The Complete List of All Israelite Kings (From First to Last)| Sami Bsoul
Sami Bsoul, PhD
Most people think the list of Israel’s kings is just names and dates, but the Talmud and Midrash add flesh to these bones, revealing that one king died by a swarm of gnats, another was killed by a snowball dropped from heaven, and a third reigned for only seven days after burning down his own palace.
The United Monarchy (c. 1047 – 931 BCE)
This single kingdom, containing all twelve tribes, was ruled in succession by three kings.
King Saul / Shaul (שָׁאוּל) (son of Kish) c. 1047 – 1010 The first king, whose disobedience led to his rejection and the kingdom being given to another.
King David / David (דָּוִד) (son of Yishai) c. 1010 – 970 The shepherd-king who established Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Israel.
King Solomon / Shlomo (שְׁלֹמֹה) (son of David) c. 970 – 931 The wisest of all men, who built the First Temple but whose foreign wives led him to idolatry.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (c. 931 – 722 BCE)
This kingdom was formed by the ten northern tribes after the death of Solomon. It was conquered by the Assyrian Empire, and its ten tribes were exiled, becoming the "Lost Tribes."
King Jeroboam I / Yerov'am ben Nevat (יָרָבְעָם בֶּן נְבָט) (son of Nevat) Nevat c. 931 – 909 The first king of the north, who established golden calves for worship at Bethel and Dan, leading the people into sin.
King Nadab / Nadav ben Yerov'am (נָדָב בֶּן יָרָבְעָם) (son of Jeroboam) I c. 909 – 908 Continued his father's idolatrous ways and was assassinated by Baasha while besieging a Philistine city.
King Baasha / Ba'sha ben Achiyah (בַּעְשָׁא בֶּן אֲחִיָּה) (son of Achiyah) c. 908 – 886 A usurper who destroyed the house of Jeroboam, fulfilling prophecy, but continued the sin of the golden calves himself.
King Elah / Elah ben Ba'sha (אֵלָה בֶּן בַּעְשָׁא) (son of Baasha) c. 886 – 885 Assassinated by his chariot commander, Zimri, while he was drunk in the house of his steward in Tirzah.
King Zimri / Zimri (זִמְרִי) 885 BCE (7 days) (father not named in the Bible) Ruled for only seven days before setting the royal palace on fire and dying in the flames as Omri besieged the capital.
King Omri / Omri (עָמְרִי) c. 885 – 874 (father not named in the Bible) A powerful general who founded a new dynasty and built the city of Samaria, which became the new capital of the northern kingdom.
King Ahab / Ach'av ben Omri (אַחְאָב בֶּן עָמְרִי) (son of Omri) c. 874 – 852 The most infamous king, who promoted the worship of the Canaanite deity Ba'al under the influence of his wife, Jezebel.
King Ahaziah / Achazyahu ben Ach'av (אֲחַזְיָהוּ בֶּן אַחְאָב) (son of Ahab) c. 852 – 851 Reigned briefly and died from a fall; he was the last king of the Omride dynasty to die naturally.
King Jehoram (Joram) / Yehoram ben Ach'av (יְהוֹרָם בֶּן אַחְאָב) (son of Ahab) c. 851 – 842 The last king of the Omride dynasty; he was wounded in battle and then killed by the usurper Jehu.
King Jehu / Yehu ben Nimshi (יֵהוּא בֶּן נִמְשִׁי) (son of Nimshi) c. 842 – 815 A fiery chariot commander who violently purged the house of Ahab and eradicated Ba'al worship from Israel.
King Jehoahaz / Yeho'achaz ben Yehu (יְהוֹאָחָז בֶּן יֵהוּא) (son of Yishai) Jehu c. 819 – 804 His reign was marked by severe oppression from the Aramean king Hazael, leaving him with a reduced and weakened army.
King Jehoash (Joash) / Yeho'ash ben Yeho'achaz (יְהוֹאָשׁ בֶּן יְהוֹאָחָז) (son of Jehoahaz) c. 805 – 790 Visited the dying prophet Elisha and, following his instruction, struck the ground with arrows, defeating Aram three times.
King Jeroboam II / Yerov'am ben Yeho'ash (יָרָבְעָם בֶּן יְהוֹאָשׁ) (son of Jehoash) c. 790 – 750 The most powerful king of the Jehu dynasty, who restored Israel's borders and brought a period of great prosperity.
King Zechariah / Zecharyah ben Yerov'am (זְכַרְיָה בֶּן יָרָבְעָם) (son of Jeroboam II) c. 750 – 749 (6 months) The last king of the Jehu dynasty; assassinated after only six months on the throne, fulfilling a prophecy.
King Shallum / Shalum ben Yavesh (שַׁלֻּם בֶּן יָבֵשׁ) (son of Yavesh) 749 BCE (1 month) Assassinated Zechariah but reigned only one month before being killed by Menahem, a general from Tirzah.
King Menahem / Menahem ben Gadi (מְנַחֵם בֶּן גָּדִי) (son of Gadi) c. 749 – 738 Seized the throne by brutal force and became a vassal to Assyria, paying a heavy tribute to King Pul.
King Pekahiah / Pekachyah ben Menahem (פְּקַחְיָה בֶּן מְנַחֵם) (son of Menahem) c. 738 – 736 Assassinated by one of his own officers, Pekah, who then took the throne for himself.
King Pekah / Pekach ben Remalyahu (פֶּקַח בֶּן רְמַלְיָהוּ) (son of Remalyahu) c. 736 – 732 A military leader who seized the throne and allied with Aram to attack Jerusalem during the Syro-Ephraimite War.
King Hoshea / Hoshe'a ben Elah (הוֹשֵׁעַ בֶּן אֵלָה) (son of Elah) c. 732 – 722 The last king of Israel; his rebellion against Assyria led to the siege of Samaria and the exile of the ten tribes.
The Southern Kingdom of Judah (c. 931 – 586 BCE)
This kingdom was made up of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with its capital remaining in Jerusalem. The Davidic dynasty continued until the Babylonian exile.
King Rehoboam / Rechav'am ben Shlomo (רְחַבְעָם בֶּן שְׁלֹמֹה) (son of Solomon) c. 931 – 914 His harsh policies, following his father's death, caused the ten northern tribes to break away and form their own kingdom.
King Abijah (Abijam) / Aviyam ben Rechav'am (אֲבִיָּם בֶּן רְחַבְעָם) (son of Rehoboam) c. 914 – 911 Engaged in a major war against the northern kingdom of Israel, yet was strengthened by his trust in God.
King Asa / Asa ben Aviyam (אָסָא בֶּן אֲבִיָּם) (son of Abijah) c. 911 – 870 A righteous reformer who removed idols and foreign altars from the land, bringing a long period of peace to the kingdom.
King Jehoshaphat / Yehoshafat ben Asa (יְהוֹשָׁפָט בֶּן אָסָא) (son of Asa) c. 870 – 848 A righteous king who continued his father's religious reforms but controversially allied with the wicked Ahab of Israel.
King Jehoram / Yehoram ben Yehoshafat (יְהוֹרָם בֶּן יְהוֹשָׁפָט) (son of Jehoshaphat) c. 848 – 841 Married Ahab's daughter, Athaliah, and introduced Ba'al worship to Jerusalem, leading the kingdom into wickedness.
King Ahaziah / Achazyahu ben Yehoram (אֲחַזְיָהוּ בֶּן יְהוֹרָם) (son of Jehoram) 841 BCE (1 year) The young king who allied with the northern kingdom and was killed by Jehu during his purge of the house of Ahab.
King Athaliah / Atalyah bat Omri (עֲתַלְיָה בַת עָמְרִי) (son of Omri) c. 841 – 835 The mother of Ahaziah who seized the throne and tried to exterminate the royal line of David, ruling as queen for six years.
King Jehoash (Joash) / Yeho'ash ben Achazyahu (יְהוֹאָשׁ בֶּן אֲחַזְיָהוּ) (son of Ahaziah) c. 835 – 796 Saved as an infant from Athaliah's massacre, he became king at age seven and began to repair the Holy Temple.
King Amaziah / Amatzyah ben Yeho'ash (אֲמַצְיָה בֶּן יְהוֹאָשׁ) (son of Jehoash) c. 796 – 767 Defeated Edom in a great victory but was assassinated in Lachish after he turned away from following God.
King Uzziah (Azariah) / Uziyahu ben Amatzyah (עֻזִּיָּהוּ בֶּן אֲמַצְיָה) (son of Amaziah) c. 785 – 733 A powerful and successful king who became a leper after arrogantly offering incense in the Temple.
King Jotham / Yotam ben Uziyahu (יוֹתָם בֶּן עֻזִּיָּהוּ) (son of Uzziah) c. 750 – 735 A righteous king who fortified the kingdom and built the Upper Gate of the House of God.
King Ahaz / Achaz ben Yotam (אָחָז בֶּן יוֹתָם) (son of Jotham) c. 735 – 715 A wicked king who introduced foreign idols to Jerusalem and famously refused to ask for a sign from the Lord.
King Hezekiah / Chizkiyahu ben Achaz (חִזְקִיָּהוּ בֶּן אָחָז) (son of Ahaz) c. 729 – 686 A great righteous king who led a powerful religious revival and saw the Assyrian army miraculously destroyed.
King Manasseh / Menashe ben Chizkiyahu (מְנַשֶּׁה בֶּן חִזְקִיָּהוּ) (son of Hezekiah) c. 697 – 642 The most evil king of Judah, who reversed his father's reforms, built pagan altars in the Temple, and led the nation into sin.
King Amon / Amon ben Menashe (אָמוֹן בֶּן מְנַשֶּׁה) (son of Manasseh) c. 642 – 640 Continued his father's wicked practices and was assassinated in a palace conspiracy by his own servants.
King Josiah / Yoshiyahu ben Amon (יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ בֶּן אָמוֹן) (son of Amon) c. 640 – 609 A great, righteous king who initiated a powerful religious reformation after the Book of the Law was found in the Temple.
King Jehoahaz / Yeho'achaz ben Yoshiyahu (יְהוֹאָחָז בֶּן יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ) (son of Josiah) 609 BCE (3 months) A wicked king who was deposed by the Egyptian pharaoh and died a prisoner in Egypt after reigning only three months.
King Jehoiakim (Eliakim) / Yehoyakim ben Yoshiyahu (יְהוֹיָקִים בֶּן יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ) (son of Josiah) c. 609 – 598 A puppet king appointed by Egypt, who was wicked and served Babylon before his rebellion led to the first siege of Jerusalem.
King Jehoiachin / Yechonya ben Yehoyakim (יְכָנְיָה בֶּן יְהוֹיָקִים) (son of Jehoiakim) 598 – 597 BCE (3 months) Surrendered Jerusalem to the Babylonians after a short reign and was taken into exile with the leading citizens of Judah.
King Zedekiah / Tzidkiyahu ben Yoshiyahu (צִדְקִיָּהוּ בֶּן יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ) (son of Josiah) c. 597 – 586 The last king of Judah; his rebellion against Babylon led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple, ending the monarchy.
Further fact
Saul’s unusual death. The Talmud (Yevamot 78b) and Midrash Tehillim (7:3) explain that an Amalekite killed Saul, but the attribute of justice required that a king’s death come by a divine discharge of light.
Ish-bosheth’s two names. He is called “Eshbaal” in I Chronicles 8:33. The Talmud (Berachot 63b) says “Bosheth” (shame) was used because his reign brought shame to Saul’s house, as he did not avenge his father’s death.
David’s threshing floor. The spot where David saw the angel (II Samuel 24) is identified in the Talmud (Zevachim 116b) as the future site of the Altar in the Holy Temple.
Solomon’s mechanical throne. The Midrash (Esther Rabbah 1:12) describes golden lions and eagles on Solomon’s throne that moved and roared, frightening false witnesses into confessing.
Jeroboam’s golden calves. One calf was in Bethel, one in Dan. The Midrash (Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer 45) says Jeroboam himself beat the calf with a hammer and declared “These are your gods”, knowing they were lifeless.
Zimri’s seven-day reign. The Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni, Kings 1:27) records that he set the palace on fire as Omri’s army besieged him. His name became a curse: “to act like Zimri” means to bring pointless destruction.
Ahab’s blood licked by dogs. The prophecy of Elijah (I Kings 21:19) was fulfilled at the pool of Samaria, not at Naboth’s vineyard. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 39b) says even the blood of the righteous was avenged by this public humiliation.
Ahaziah of Israel’s fall. He fell through a lattice in Samaria (II Kings 1:2). The Talmud (Sukkah 26b) uses this to teach that even a king must guard his life and not stand in a dangerous high place.
Jehu’s furious chariot driving. He drove “with madness” (II Kings 9:20). The Midrash (Leviticus Rabbah 27:10) praises his speed: 60 miles in the time a camel goes 10, driven by prophetic zeal.
Hoshea ben Elah’s unique description. He is the only king of Israel of whom it is said “he did evil, but not like the kings before him” (II Kings 17:2). The Talmud (Sanhedrin 102b) says he opened the borders for pilgrims to Jerusalem, a good deed that came too late.
Athaliah the only queen . Daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. She tried to kill all of David’s seed. The Midrash (Seder Olam Rabbah 18) notes she was trampled by horses at the “Entrance of the Horse Gate”, the same gate where she had entered Jerusalem as a bride.
Uzziah’s leprosy. He entered the Temple to burn incense. The Talmud (Moed Katan 26a) says a beam of light struck his forehead, leprosy broke out instantly, and he was buried in a separate field, not inside the royal tombs.
Ahaz’s false piety. He refused a sign from Isaiah, saying “I will not test the Lord.” The Talmud (Sanhedrin 107b) calls this arrogance, not piety. He built a pagan altar and was the first king to abolish the Sabbath publicly.
Hezekiah’s sundial miracle. The shadow went back ten degrees (II Kings 20:11). The Talmud (Berachot 10b) says God wanted Hezekiah to be the Mashiach, but he did not sing thanks until after the miracle.
Manasseh’s repentance. He was taken in chains to Babylon (II Chronicles 33:11). The Talmud (Sanhedrin 103a) says he sat in a bronze furnace with a hook in his mouth, yet when he repented, God accepted his prayer, proving repentance can save even the most wicked.
Josiah’s death at Megiddo. He fought Pharaoh Necho against Jeremiah’s warning. The Talmud (Ta’anit 22b) says his death led directly to the destruction of the First Temple, because after him no truly righteous king ruled.
Zedekiah’s blinded eyes . The Babylonians killed his sons before him, then put out his eyes (II Kings 25:7). The Talmud (Gittin 56b) explains: “He saw his sons slaughtered, and then his eyes were blinded so that their deaths would be the last image in his mind.”
© Sami Bsoul, 2020