Kings of Israel and Judah

"Kings of the Jews" redirects here. For other uses, see King of the Jews.

Coronation of David, as depicted in the Paris Psalter.

This article is an overview of the kings of the United Kingdom of Israel as well as those of its successor states and classical period kingdoms ruled by the Hasmonean dynasty and Herodian dynasty.

In contemporary scholarship, the united monarchy is debated, due to a lack of archaeological evidence for it. It is generally accepted that a "House of David" existed, but many believe that David could have only been the king or chieftain of Judah, which was likely small, and that the northern kingdom was a separate development. There are some dissenters to this view, including those who support the traditional narrative.

Family tree

Family tree

Family tree (Hasmonean-Herodian)

List of kings

The Bible describes a succession of kings of a united kingdom, and then of divided kingdoms.

House of Gideon

• Abimelech – the son of Gideon, was the first man declared a king in Israel.

House of Saul

Saul and David by Rembrandt

According to the Bible, the Tribes of Israel lived as a confederation under ad hoc charismatic leaders called judges. In around 1020 BCE, under extreme threat from foreign peoples, the tribes united to form the first United Kingdom of Israel. Samuel anointed Saul from the Tribe of Benjamin as the first king.

• Saul (1020–1000 BCE)
• Ish-bosheth (Esbaal) (1000–991 BCE)

House of David

Further information: Davidic line

The Tel Dan Stele with reference to the "House of David"

• David (c. 1003–970 BCE) – made Jerusalem the capital of Israel.
• Solomon (c. 970–930 BCE)
• Rehoboam (c. 930–915 BCE)

After Rehoboam reigned three years, the United Kingdom of Israel was divided in two – the northern Kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam, with its capital, first in Shechem, then Penuel, Tirzah, and finally Samaria, and ruled by a series of dynasties beginning with Jeroboam; and the southern Kingdom of Judah with its capital still in Jerusalem and ruled by the House of David. Under Hezekiah rule in the Kingdom of Judah, the Neo-Assyrian Empire conquered and destroyed the northern kingdom 722 BCE leaving only the southern kingdom of Judah.

Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)

First Dynasty

Further information: House of Jeroboam

• Jeroboam
• Nadab

Second Dynasty

Further information: House of Baasha

• Baasha
• Elah
• Zimri

Third Dynasty

Further information: Omrides

• Omri
• Ahab
• Ahaziah
• Jehoram

Fourth Dynasty

• Jehu
• Jehoahaz
• Jehoash
• Jeroboam II
• Zechariah

No dynasty

• Shallum

Fifth Dynasty

• Menahem
• Pekahiah

No dynasty

• Pekah
• Hoshea

Kingdom of Judah

Further information: Kings of Judah

• Abijah (r. 915–912 BCE)
• Asa (r. 912–870 BCE)
• Jehoshaphat (r. 870–849 BCE)
• Jehoram (r. 849–842 BCE)
• Ahaziah (r. 842–840 BCE)
• Athaliah (Queen) (r. 840–836 BCE)
• Jehoash (r. 836–796 BCE)
• Amaziah (r. 796–767 BCE)
• Uzziah (r. 767–750 BCE)
• Jotham (r. 750–735 BCE)
• Ahaz (r. 735–716 BCE)
• Hezekiah (r. 729/716 – 697/687 BCE)
• Manasseh (r. 697/687–643 BCE)
• Amon (r. 643–640 BCE)
• Josiah (r. 640–609 BCE)
• Jehoahaz (r. 609 BCE)
• Jehoiakim (r. 609–598 BCE)
• Jeconiah (r. Dec 9, 598– March 15, 597 BCE)
• Zedekiah (r. 597–586 BCE)

Hasmonean dynasty

Further information: Hasmonean dynasty

The descendants of Mattathias

• Aristobulus I (r. 104–103 BCE)
• Alexander Jannaeus (r. 103–76 BCE)
• Salome Alexandra (Queen, r. 76–67 BCE)
• Aristobulus II (r. 67–63 BCE)
• Hyrcanus II (r. 63–40 BCE)
• Antigonus II Mattathias (r. 40–37 BCE)

Herodian dynasty

Further information: Herodian dynasty

• Herod the Great (r. 37–4 BCE)

Table on the Kings

This table describes the Kings, their parents, age they lived, the prophets who influenced them, and the emperors they encountered in battle.

See also

• History of ancient Israel and Judah
• List of Hasmonean and Herodian rulers
• List of Jewish leaders in the Land of Israel
• Lists of ancient kings

External links

• King at the Jewish Encyclopedia
• Kings of the Jews at Project MUSE
• Kings of the Jews: Israel, Judah, Hasmoneans & Herodians at The Algemeiner