Israel's
Kings
Israel’s King Jeroboam makes two golden calves, placing one at Dan and one at Bethel. / Image from painting at the British Museum, asset number 1262280001.
The Kingdom of Israel
After the death of King Solomon, the United Kingdom was torn apart. Ten tribes of Israel revolted and made up the Kingdom of Israel in the North; Tribes of Judah and Benjamin became the Kingdom of Judah in the South.
Kings would rule over Israel 209 years; Rule over Judah 345 years.
(Note: In the information below, a brief history by various historians is given, and followed by this writer’s summary from The Old Testament.)
Jeroboam
Reign: Jeroboam, first king of Israel, reigned 22 years, B.C. 931-910 B.C.
Biblical Record: 1 Kings 12, 14; 2 Chronicles 10-12
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/rehoboam
SOME HISTORY
Jeroboam was the son of a widow of Zereda (a town in Mount Ephraim), and while still young was promoted by Solomon to be chief superintendent of the bands of forced laborers.
Influenced by the words of the prophet Ahijah, he began to form conspiracies with the view of becoming king of the 10 tribes. When discovered, he fled to Egypt (1 Kings 11:29-40), where he remained for a time under the protection of Shishak I.
On the death of Solomon, the 10 tribes, having revolted, sought him to become their king. The conduct of Rehoboam favored the designs of Jeroboam, and he was proclaimed “king of Israel” (1 Kings 12:1-20). He rebuilt and fortified Shechem as the capital of his kingdom.
He at once adopted means to perpetuate the division made between the two parts of the kingdom, and erected at Dan and Bethel, the two extremities of his kingdom, “golden calves,” which he set up as symbols of Jehovah, enjoining the people not any more to go up to worship at Jerusalem, but to bring their offerings to the shrines he had erected. Thus he became distinguished as the man “who made Israel to sin.” This policy was followed by all the succeeding kings of Israel.
While he was offering incense at Bethel, a prophet from Judah appeared before him with a warning message from the Lord. Attempting to arrest the prophet for his bold words of defiance, his hand was “dried up,” and the altar before which he stood was rent asunder. At his urgent entreaty to the prophet his “hand was restored him again” (1 Kings 13:1-6, 9; comp. 2 Kings 23:15); but the miracle made no abiding impression on him. His reign was one of constant war with the house of Judah. He died soon after his son Abijah (1 Kings 14:1-18).
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/jeroboam
From The Old Testament
Jeroboam was made first king of Israel when the 10 tribes of Israel — Reuben, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim and Manasseh — refused to follow king Solomon’s son Rehoboam, thus dividing the once united kingdom of Israel. Rehoboam remained king over Judah, home to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
In all their days, there was war between King Rehoboam of Judah, and King Jeroboam of Israel. (1 Kings 14:30)
Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and he built Penuel. He made two calves of gold, and set one in Bethel, and the other in Dan. This, he did so that the people of Israel would not go to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem (in Judah) to do sacrifice.
“It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem,” he said to the people, “behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” –1 Kings 12:28
Jeroboam also made a house of high places, and appointed priests who were not of the sons of Levi. He ordained a feast, and sacrificed to the golden calves he had made.
As Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense, a man of God who came from Judah, cried out:
“O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.” –1 Kings 13:2
The man also said the altar would be rent, and the ashes poured out.
King Jeroboam, who was at the altar burning incense, reached out his hand against the man, and the king’s hand dried up. The altar was rent, and ashes spilled.
The king then asked the man to pray that his hand be restored. The man of God besought the Lord, and Jeroboam’s hand was restored.
The king invited the man of God to his house, where he would be refreshed and rewarded.
“And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.” –1 Kings 13:8-9
The man of God went to Bethel. An old prophet lived there. The old prophet’s sons told him of the works the man of God had done, and the words he had spoken to the king. The father had his sons saddle an ass, and went after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak, and invited him to his house to eat bread.
The man of God said he could not, for the Lord had said he should eat no bread nor drink water there.
But the old man said, “I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.” –1 Kings 13:18
The man of God went back; he ate bread and drank water in the man’s house. As they sat at the table, the word of the Lord came to the old prophet.
“And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee, But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.” –1 Kings 13:21-22
When the man left, he was met by a lion. The lion killed him, and the lion and the ass stood by the man’s dead body.
Men came by and saw the carcase and the lion, and they told of what they had seen in the city where the old prophet dwelt.
The old prophet saddled an ass, and he went and found the carcase, and the lion, and the ass that had not been harmed by the lion. The old prophet laid the carcase of the man of God upon the ass, and brought it to his house. He laid the carcase in his own grave, and they mourned over him.
The old prophet told his sons: “When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones: For the saying which he cried by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.” –1 Kings 13:31-32
King Jeroboam continued his evil way. He made himself one of the priests of the high places.
“And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.” –1 Kings 13:34
Abijah, Son of Jeroboam
King Jeroboam’s son Abijah became sick, and the king had his wife disguise herself, and go to the prophet Ahijah, who had told Jeroboam he would be king. The prophet, Jeroboam said, would tell what would become of the child.
His wife took bread and honey, and went to the house of Ahijah in Shiloh. Ahijah could not see because of his age. The Lord told Ahijah of her coming, and that she was the wife of Jeroboam, but feigned to be another woman. So when Ahijah heard her at his door, he said: “Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings.” –1 Kings 14:6
Jeroboam’s wife was to tell her husband that because of the evil he had done, evil would be done to him. The Lord would take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, “as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.” –1 Kings 14:10
The prophet told the woman to go to her own house, and when her feet entered the city, her child would die.
“And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.” –1 Kings 14:13
The prophet also said, “For the Lord shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the Lord to anger.
“And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.” –1 Kings 14:15-16
When Jeroboam’s wife came to the threshold of the door, the child died;
All Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the Lord.
Jeroboam reigned 22 years: and he slept with his fathers. Nadab his son reigned in his stead.
Second Chronicles Chapter 13 records one of the battles between Israel and Judah. Abijah then was king of Judah, and there was war with Jeroboam.
Abijah had an army of 400,000; Jeroboam had 800,000.
Abijah stood upon mount Zemaraim, and called to Jeroboam, and all Israel. He spoke of the Lord who gave the kingdom to David forever. He spoke of Jeroboam’s rebellion.
“And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.
“Have ye not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.
“But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the Lord, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business: And they burn unto the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the Lord our God; but ye have forsaken him.
“And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the Lord God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.” –2 Chronicles 13:8-12
But Jeroboam had planned an ambush. His men were in front and behind the army of Judah. Abijah’s men cried unto the Lord; the priests sounded trumpets.
“Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand. And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
“Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers.” –2 Chronicles 13:15-18
Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him.
Jeroboam did not recover strength in the days of Abijah: and the Lord struck him, and he died.
Note: The King James Bible is mostly used in quotes for these writings. When other versions are quoted, the version is given.
Nadab
Reign: Nadab, second king of Israel, son of Jeroboam, reigned two years, B.C. 955-953
Biblical Record: 1 Kings 15
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/nadab
SOME HISTORY
While engaged with Israel in laying siege to Gibbethon, a town of southern Dan (Joshua 19:44), a conspiracy broke out in his army, and Nadab was slain by Baasha (1 Kings 15:25-28). The assassination of Nadab was followed by that of his whole house, and thus this great Ephraimite family became extinct (1 Kings 15:29).
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/nadab
From The Old Testament
Nadab reigned over Israel for two years after the death of his father Jeroboam.
“And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.” –1 Kings 15:26
Baasha, the son of Ahijah, conspired against him. And when Nadab laid siege to Gibbethon, a territory of the Philistines, Baasha smote him, and killed him.
And Baasha reigned over Israel.
Note: This writer could find no reference to Nadab’s burial in the Old Testament. First Kings 14:10 and 11 says that the Lord “… will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the Lord hath spoken it.
Baasha
Reign: Baasha, third king of Israel, reigned 24 years, 909-886 B.C.
Biblical Record: 1 Kings 16
Source: Biblicalcyclopedia https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/B/baasha.html
SOME HISTORY
Baasha was son of Ahijah, of the tribe of Issachar, and perhaps commander of the forces of the northern kingdom; he conspired against King Nadab, son of Jeroboam, when he was besieging the Philistine town of Gibbethon, and, having killed him, proceeded to extirpate his entire circle of relatives. He appears to have been of humble origin, as the Prophet Jehu speaks of him as having been “exalted out of the dust” (1Kings 16:2). In matters of religion his reign was no improvement on that of Jeroboam; he equally forgot his position as king of the nation of God’s election, and was chiefly remarkable for his persevering hostility to Judah.
It was probably in the 23rd year of his reign that he made war on its king, Asa, and began to fortify Ramah as a barrier against it. He was compelled to desist, however, being defeated by the unexpected alliance of Asa with Benhadad I of Damascus, who had previously been friendly to Baasha. Benhadad took several towns in the north of Israel, and conquered lands belonging to it near the sources of Jordan (1Kings 15:18).
Baasha died in the 24th year of his reign, and was honorably buried in the city of Tirzah, which he had made his capital (1Kings 15:33).
For his idolatries, the Prophet Jehu declared to him the determination of God to exterminate his family likewise, which was accomplished in the days of his son Elah (q.v.) by Zimri (1Kings 16:10-13).
Source: Biblicalcyclopedia https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/B/baasha.html
From The Old Testament
Baasha put himself on the throne of Israel after slaying king Nadab in battle. He made war against Asa, king of Judah.
He built Ramah.
King Asa of Judah sent silver and gold to Benhadad, king of Syria. This was done so that Benhadad would join him against Baasha.
Benhadad sent armies against the cities of Israel. He attacked Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
“And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah (1 Kings 15:21).”
Baasha murdered all that were left of the house of Jeroboam, Israel’s first king and father of king Nadab, whom he had murdered to make himself king.
Thus the words of the Lord regarding Jeroboam were fulfilled:
“Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger.
“And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days (1 Kings 15:32).”
Baasha reigned over all Israel 24 years.
“And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin (1 Kings 15:34).”
The prophet Jehu spoke these words of the Lord against Baasha:
“Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
“Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat (1 Kings 16:2-4).”
Baasha died, and was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah reigned over Israel.
Elah
Reign: Elah, fourth king of Israel, son of Baasha, reigned two years, 886-885 B.C.
Biblical Record: 1 Kings 16
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://www.kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/Elah
SOME HISTORY
Elah, king of Israel, was killed while drunk by Zimri, one of the captains of his chariots, and was the last king of the line of Baasha. Thus was fullfilled the prophecy of Jehu (6, 7, 11-14).
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://www.kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/Elah
From The Old Testament
Elah, the son of Baasha, reigned two years over Israel.
“And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.” –1 Kings 16:9-10
Zimri
Reign: Zimri, fifth king of Israel, reigned seven days, 885 B.C.
Biblical Record: 1 Kings 16
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/zimri
SOME HISTORY
Zimri murdered Elah at Tirzah, and succeeded him on the throne of Israel (1 Kings 16:8-10). He reigned only seven days, for Omri, whom the army elected as king, laid siege to Tirzah, whereupon Zimri set fire to the palace and perished amid its ruins (11-20). Omri succeeded to the throne only after four years of fierce war with Tibni, another claimant to the throne.
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/zimri
From The Old Testament
Zimri took the throne of Israel after murdering Elah, the drunkard son of Baasha. And Zimri slew all the house of Baasha.
“Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.” –1 Kings 16:12-13
Now Zimri reigned only seven days, for when the people encamped against Gibbethon, heard that Zimri had conspired, and had slain king Elah, all Israel made Omri, captain of the host, king over Israel.
When Zimri saw the city was taken, he went to the palace and burned the palace over him.
He died.
He died “For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.” –1 Kings 16:19
Omri
Reign: Omri, sixth king of Israel reigned 12 years, 885-874 B.C.
Biblical Record: 1 Kings 16
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/omri
SOME HISTORY
When Elah was murdered by Zimri at Tirzah (1 Kings 16:15-27), Omri, his captain, was made king (B.C. 931). For four years there was continued opposition to his reign, Tibni, another claimant to the throne, leading the opposing party; but at the close of that period all his rivals were defeated, and he became king of Israel.
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/omri
From The Old Testament
Omri faced opposition. Israel was divided. Half the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, and wanted him king. The other half followed Omri.
Omri’s followers prevailed. Tibni died, and Omri reigned 12 years.
He bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built a city on the hill. And he named the city Samaria.
“But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him. For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.” –1 Kings 16:25-26
Omri died, and was buried in Samaria. Ahab his son reigned in his stead. (1 Kings 16:28)
Ahab
Reign: Ahab, seventh king of Israel, reigned 23 years, 874-853 B.C.
Biblical Record: 1 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 18
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/ahab
SOME HISTORY
Ahab was the son of Omri, whom he succeeded as the seventh king of Israel.
His wife was Jezebel, who exercised a very evil influence over him. To the calf-worship introduced by Jeroboam he added the worship of Baal. He was severely admonished by Elijah for his wickedness. His anger was on this account kindled against the prophet, and he sought to kill him.
He undertook three campaigns against Ben-hadad II, king of Damascus. In the first two, which were defensive, he gained a complete victory over Ben-hadad, who fell into his hands, and was afterwards released on the condition of his restoring all the cities of Israel he then held, and granting certain other concessions to Ahab.
After three years of peace, for some cause Ahab renewed war (1 Kings 22:3) with Ben-hadad by assaulting the city of Ramoth-gilead, although the prophet Micaiah warned him that he would not succeed, and that the 400 false prophets who encouraged him were only leading him to his ruin. Micaiah was imprisoned for thus venturing to dissuade Ahab from his purpose. Ahab went into the battle disguised, that he might if possible escape the notice of his enemies; but an arrow from a bow pierced him, and though he stayed up in his chariot for a time he died towards evening, and Elijah’s prophecy (1 Kings 21:19) was fulfilled. He reigned 23 years.
Because of his idolatry, lust, and covetousness, Ahab is referred to as pre-eminently the type of a wicked king (2 Kings 8:18; 2 Chronicles 22:3; Micah 6:16).
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/ahab
From The Old Testament
Ahab began his reign of Israel when Asa king of Judah was in the 38th year of reign. Ahab ruled Israel for 22 years.
Ahab’s wife Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians worshipped Baal. Ahab built a house for Baal in Israel’s capital city Samaria. He also build an altar for Baal, and a grove for Baal. And Ahab worshipped Baal.
“And Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. — 1 Kings 16:33
The prophet Elijah warned Ahab of a three-year drought to come, and then the Lord told Elijah to hide by the brook Cherith. The Lord kept Elijah safe.
In the third year of Elijah’s hiding, the Lord told him to go to Ahab in Samaria.
There was famine in the land, and king Ahab had called upon Obadiah, governor of his house, to go with him to search for water, so that the horses and mules could be kept alive.
Obadiah feared the Lord, and when Jezebel refused to allow bread and water for the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah had hid them and fed them. Because he did this, he was fearful of Ahab and Jezebel.
When Ahab and Obadiah left to look for water, they divided the land to be searched between them.
Elijah met Obadiah, and told Obadiah he should go to Ahab and tell him Elijah was here to see him, Obadiah was in fear.
“As the Lord thy God liveth,” said Obadiah, ”there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.” –1 Kings 16:10-11
Elijah assured Obadiah that he would show himself to king Ahab. So Obadiah went to Ahab and told him of Elijah, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
When the two met, Ahab asked, “Art thou he that troubleth Israel.” –1 Kings 16:17
Elijah answered: “I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.” –1 Kings 16:18
Elijah told Ahab to gather “all Israel” to mount Carmel, and also have present the 450 prophets of Baal, and the 400 prophets of the groves who “eat at Jezebel’s table.”
And when they were assembled, Elijah showed them the power of God. Elijah set up a sacrifice to the Lord, and had Jezebel’s prophets set up a sacrifice to Baal. Fire took the bullock sacrifice to the Lord, but despite all the efforts of the prophets of Baal, there was no fire for the altar of Baal.
So the people were shown the power of the Lord. They fell on their faces. And the people slew the prophets of Baal by the brook Kishon.
Elijah told Ahab to eat and drink, and there was the sound of abundant rain.
Then, Elijah went to the top of mount Carmel. He had his servant look seven times toward the sea, and said, “Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.” –1 Kings 18:44
And with the heaven black with clouds, with wind and great rain, Ahab rode his chariot to Jezreel.
Elijah, with the hand of God upon him, ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Ahab told Jezebel about Elijah and the slain prophets, and Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah: Under oath to her gods, she vowed, she would kill Elijah.
Elijah again fled.
The Lord told Elijah, that on his way to the wilderness of Damascus, he was to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, and anoint Jehu to be king over Israel. He also was to anoint Elisha as prophet.
“And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” –1 Kings 19:17-18
Then, Benhadad, king of Syria, gathered his forces together and besieged Samaria. Thirty-two kings joined him in the war.
He sent word to Ahab and claimed for his own all that Ahab had — his silver and gold, his wives and children.
After an exchange of messages, Benhadad sent another:
“I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.” –1 Kings 20:6
Ahab consulted the elders and the people, and the elders and the people said he should not listen, nor consent to Benhadad.
After an exchange of more messages, Benhadad sent a boastful reply, “The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.” –1 Kings 20:10
Ahab anwered, “Tell him, let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.” –1 Kings 20:11
Now Benhadad was drinking when he heard this. And he ordered his people in array against the city.
A prophet came to Ahab with the words: “Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.” –1 Kings 20:13
Ahab numbered the young men; there were 232; he numbered the people, including the children, and there were 7,000.
They went out at noon. Benhadad was drinking himself drunk, he and the 32 kings who helped him.
When Benhadad learned the men had come out of Samaria, he ordered that they be taken alive.
“So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.
“And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.
“And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.” –1 Kings 20:19-21
The prophet went to Ahab, saying he should strengthen himself, because the king of Syria would return.
And Benhadad came again to fight against Israel.
“And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” –1 Kings 20:28
The battle lasted seven days, and Israel slew 100,000 Syrian footmen on the seventh day. The rest of the Syrian army fled to Aphek, where a wall fell upon 27,000 of the men that were left. Benhadad fled. His servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.” –1 Kings 20:31
And this, they did. Ahab called for Benhadad to be brought before him. Benhadad said he would give back the cities his father had taken from Ahab’s father, and streets would be made for Ahab in Damascus, as his father had made in Samaria. The two kings made a covenant, and Benhadad was sent away.
A prophet, who disguised himself with ashes upon his face waited for king Ahab, and as the king passed by, he cried to him, “Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver. And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.
“And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
“And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.”–1 Kings 20:39-43
Ahab Covets Vineyard
Now, King Ahab desired a vineyard in Jezreel. The vineyard belonged to Naboth, a Jezreelite. Ahab told Naboth to give him the vineyard, as it was near his house, and he desired to make it a garden of herbs. He told Naboth he would give him another vineyard in another place, or he would pay him money for Naboth’s vineyard in Jezreel.
Naboth said it was forbidden by the Lord for him to give up the inheritance of his fathers.
Ahab went to his house displeased. He went to his bed, and he would eat no bread. Jezebel asked why he was sad of spirit, and why would he not eat bread?
Ahab told her of his desire for Naboth’s vineyard, and Naboth’s refusal to trade or sell.
Jezebel told him to arise, eat bread, and let his heart by merry. She would get him the vineyard. She wrote letters in Ahab’s name. She had a fast proclaimed, and ordered that Naboth be set high among the people. Then she had two men witness against him, saying he had blasphemed God and king. Then, she ordered that he be stoned to death.
And Jezebel’s orders were carried out.
When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he took possession of Naboth’s vineyard.
The Lord sent Elijah to Ahab with the message: “Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?
“And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.” –1 Kings 21:19
The Lord said He would make Ahab’s house like the house of Jeroboam, and the house of Baasha.
“And of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.
“Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.
“But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.” –1 Kings 21:23-25
Ahab Humbles Himself
When Ahab heard those words, he rent his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted.
And the Lord said to Elijah, because Ahab humbleth himself, “the evil” would not come in Ahab’s days, but in his son’s days.
For three years there was no war between Syria and Israel. In the third year, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, came to Ahab. And Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to join him in battle at Ramothgilead. Jehoshaphat asked that Ahab enquire of the Lord. Ahab gathered some 400 prophets, and asked if he should battle against Ramothgilead. The prophets said he should go, and the Lord would deliver Ramothgilead into his hand.
Jehoshaphat wanted an enquiry made to a prophet of the Lord. Ahab spoke of the Lord’s prophet Micaiah, but Ahab said he hated him because he did not prophesy good concerning him.
Ahab did, however, send for Micaiah. And Micaiah said, “I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.” –1 Kings 22:17
Ahab and Jehoshaphat continued to seek answers from prophets, and then they went to Ramothgilead.
Death of Ahab
Ahab disguised himself and went into battle. The Syrian king ordered his captains to fight against Ahab. At first they mistook Jehoshaphat for Ahab, for Jehoshaphat was in his kingly robe, and Ahab was in disguise. When they saw they were not fighting Ahab, they turned back. And a “certain man” drew a bow, and struck Ahab. The king of Israel told his driver he was wounded.
The battle increased; Ahab stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, but when evening came, he died. His blood ran out of the wound into the chariot.
Ahab’s body was brought to Samaria, and buried there.
And when Ahab’s chariot was washed, the dogs licked up his blood.
Ahab’s son Ahaziah was now king of Israel.
(The battle at Ramothgilead is also recorded in 1 Chronicles 18.)
Ahaziah
Reign: Ahaziah, eighth king of Israel reigned two years, 853-852 B.C.
Biblical Record: 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 1
Source: Biblicalcyclopedia https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/A/ahaziah.html
SOME HISTORY
Ahaziah was the son and successor of Ahab. He reigned two years (current, B.C. 895-4). Under the influence of his mother, Jezebel, Ahaziah pursued the evil courses of his father. The most signal public event of his reign was the revolt of the vassal king of the Moabites, who took the opportunity of the defeat and death of Ahab to discontinue the tribute which he had paid to the Israelites, consisting of 100,000 lambs and as many rams, with, their wool (comp. Isaiah 16:1).
The difficulty of enforcing this tribute was enhanced by the fact that after the battle of Ramoth in Gilead, the Syrians had the command of the country along the east of Jordan, and they cut off all communication between the Israelites and Moabites.
Ahaziah became a party in the attempt of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to revive the maritime traffic by the Red Sea, in consequence of which the enterprise was blasted, and came to nothing (2Ch 20:35-37). Soon after, Ahaziah, having been injured by a fall from the roof-gallery of his palace, consulted the oracle of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, respecting his recovery. But the messengers were met and sent back by Elijah, who announced to the king that he should rise no more from the bed on which he lay (1Kings 22:51, to 2Kings 1:18).
Source: Biblicalcyclopedia https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/A/ahaziah.html
From The Old Testament
Ahaziah, son of Ahab and Jezebel, reigned over Israel for two years.
“And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin: For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the Lord God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.” –1 Kings 22:52-53
Both 1 Kings 22, and 2 Chronicles tell of a shipping venture between Israel’s king Ahaziah, and Judah’s king Jehoshaphat.
In 1 Kings 22:48-49 it is recorded: “Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.”
“Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.”
Second Chronicles 20:35-37 says: “And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.
“Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
King Johoshaphat of Judah died, and Jehoram his son reigned.
Ahaziah Injured in Fall
Ahaziah, in his brief reign, was faced with rebellion by Moab.
When he fell through a lattice in his upper chamber, he suffered sickness. He sent messengers to ask Baalzebub, god of Ekron, if he would recover.
The angel of the Lord told the prophet Elijah to meet Ahaziah’s messengers and say to them: “Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
Now therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
“And Elijah departed.” –2 Kings 1:3-6
The messengers returned to the king who asked why they came back.
They delivered the message they had been given.
King Ahaziah asked about the man with the message.
“And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins.
And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.” –2 Kings 1:9
Ahaziah sent a captain with 50 men. Elijah sat on top of a hill. The captain told Elijah the king had ordered that he come down.
Elijah answered the captain: “If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.” –2 Kings 1:10
Ahaziah sent another fifty. Again, the Lord caused fire to come down.
A third fifty was sent. This time the captain fell on his knees, and said to Elijah, “O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.” –2 Kings 1:13
And the angel of the Lord told Elijah to go down. Elijah went with the captain who took him to the king.
And Elijah said to king Ahaziah, “Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.” –2 Kings 1:16
So king Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord. And his brother Jehoram, son of Ahab, reigned in his stead.
Jehoram / Joram
Reign: Jehoram/Joram: Ninth king of Israel. He reigned 12 years.
Biblical Record: 2 Kings 8:16, 8:25-28
Source: Bible History https://bible-history.com/links/jehoram
SOME HISTORY
Jehoram/Joram was the son of Ahab and Jezebel. According to 2 Kings 8:16, in the fifth year of Joram of Israel, (another) Jehoram became king of Judah, when his father Jehoshaphat was (still) king of Judah, indicating a co-regency. The author of Kings also speaks of both Jehoram of Israel and Jehoram of Judah in the same passage, which can be confusing. Jehoram began to reign in Israel in the 18th year of Jehoshaphat of Judah, and reigned 12 years (2 Kings 3:1). William F. Albright has dated his reign to 849 BC-842 BC, while E. R. Thiele offers the dates 852 BC-841 BC.
His final known act was when he, aided by his nephew Ahaziah, king of Judah, fought unsuccessfully against the army of Hazael, king of the Arameans at Ramoth-Gilead, where Jehoram was wounded. It is likely that their defeat at Ramoth-Gilead was serious, for while Jehoram was recuperating at Jezreel, his general Jehu incited a revolt, slew Jehoram, and took the throne of Israel for himself. The author of the Tel Dan Stele (found in 1993 and 1994 during archaeological excavations of the site of Laish) claimed to have slain both Ahaziah of Judah (who was visiting Jehoram) and Jehoram. The most likely author of this monument is Hazael of the Arameans. Although the inscription is a contemporary witness of this period, kings of this period were inclined to boast and make exaggerated claims; so it is not likely that Hazael actually did the killing.
Source: Bible History https://bible-history.com/links/jehoram
From The Old Testament
Jehoram, also called Joram, was the son of Ahab and Jezebel. He reigned over Israel 12 years. He was the ninth king of Israel, and he shared the same name as the seventh king of Judah.
In 2 Kings 8:16-18: it is recorded:
“And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign. Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”
Of Jehoram, king of Israel, it is written:
“And he wrought evil in the sight of the Lord; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.” –2 Kings 3:2-3
Moab Rebells
Jehoram faced rebellion from king Mesha of Moab, who had been giving the king of Israel tribute of 100,000 lambs, and 100,000 rams. After king Ahab died, he rebelled. So King Jehoram numbered Israel, and sought alliance with Judah’s king Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat agreed to join Israel in battle against Moab. The two kings decided to go through the wilderness of Edom, and the king of Edom joined them. However, they found themselves without water for the men, and the cattle that followed them.
“And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” –2 Kings 3:10
King Jehoshaphat asked if there was a prophet of the Lord with whom they could enquire. One of his servants told him of the prophet Elisha. The three kings went to Elisha.
“And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother.
“And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
“And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.
And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
“And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.” –2 Kings 3:13-19
And in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, there was water.
When the Moabites heard the kings had come to fight against them, they put on armor, and stood in the border.
In early morning, the sun shone on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood. They assumed the kings had fought one another and had been killed. They went for spoil.
When they came into the camp, the Israelites rose up against them, and the Moabites fled back to their country.
The Israelites and allies pursued them.
“And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.
“And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not. Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.” –2 Kings 3:25-27
Jehoram Wounded
In Joram’s twelfth year of reign, he and Ahaziah, king of Judah, went to war against Hazael, king of Syria. In the battle of Ramothgilead, Joram was wounded (See 2 Kings 8).
Now, God had the prophet Elisha send one of the children of the prophets to anoint Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel. And these words of the Lord were said to Jehu:
“Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel. And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel: And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah: And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her.
“And he opened the door, and fled.” –2 Kings 9:6-10
So Jehu conspired against Joram who had returned to Jezreel so he could heal from wounds he received when he fought with king Hazel of Syria. King Ahaziah of Judah had come to see Joram. When the two kings learned that Jehu was coming, they went to meet him, desiring to know if Jehu came in peace.
Each king was in his own chariot. When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is it peace, Jehu?” Jehu answered, “What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?” –2 Kings 9:22
Joram fled, saying to Ahaziah, “There is treahery, O Ahaziah.”
Jehu drew his bow, and his arrow struck Jehoram’s heart, and Jehoram sunk down in his chariot.
Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, “Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the Lord laid this burden upon him; Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the Lord; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the Lord. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the Lord.” –2 Kings 9:25-26
Jehu then went after Ahaziah who had fled. He ordered his men to “smite” Ahaziah in his chariot, and they did so. Ahaziah died, and was taken to Jerusalem, and buried in the city of David.
Jehu became king of Israel.
Jehu
Reign: Jehu, 10th king of Israel reigned 28 years, 841-814 B.C.
Biblical Record: 2 Kings 9-10
Source: Britannica https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jehu
SOME HISTORY
Jehu was a commander of chariots for the king of Israel, Ahab, and his son Jehoram, on Israel’s frontier facing Damascus and Assyria. Ahab, son of King Omri, was eventually killed in a war with Assyria; during Jehoram’s rule, Jehu accepted the invitation of the prophet Elisha, Elijah’s successor, to lead a coup to overthrow the dynasty of Omri (II Kings 9–10). The prophetic party, headed by Elisha, was an old adversary of the royal house, as shown by the stories of Ahab and Elijah (I Kings 17–19). King Omri had built Samaria, and, thanks to an alliance with the Phoenicians, he and Ahab had brought the northern kingdom to the peak of its economic, political, and military strength. These advances came, however, at a price of religious syncretism and socioeconomic polarization the prophets considered fatal for the community’s religious and human future.
Jehu’s revolt, which extinguished the dynasty of Omri (including Jehoram and Ahab’s wife, Jezebel), took place at a time when the dynasty was already in decline. The narrator in II Kings is clearly in favour of Jehu; his enthusiastic recital of the gruesome details of Jezebel’s death (9:30–37) mirror the élan of a holy war. Within a century the prophet Hosea would cite the bloodbath in Jezreel, capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, as reason for the imminent end of the kingdom (1:4–5). Jehu’s success ended the Phoenician alliance, and the spirit of fanaticism made its renewal impossible. Israel alone was no match for the incursions of Shalmeneser III, king of Assyria, who moved westward in 841 BC, investing Damascus and exacting tribute both from Jezebel’s city of Sidon and from Jehu.
Source: Britannica https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jehu
From The Old Testament
Jehu was anointed king of Israel by word of God, and God anointed him to destroy the house of Ahab. After killing king Jehoram, Jehu went to Jezreel, and there Jezebel had painted her face, and adorned her head.
She was looking out a window when Jehu entered the gate and lifted his face to the window. There were two or three eunuchs there, and Jehu told them to “Throw her down.” They threw her down, and some of her blood sprinkled the wall and the horses.
Jehu trode her under foot. After he came inside, and after he ate and drank, he ordered that she be buried. When they went to bury her “they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands (2 Kings 9:35).” When they told this to Jehu, he said: “This is the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.” –2 Kings 9:36-37
Ahab’s Sons Slain
Jehu then wrote letters to the elders and rulers who brought up Ahab’s 70 sons. He said they should choose the best among Ahab’s sons to be made king. But they were afraid of Jehu, and promised to do his bidding.
He then wrote letters saying, “If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time.
Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up. And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jezreel. And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king’s sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning. And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these? Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the Lord, which the Lord spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the Lord hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah. So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.” –2 Kings 10:6-11
Jehu, on his way to Samaria, met the brothers of king Ahaziah of Judah. He ordered them taken alive, and then had them killed at the pit of the shearing house where he met them. He left none of the 42 men alive. And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained of Ahab. And this was according to the words of the Lord that were spoken to Elijah.
Baal Worshippers Slain
Jehu then gathered the people together, and said to them: “Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much. Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
“And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another. And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the Lord, but the worshippers of Baal only. And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.
“And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.
“Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.” –2 Kings 10:18-28
Jehu Keeps Golden Calf Idols
Jehu did not, however, turn aside from all the ways of Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin. The golden calves in Bethel and Dan remained.
And the Lord said to Jehu, “Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” –2 Kings 10:30
Jehu continued in the ways of Jeroboam.
And God began to cut Israel short.
Hazael attacked the coasts of Israel.
Jehu died and was buried in Samaria.
Jehoahaz his son reigned over Israel.
Jehu’s Record in Chronicles
Second Chronicles 22:7-9, records of Jehu:
“And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
“And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.
“And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria), and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.
Jehoahaz
Reign: Jehoahaz, 11th king of Israel, reigned 17 years, 814-798 B.C.
Biblical Record: 2 Kings 13
Source: International Standard Bible https://www.internationalstandardbible.com/J/jehoahaz.html
SOME HISTORY
Jehoahaz was the son of Jehu. When he came to the throne, he found a discouraged and humiliated people. The territory beyond Jordan, embracing 2 1/2 tribes, or one-fourth of the whole kingdom, had been lost in warfare with the Syrian king, Hazael (2Kings 10:32-33). A heavy annual subsidy was still payable to Assyria, as by his father Jehu. The neighboring kingdom of Judah was still unfriendly to any member of the house of Jehu. Elisha the prophet, though then in the zenith of his influence, does not seem to have done anything toward the stability of Jehu’s throne.
Israel suffered during this reign because of the hostility of Damascus (2Kings 13:3-4,22). Hazael had been selected, together with Jehu, as the instrument by which the idolatry of Israel was to be punished (1Kings 19:16). Later the instruments of vengeance fell out. On Jehu’s death, the pressure from the east on Hazael was greatly relieved. The great conqueror, Shalmaneser II, had died, and his son Samsi-Ramman IV had to meet a revolt within the empire, and was busy with expeditions against Babylon and Media during the 12 years of his reign (824-812 BC). During these years, the kingdoms of the seaboard of the Mediterranean were unmolested. They coincide with the years of Jehoahaz, and explain the freedom which Hazael had to harass the dominions of that king.
Elisha Episodes: Details of the several campaigns in which the troops of Damascus harassed Israel are not given. The life of Elisha extended through the 3 reigns of Jehoram (12 years), Jehu (28 years) and Jehoahaz (12 or 13 years), into the reign of Joash (2Kings 13:1). It is therefore probable that in the memorabilia of his life in 2Kings 4:1-44 through 2Kings 8:1-29, now one and now another king of Israel should figure, and that some of the episodes there recorded belong to the reign of Jehoahaz. There are evidences that strict chronological order is not observed in the narrative of Elisha, e.g. Gehazi appears in waiting on the king of Israel in 2Kings 8:5, after the account of his leprosy in 2Kings 5:27. The terrible siege of Samaria in 2Kings 7:1-20 is generally referred to the reign of Jehoram; but no atmosphere is so suitable to it as that of the reign of Jehoahaz, in one of the later years of whom it may have occurred. The statement in 2Kings 13:7 that “the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing,” and the statistics there given of the depleted army of Jehoahaz, would correspond with the state of things that siege implies. In this case the Ben-hadad of 2Kings 6:24 would be the son of Hazael (2Kings 13:3).
Idolatry: Jehoahaz, like his father, maintained the calf-worship in Bethel and Dan, and revived also the cult of the Asherah, a form of Canaanitish idolatry introduced by Ahab (1Kings 16:33). It centered round a sacred tree or pole, and was probably connected with phallic worship (compare 1Kings 15:13, where Maacah, mother of Asa, is said to have “made an abominable image for an Asherah” in Jerusalem).
Partial Reform: The close of this dark reign, however, is brightened by a partial reform. In his distress, we are told, “Jehoahaz besought Yahweh, and Yahweh hearkened unto him” (2Kings 13:4). If the siege of Samaria in 2Kings 6:1-33 belongs to his reign, we might connect this with his wearing “sackcloth within upon his flesh” (2Kings 6:30)–an act of humiliation only accidentally discovered by the rending of his garments. 2Kings 6:5 goes on to say that “Yahweh gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians.” The “saviour” may refer to Joash, under whom the deliverance began (2Kings 13:25), or to Jeroboam II, of whom it is declared that by him God “saved” Israel (2Kings 14:27). Others take it to refer to Ramman-nirari III, king of Assyria, whose conquest of Damascus made possible the victories of these kings.
Source: International Standard Bible https://www.internationalstandardbible.com/J/jehoahaz.html
From The Old Testament
Jehoahaz began his reign over Israel at the time Joash son of Ahaziah was in his 23rd year on the throne of Judah.
“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days.” –2 Kings 13:2-3
Jehoahaz sought the Lord, and the Lord listened. The Lord gave Israel a saviour; and the Syrians no longer controlled Israel. The children of Israel dwelled in their tents as before.
Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.” –2 Kings 13:6
Most of Israel’s fighting force had been destroyed by the king of Syria, and only 50 horsemen, ten chariots, and 10,000 footmen remained.
Jehoahaz died, and was buried in Samaria; his son Joash began his reign
Jehoash
Reign: Jehoash was 12th king of Israel, and reigned 16 years, 798-782 B.C. He also was called Joash
Biblical Record: 2 Kings 13-14
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/jehoash
SOME HISTORY
The son and successor of Jehoahaz, king of Israel (2 Kings 14:1; compare 12:1; 13:10). When he ascended the throne the kingdom was suffering from the invasion of the Syrians. Hazael “was cutting Israel short.” He tolerated the worship of the golden calves, yet seems to have manifested a character of sincere devotion to the God of his fathers. He held the prophet Elisha in honour, and wept by his bedside when he was dying, addressing him in the words Elisha himself had used when Elijah was carried up into heaven — “O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof.” He was afterwards involved in war with Amaziah, the king of Judah (2 Chronicles 25:23-24), whom he utterly defeated at Beth-shemesh, on the borders of Dan and Philistia, and advancing on Jerusalem, broke down a portion of the wall, and carried away the treasures of the temple and the palace. He soon after died (B.C. 825), and was buried in Samaria (2 Kings 14:1-17, 19, 20). He was succeeded by his son.
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/jehoash
From The Old Testament
Jehoash, also called Joash, began his reign over Israel in the 37th year of the reign of Joash, king of Judah.
“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.” –2 Kings 13:11
When the prophet Elisha fell sick, king Joash went to him, and wept over him, saying, “O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
“And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands. And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot.
“And he said, The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.” –2 Kings 13:14-19
Elisha died and was buried.
Hazael, the king of Syria, oppressed Israel all the days of king Jehoahaz. After Hazael died, his son Benhadad reigned.
“And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.” –2 Kings 13:25
Joash died, and was buried in Samaria. His son Jeroboam (Jeroboam II) sat upon the throne.
In 2 Chronicles 25, a struggle between king Jehoahaz of Israel, and king Amaziah of Judah is recorded. Amaziah sought a “face-to-face” meeting with Jehoahaz.
“And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
“But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom. So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent. And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.” –2 Chronicles 25:18-25
Jeroboam ii
Reign: Jeroboam II, 13th king of Israel reigned 41 years, 782-753 B.C.
Biblical Record: 2 Kings 14
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/jeroboam
SOME HISTORY
Jeroboam II was the son and successor of Jehoash. He followed the example of the first Jeroboam in keeping up the worship of the golden calves (2 Kings 14:24). His reign was contemporary with those of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:23) and Uzziah (15:1), kings of Judah. He was victorious over the Syrians (13:4; 14:26, 27), and extended Israel to its former limits, from “the entering of Hamath to the sea of the plain” (14:25; Amos 6:14). His reign of forty-one years was the most prosperous that Israel had ever known as yet. With all this outward prosperity, however, iniquity widely prevailed in the land (Amos 2:6-8; 4:1; 6:6; Hosea 4:12-14). The prophets Hosea (1:1), Joel (3:16; Amos 1:1, 2), and Jonah (2 Kings 14:25) lived during his reign. He died, and was buried with his ancestors (14:29). He was succeeded by his son Zachariah (q.v.).
His name occurs in Scripture only in 2 Kings 13:13; 14:16, 23, 27, 28, 29; 15:1, 8; 1 Chronicles 5:17; Hosea 1:1; Amos 1:1; 7:9, 10, 11. In all other passages it is Jeroboam the son of Nebat that is meant.
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/jeroboam
From The Old Testament
Jeroboam II took the throne of Israel in the 15th year of the reign of Judah’s king Amaziah, Jeroboam II reigned 41 years ( 2 Kings 14:23).
“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher. For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.” –2 Kings 14:24-27
There is no lengthy record of the 41 years of Jeroboam II — 2 Kings 28-29 says:
“Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
“And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.”
Zachariah
Reign: Zachariah, 14th king of Israel, reigned six months, 753-753 B.C.
Biblical Record: 2 Kings 1
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/zachariah
SOME HISTORY
Zachariah was the son of Jeroboam II, king of Israel. On the death of his father there was an interval of 10 years, at the end of which he succeeded to the throne, which he occupied only six months, having been put to death by Shallum, who usurped the throne.
“He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done” (2 Kings 14:29; 15:8-12). In him the dynasty of Jehu came to an end.
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/zachariah
From The Old Testament
Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reigned six months over Israel in Samaria.
“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
“And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
“And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. This was the word of the Lord which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.” —2 Kings 15:9-12
Shallum
Reign: Shallum, 15th king of Israel, reigned one month, 752 B.C.
Biblical Record: 1 Kings 15
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/shallum
SOME HISTORY
The son of Jabesh, otherwise unknown. He “conspired against Zachariah, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 15:10). He reigned only “a month of days in Samaria” (15:13).
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/shallum
From The Old Testament
Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against king Zachariah. He smote and slew him before the people, and reigned in his stead. This fulfilled the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu: “Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.”
Shallum began his reign in 39th year of Uzziah king of Judah, but he reigned only a full month in Samaria. For Shallum was killed by Menahem the son of Gadi. The reign of Shallum is recorded in 2 Kings 15.
“And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead (verse 10).”
“Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria (verse 13).”
“For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead (verse 14).”
Menaham
Reign: Menaham, 16th king of Israel, reigned 10 years, 752-742 B.C.
Biblical Record: 2 Kings 15
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/menahem
SOME HISTORY
Menahem claimed the throne of Israel after slaying king Shallum. He reigned about 10 years (B.C. 771-760). He died, leaving the throne to his son Pekahiah. His reign was one of cruelty and oppression (2 Kings 15:14-22). During his reign, Pul (q.v.), king of Assyria, came with a powerful force against Israel, but was induced to retire by a gift from Menahem of 1,000 talents of silver.
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/menahem
From The Old Testament
Menahem the son of Gadi came from Tirzah to Samaria, where he killed Shallum the son of Jabesh, and reigned in his stead.
Menahem then smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.
Judah’s king Azariah had been on the throne 39 years when Menaham began his reign over Israel. Menaham reigned 10 years.
“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.” –2 Kings 15:18
Pul the king of Assyria came against Israel, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
“And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.” –2 Kings 15:20
First Chronicles 5:26 says: So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day.
And 2 Kings 15:22 records: Menahem died, and Pekahiah his son reigned.
PekAHIAh
Reign: Pekahiah, 17th king of Israel, reigned two years, 742-740 B.C.
Biblical Record: 2 Kings 15
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/pekahiah
SOME HISTORY
Pekahiah was the son and successor of Menahem on the throne of Israel. He was murdered in the royal palace of Samaria by Pekah, one of the captains of his army (2 Kings 15:23-26), after a reign of two years (B.C. 761-759).
He “did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.”
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/pekahiah
From The Old Testament
Pekahiah, the son of Menahem, began his reign over Israel in Samaria, in the 50th year of Azariah king of Judah. He reigned two years.
“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.” –2 Kings 15:24
But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote and killed him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house. Pekahiah had with him, Argob and Arieh, along with 50 men of the Gileadites.
Note: This writer could not find in the King James version of the Bible a verse that recorded Pekahiah’s burial. Nor does the Jewish Encyclopedia provide burial information. It simply states “He ascended the throne at a time when the kingdom of Israel was already in a state of dissolution. Soon after his accession Pekahiah was murdered in his palace in Samaria by his chief officer Pekah, who usurped his throne.”
Pekah
Reign: Pekah, 18th king of Israel, reigned 20 years, 752-740 (rival) and 733-722 (sole) B.C.
Biblical Record: 2 Kings 15
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/pekah
Note: There is disagreement by historians on the dates of Pekah’s reign.
SOME HISTORY
Pekah, the son of Remaliah, and originally a captain of Pekaiah king of Israel, murdered his master, seized the throne, and became the 18th sovereign of the northern kingdom, B.C. 757-740.
Under his predecessors Israel had been much weakened through the payment of enormous tribute to the Assyrians (2 Kings 15:20) and by internal wars and conspiracies. Pekah seems to have steadily applied himself to the restoration of power. For this purpose he contracted a foreign alliance, and fixed his mind on the plunder of the sister kingdom of Judah. He must have made the treaty by which he proposed to share its spoil with Rezin king of Damascus, when Jotham was still on the throne of Jerusalem (2 Kings 10:37) but its execution was long delayed, probably in consequence of that prince’s righteous and vigorous administration. (2 Chronicles 27:1) … When however his weak son Ahaz succeeded to the crown of David, the allies no longer hesitated, but entered upon the siege of Jerusalem, B.C. 742. The history of the war is found in 2 Kings 13 and 2 Chronicles 28. It is famous as the occasion of the great prophecies in Isaiah 7-9. Its chief result was the Jewish port of Elath on the Red Sea; but the unnatural alliance of Damascus and Samaria was punished through the complete overthrow of the ferocious confederates by Tiglath-pileser (Assyrian king). The kingdom of Damascus was finally suppressed and Rezin put to death while Pekah was deprived of at least half his kingdom, including all the northern portion and the whole district to the east of Jordan. Pekah himself, now fallen into the position of an Assyrian vassal was of course compelled to abstain from further attacks on Judah. Whether his continued tyranny exhausted the patience of his subjects, or whether his weakness emboldened them to attack him, is not known; but, from one or the other cause, Hoshea the son of Elah conspired against him and put him to death.
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/pekah
From The Old Testament
Pekah, the son of Remaliah, reigned 20 years over Israel in Samaria. His reign began in the 52nd year of the reign of Azariah king of Judah.
“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.” –2 Kings 15:28
In his days, Assyrian king Tiglathpileser took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried the people captive to Assyria.
Hoshea, the son of Elah, conspired against Pekah. He slew him, and reigned in his stead.
Second Chronicles records that in the days of king Pekah, when king Ahaz ruled Judah, the Lord delivered Ahaz into the hands of Israel.
“For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.” –2 Chronicles 28:6
Isaiah records: “And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.” — Isaiah 7:1
Hoshea
Reign: Hoshea, 19th and last king of Israel, reigned nine years, 732-722 B.C.
Biblical Record: 2 Kings 17
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/hoshea
SOME HISTORY
Hoshea was the last king of Israel. He conspired against and slew his predecessor, Pekah (Isaiah 7:16), but did not ascend the throne till after an interregnum of warfare of eight years (2 Kings 17:1, 2). Soon after this he submitted to Shalmaneser, the Assyrian king, who a second time invaded the land to punish Hoshea, because of his withholding tribute which he had promised to pay. A second revolt brought back the Assyrian king Sargon, who besieged Samaria, and carried the 10 tribes away beyond the Euphrates, B.C. 720 (2 Kings 17:5, 6; 18:9-12). No more is heard of Hoshea. He disappeared like “foam upon the water” (Hosea 10:7; Hosea 13:11).
Source: King James Bible Dictionary https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/hoshea
From The Old Testament
Hoshea, the son of Elah, reigned nine years in Samaria over Israel. His reign began in the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah.
“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.” –2 Kings 17:2
Shalmaneser king of Assyria came against him, and king Hoshea of Israel became his servant, and gave him presents.
The Assyrian king found conspiracy in Hoshea: “for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.” –2 Kings 17:4
Shalmaneser came through the land, and up to Samaria. He besieged it three years.
“In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.” –2 Kings 17:6