In the books of 1Kings and 2Kings we read of the various kings that reigned over the divided kingdom ... a king over Judah and another king over the 10 tribes of Israel.
The kingdom was divided as God said ...
1Kings 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.
11 Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. 13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.
While reading in 1Kings, 2Kings and 2Chronicles, I put together some notes to help keep track of the various kings as I read about them. Others may find this helpful as well.
JUDAH
20 Kings
-Eight did right in the sight of God, but most did not
remove the high places.
-Twelve did evil in the sight of God.
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ISRAEL (10 tribes)
19 Kings
- Jehu did right in executing God’s will on house of Ahab,
and he destroyed Baal out of Israel and the killed all the worshippers of
Baal. But he did not turn from the
sins of Jeroboam.
- For Shallum we’re just told that he conspired against
and killed Zachariah.
- For all other kings of Israel, we’re told they did
evil.
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KING
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KING
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Rehoboam
Son of Solomon
(1Kings 11,12,14,15)
(2Chron. 10-12)
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-Evil
-Reigned 17 yrs
-The people asked him to
lighten the yoke Solomon had put on them, but he said he would make it even
harder. Ten tribes of Israel rebelled
against the house of David and chose Jeroboam to be their king.
-Rehoboam reigned over Judah. This was as God spoke by Ahijah (1Kings
11:29-36)
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Jeroboam
Son of Nebat
-Solomon’s servant
(1Kings 11-13)
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-Evil
-Reigned 22 yrs
-Prophet Ahijah told
Jeroboam he would reign over 10 tribes.
-Jeroboam made golden calves
and high places for Israel to worship, so the people would not go to Jerusalem (afraid the
people of Israel would return to house of David)
-Made priests of lowest
people, not Levites
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Abijam
Son of Rehoboam
(aka Abijah)
(1Kings 14-15)
(2Chron. 13)
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-Evil
-Reigned 3 yrs
-Walked in sins of his
father
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(Jeroboam still king of Israel)
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Asa
Son of Abijam
(1Kings 15)
(2Chron. 14-16)
(Asa began to reign in Judah while Jeroboam was king
of Israel)
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-Did right, his heart was
perfect with the Lord all his days
-Reigned 41 yrs
-Took away sodomites from
the land
-Removed idols his fathers
made
-Remove his mother from
being queen because she made an idol.
Asa destroyed her idol.
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Nadab
Son of Jeroboam
(1Kings 14-15)
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-Evil
-Reigned 2 yrs
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Baasha
Son of Ahijah --Of house of Issachar
(1Kings 15-16)
(Baasha became king of Israel while Asa was king of
Judah)
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-Evil like Jeroboam
-Reigned 24 yrs
1 Kings 15:
29 And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of
Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed
him, according unto the saying of the Lord, which he spake by his servant
Ahijah the Shilonite: 30 Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned,
and which he made Israel sin, ….
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(Asa still king of
Judah)
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Elah
Son of Baasha
(1Kings 16)
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-Evil
-Reigned 2 yrs
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(Asa still king of
Judah)
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Zimri
Elah’s servant
(1Kings 16)
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-Evil
-Reigned 7 days
-Killed Elah
1 Kings
16:11 And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his
throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that
pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. 12 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, 13 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, …
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(Asa still king of
Judah)
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Omri
-Captain of the host before
becoming king
(1Kings 16)
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-Evil, worse than all
before him
-Reigned 12 yrs
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(Asa still king of
Judah)
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Ahab
Son of Omri
(1Kings 16-22)
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-Evil, above all before him
-Reigned 22 yrs
-Wife: Jezebel
1Kings 16:
30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that
were before him. 31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for
him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife
Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served
Baal, and worshipped him. 32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house
of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab
did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of
Israel that were before him.
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Jehoshaphat
Son of Asa
(1Kings 15,22
2Kings 1,3)
(2Chron. 17-20)
(began to reign in 4th year of Ahab, king
of Israel)
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-Did right
-Reigned 25 yrs
-Sent Levites & priests
to teach people from the book of the law of the Lord
-Joined with Ahab, king of
Israel, in war against Syria
2Chron. 19:
1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to
Jerusalem. 2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and
said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that
hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. 3
Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken
away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
-Joined with Jehoram, king
of Israel, against Moab
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(Jehoshaphat still
king of Judah)
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Ahaziah
Son of Ahab
(1Kings 22 &
2Kings 1)
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-Evil
-Reigned 2 yrs
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(Jehoshaphat still
king of Judah)
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Jehoram
Son of Ahab
(aka Joram … see 2Kings 8:16)
(2Kings 1,3,8)
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-Evil
-Reigned 12 yrs
-Sinned as Jeroboam, but
put away images of Baal which his father made
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Jehoram
Son of Jehoshaphat
(aka Joram … see 2Kings 8:21)
(2Kings 8)
(2Chron. 21)
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-Evil
-Reigned 8 yrs
-Slew his brothers
-Walked like Ahab, king of Israel
(his wife was Ahab’s daughter)
-Eliajh wrote judgment from
God against Jehoram.
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Ahaziah
Son of Jehoram king of Judah
(2Kings 8,9)
(2Chron. 22)
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-Evil
-Reigned 1 yr
-Walked in ways of Ahab,
king of Israel
-Joined with Israel in war
against Syria
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(Jehoram still king
of Israel)
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Athaliah
Mother of Ahaziah
(2Kings 8, 11)
(2Chron. 22-23)
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-Evil
-Reigned 6 yrs
-Daughter of Omri king of
Israel
-After Ahaziah died,
Athaliah killed all the royal seed (except Joash who was hidden in house of
the Lord by Ahaziah’s sister, Jehosheba)
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Jehu
Son of Jeho-shaphat, son of Nimshi
(1Kings 19 & 2Kings 9,10)
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-Reigned 28 yrs
-Captain of the host before
becoming king
-Killed all house of Ahab
-Killed worshippers of Baal
-Did not depart from sins
of Jeroboam
2Kings
10:30 And the Lord said unto 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. 31 But Jehu took no heed to
walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed
not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.
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Joash
Son of Ahaziah
(2Kings 11,12)
(2Chron. 22-24)
(Joash, son of Ahaziah, became king of Judah while
Jehu was king of Israel)
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-Did right in sight of God
while Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
-Reigned 40 yrs
- Did not remove high
places
-After Jehoiada died, they served
groves and idols.
-When Zechariah (Jehoiada’s son) brought the word of God
judging their wickedness, Joash had Zechariah killed.
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(Joash, son of
Ahaziah, still king of Judah)
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Jehoahaz
Son of Jehu
(2Kings 10,13)
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-Evil
-Reigned 17 yrs
-God delivered Israel from
Syria, but they still sinned like Jerobaom
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(Joash, son of
Ahaziah, still king of Judah)
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Joash
Son of Jehoahaz
(aka Jehoash)
(2Kings 13,14)
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-Evil
-Reigned 16 yrs
-Broke down wall of Jerusalem, took
treasures and hostages.
-Did not consume Syria, but smote Syria 3 times as
Elisha spoke (2Kings 13:14-25)
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Amaziah
Son of Joash
(2Kings 13,14)
(2 Chron. 25)
(Amaziah began to reign in Judah while Joash, son of
Jehoahaz, was king of Israel)
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-Did right in sight of God,
but not like David and not with a perfect heart.
-Reigned 29 yrs
-Did not remove high places
-After defeating Edom,
Amaziah brought back their gods and bowed down to them, angering God. …
2Chron.
25:15 Wherefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Amaziah, and he
sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after
the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine
hand? 16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said
unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be
smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined
to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my
counsel.
-Because of what they did,
God caused Amaziah to go against Joash king of Israel even when Joash tried
to dissuade him …
2Chron. 25:20
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.
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(Amaziah still king
of Judah)
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Jeroboam
Son of Joash
(2Kings 13-15)
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-Evil
-Reigned 41 yrs
-Did not depart from sins
of Jeroboam the son of Nebat
-Restored coast of Israel
as prophesied by Jonah, son of Amittati (2Kings 14:25)
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Azariah
Son of Amaziah
(aka Uzziah; called Uzziah in 2Chronicles)
(2Kings 14, 15)
(2Chron. 26)
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-Did right in sight of God,
like Amaziah
-Did not remove high places
-Reigned 52 yrs
-When he was strong his heart was lifted up and he
transgressed by going into the temple and burning incense, and became angry
with priests who came to stop him. God smote Azariah with leprosy so he was a leper until he died
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(Jeroboam, son of Joash, still king of Israel)
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(Azariah still king of Judah)
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Zachariah
Son of Jeroboam
(2Kings 14-15)
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-Evil
-Reigned 6 months
-Last of Jehu’s descendants
to reign, as God told Jehu … 2Kings
10:30 And the Lord said unto 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.
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(Azariah still king of Judah)
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Shallum
Son of Jabesh
(2Kings 15)
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-Reigned 1 month
-conspired against &
killed Zachariah, son of Jeroboam
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(Azariah still king of Judah)
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Menahem
Son of Gadi
(2Kings 15)
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-Evil
-Reigned 10 yrs
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(Azariah still king of Judah)
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Pekahiah
Son of Mehahem
(2Kings 15)
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-Evil
-Reigned 2 yrs
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(Azariah still king of Judah)
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Pekah
Son of Remaliah
(2Kings 15-16)
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-Evil
-Reigned 20 yrs
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Jotham
Son of Azariah
(2Kings 15)
(2Chron. 27)
(Jotham became king of Judah while Pekah was king of
Israel)
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-Did right in sight of God like
his fathers
- Did not remove high
places
-Reigned 16 yrs
-Was mighty because he
prepared his ways before the Lord.
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Ahaz
Son of Jotham
(2Kings 15, 16)
(2Chron. 28)
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-Evil. Walked in ways of Israel and abominations
of heathens
-Reigned 16 yrs
-Made high places to burn
incense to other gods
-Brought pattern of an
altar from Damascus; instructed priest to build it and burn offerings
on.
-Changed things in the
house of the Lord that Solomon built (see 1Kings 7) …
2Kings
16:14 And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the Lord, from
the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the Lord,
and put it on the north side of the altar. … 17 And king Ahaz cut off the
borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the
sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement
of stones.
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Hoshea
Son of Elah
(2Kings 17)
(Hoshea became king of Israel while Ahaz was king of
Judah)
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-Evil
-Reigned 9 yrs
- Israel carried away to
Assyria during his reign
2Kings 17:
6 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. 7 For so it was, that the
children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, which had brought
them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of
Egypt, and had feared other gods, 8 And walked in the statutes of the
heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel, and of
the kings of Israel, which they had made. …..13 Yet the Lord testified
against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers,
saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my
statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which
I sent to you by my servants the prophets. 14 Notwithstanding they would not
hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did
not believe in the Lord their God. …18 Therefore the Lord was very angry
with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but
the tribe of Judah only.
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Hezekiah
Son of Ahaz
(2Kings 16,18-20)
(2Chron. 29-32)
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-Did right according to all
that David did
-Removed high places
-Reigned 29 yrs
-Had house of God repaired
and cleansed, then sent to all Judah and Israel to keep the Passover which
had not been done in a long time.
-Urged those of Israel who
had escaped from the kings of Assyria to turn to God.
-The people destroyed
images, groves, and high places.
-Trusted in God, so none
before or after him were like him
-Departed not from God
-Kept commandments of God
-God was with him and
prospered him
-God added 15 years to
Hezekiah’s life when he asked.
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(Hoshea still king
of Israel)
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(Hezekiah still king of Judah)
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Israel carried away to Assyria
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Manasseh
Son of Hezekiah
(2Kings 20, 21)
(2Chron. 33)
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-Evil. Extremely wicked
after abominations of heathens
-Reigned 55 yrs
-Built high places that
Hezekiah had destroyed
-Worshipped host of heavens
and Baal
-Much wickedness
-Because of what he did,
God would remove Judah out of HIS sight in days of Jehoiakim
(2Kings 24:1-3)
-Was taken away in fetters
to Babylon, but God brought him again into his kingdom in Jerusalem when he
humbled himself
(2Chron 33:13)
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(After Israel is carried away to Assyria, we’re not
told of any more king of Israel in 1Kings or 2Kings)
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Amon
Son of Manasseh
(2Kings
21,22)
(2Chron. 33)
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-Evil
-Reigned 2 yrs
-Sacrified to images
Manasseh made
-Did not humble himself
before God.
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(After Israel is carried away to Assyria, we’re not
told of any more king of Israel in 1Kings or 2Kings)
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Josiah
Son of Amon
(2Kings 22,23)
(2Chron. 34-35)
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-Did right. Walked in all the ways of David
-Reigned 31 yrs
-Read to all the people the
words of the book of the covenant found in the house of the Lord
-Repaired the house of God
and kept Passover
-Purged the land of high
places, groves, images
-Fulfilled following
prophecy:
1Kings 13:1
And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord
unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 And he cried
against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, 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.
-Turned to the Lord with
all his heart, soul, might according to all the law of Moses
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(After Israel is carried away to Assyria, we’re not
told of any more king of Israel in 1Kings or 2Kings)
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Jehoahaz
Son of Josiah
(2Kings 23)
(2Chron. 36)
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-Evil
-Reigned 3 months
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(After Israel is carried away to Assyria, we’re not
told of any more king of Israel in 1Kings or 2Kings)
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Eliakim
Son of Josiah
(aka Jehoiakim)
(2Kings 23,24)
(2Chron. 36)
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-Evil
-Reigned 11 yrs
-2Kings 24:1 In his days
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant
three years: then he turned and rebelled against him. 2 And the Lord sent
against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the
Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to
destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by his
servants the prophets. 3 Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this
upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh,
according to all that he did; 4 And also for the innocent blood that he shed:
for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the Lord would not pardon.
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(After Israel is carried away to Assyria, we’re not
told of any more king of Israel in 1Kings or 2Kings)
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Jehoiachin
Son of Jehoiakim
(2Kings 24)
(2Chron. 36)
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-Evil
-Reigned 3 months
-During his reign
Nebuchanezzar came and carried away treasures from house of the Lord and all
those of Jerusalem, except the poorest
people, to Babylon
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(After Israel is carried away to Assyria, we’re not
told of any more king of Israel in 1Kings or 2Kings)
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Mattaniah
Jehoiachin’s father’s brother
(aka Zedekiah)
(2Kings 24,25)
(2Chron. 36)
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-Evil
-Reigned 11 yrs
-Hardened his heart from
turning to God
-During his reign, all
vessels and treasures in house of God, and treasures of the king were taken
to Babylon
-House of God was burned
-Wall of Jerusalem was
broken down
-Palaces were burned
-Those not killed by the
Chaldees were taken to Babylon to be servants … until the king of Persia
reigned (2Chron. 36:22-23)
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(After Israel is carried away to Assyria, we’re not
told of any more king of Israel in 1Kings or 2Kings)
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