
• Victory over Edom
• Foolish challenge to Israel leading to defeat
• Death by assassination in Lachish

2 Kings 14:1-20; 2 Chronicles 25:1-28; 2 Chronicles 26:1-2

~782 BC

Jeroboam II Rules Israel

Jeroboam II becomes Israel’s most prosperous king since Solomon. His reign includes:

• Territorial expansion
• Economic prosperity
• Ministry of prophets Amos and Hosea
• Continued spiritual decline

2 Kings 14:23-29; Amos 1:1; Hosea 1:1

~767 BC

Uzziah (Azariah) Becomes King of Judah

Uzziah (also called Azariah) succeeds Amaziah. His long reign is marked by:

• Military successes
• Agricultural developments
• Pride leading to leprosy
• Co-regency with his son Jotham

2 Kings 15:1-7; 2 Chronicles 26:1-23; Isaiah 6:1

~753 BC

Zechariah’s Brief Reign in Israel

Zechariah, last of Jehu’s dynasty, rules Israel for only six months before being assassinated by Shallum, fulfilling prophecy about Jehu’s line.

2 Kings 15:8-12

~752 BC

Shallum’s One-Month Reign

Shallum rules Israel for just one month before being killed by Menahem.

2 Kings 15:13-15

~752 BC

Menahem Takes Israel’s Throne

Menahem seizes power and rules Israel for ten years. His reign features:

• Brutal treatment of opponents
• Heavy tribute to Assyria
• Beginning of Assyrian dominance
• Continued idol worship

2 Kings 15:16-22

~742 BC

Pekahiah Succeeds Menahem

Pekahiah rules Israel briefly before being assassinated by his officer Pekah.

2 Kings 15:23-26

~740 BC

Pekah Seizes Israel’s Throne

Pekah, a military officer, kills Pekahiah and becomes king. His 20-year reign features:

• Alliance with Syria against Judah
• War against Ahaz of Judah
• Loss of territory to Assyria
• Assassination by Hoshea

2 Kings 15:27-31; 2 Chronicles 28:5-8

~735 BC

Jotham Dies, Ahaz Rules Judah

Ahaz succeeds his father Jotham in Judah. His reign is marked by:

• Worship of Baal and Molech
• Child sacrifice
• Paying tribute to Assyria for help
• Copying pagan altar designs
• Closing the Temple

2 Kings 16:1-20; 2 Chronicles 28:1-27; Isaiah 7:1-25; Isaiah 14:28; Micah 1:1

~732 BC

Hoshea Takes Israel’s Throne

Hoshea becomes Israel’s last king after assassinating Pekah. His reign includes:

• Submission to Assyria as vassal
• Secret alliance with Egypt
• Rebellion against Assyria
• Imprisonment by Shalmaneser

2 Kings 17:1-6

~722 BC

Fall of the Northern Kingdom

Assyria conquers Israel, ending the northern kingdom:

• Samaria falls after 3-year siege
• Israelites deported to Assyria
• Foreign peoples resettled in Israel
• Beginning of the Samaritan people

2 Kings 17:5-41

~716 BC

Hezekiah Becomes King of Judah

Hezekiah succeeds his father Ahaz. His reforms include:

• Reopening and cleansing the Temple
• Destroying idols and high places
• Reinstituting Passover celebration
• Resisting Assyrian dominance
• Building water tunnel in Jerusalem

2 Kings 18:1-20:21; 2 Chronicles 29:1-32:33; Isaiah 36:1-39:8; Micah 1:1

~687 BC

Manasseh Succeeds Hezekiah

Manasseh becomes Judah’s longest-reigning king. His 55-year reign features:

• Return to idolatry and child sacrifice
• Persecution of prophets
• Capture and imprisonment in Babylon
• Late-life repentance and reforms
• Strengthening Jerusalem’s defenses

2 Kings 21:1-18; 2 Chronicles 33:1-20; Jeremiah 15:4

~642 BC

Amon’s Brief Reign

Amon succeeds his father Manasseh but rules for only two years before being assassinated by his servants. He:

• Reverses his father’s late reforms
• Returns to idol worship
• Dies by conspiracy
• Is avenged by the people

2 Kings 21:19-26; 2 Chronicles 33:21-25

~640 BC

Josiah’s Righteous Reign Begins

Eight-year-old Josiah becomes king after his father Amon’s assassination. His reign features:

• Discovery of the Book of the Law
• Extensive religious reforms
• Destruction of pagan shrines
• Revival of Passover celebration
• Death in battle against Egypt at Megiddo

2 Kings 22:1-23:30; 2 Chronicles 34:1-35:27; Jeremiah 1:2; Zephaniah 1:1; Habakkuk 1:1

~609 BC

Jehoahaz’s Three-Month Reign

Jehoahaz (also called Shallum) is made king after Josiah’s death. His brief reign ends when:

• Egypt’s Pharaoh Necho deposes him
• Takes him captive to Egypt
• Places his brother on the throne
• Dies in Egyptian captivity

2 Kings 23:31-33; 2 Chronicles 36:1-4; Jeremiah 22:10-12

~609 BC

Jehoiakim Installed by Egypt

Jehoiakim (formerly Eliakim) is placed on the throne by Pharaoh Necho. His reign includes:

• Heavy taxation to pay Egyptian tribute
• Later submission to Babylon
• Rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar
• Burning of Jeremiah’s scroll
• Death during Babylonian siege

2 Kings 23:34-24:6; 2 Chronicles 36:5-8; Jeremiah 22:13-19; Jeremiah 25:1-14; Jeremiah 26:1-24; Jeremiah 36:1-32; Daniel 1:1-2

~598 BC

Jehoiachin’s Brief Rule

Jehoiachin succeeds his father Jehoiakim. His three-month reign ends with:

• Surrender to Nebuchadnezzar
• First major deportation to Babylon
• Imprisonment in Babylon
• Later release and honor by Evil-merodach

2 Kings 24:8-17; 2 Chronicles 36:9-10; Jeremiah 22:24-30; Jeremiah 24:1; Jeremiah 29:2; Ezekiel 1:2

~597 BC

Zedekiah: Judah’s Last King

Zedekiah (formerly Mattaniah) is installed by Nebuchadnezzar. His reign ends the kingdom:

• Rebels against Babylon despite Jeremiah’s warnings
• Attempts escape during siege
• Watches his sons’ execution
• Is blinded and taken to Babylon
• Witnesses Jerusalem’s destruction

2 Kings 24:18-25:7; 2 Chronicles 36:11-21; Jeremiah 21:1-7; Jeremiah 27:1-22; Jeremiah 32:1-5; Jeremiah 34:1-22; Jeremiah 37:1-39:7; Jeremiah 52:1-11; Ezekiel 12:1-13; Ezekiel 17:11-21