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Period Leader Approx. Dates (BC) Historical Context Biblical References Active Prophets
Exodus and Wilderness Moses c. 1446-1406 Led Israelites out of Egypt; received the Ten Commandments Exodus 12:31-51, 20:1-17; Numbers 12:1-2 Moses, Aaron, Miriam
Conquest of Canaan Joshua c. 1406-1380 Led the conquest of Canaan; divided the land among the tribes Joshua 1:1-9, 11:23, 13-21 Joshua
Judges Period Othniel c. 1380-1340 First Judge; delivered Israel from Cushan-rishathaim of Aram Judges 3:9-11
Ehud c. 1340-1260 Left-handed judge who assassinated Eglon, king of Moab Judges 3:15-30
Shamgar c. 1260 Defeated 600 Philistines with an oxgoad Judges 3:31
Deborah c. 1240-1200 Only female judge; defeated Canaanite army led by Sisera Judges 4-5 Deborah
Gideon c. 1200-1160 Defeated Midianites with 300 men; refused kingship Judges 6-8 Unnamed prophet (Judges 6:8)
Tola c. 1160-1137 Judged Israel for 23 years; little else known Judges 10:1-2
Jair c. 1137-1115 Had 30 sons who rode 30 donkeys and controlled 30 towns Judges 10:3-5
Jephthah c. 1115-1109 Made a rash vow concerning his daughter; defeated Ammonites Judges 11-12:7
Ibzan c. 1109-1102 Had 30 sons and 30 daughters; judged for 7 years Judges 12:8-10
Elon c. 1102-1092 Judged Israel for 10 years; from the tribe of Zebulun Judges 12:11-12
Abdon c. 1092-1084 Had 40 sons and 30 grandsons who rode 70 donkeys Judges 12:13-15
Samson c. 1075-1055 Known for great strength; conflicted with Philistines Judges 13-16
Eli c. 1100-1060 High Priest; mentor to Samuel; his sons were corrupt 1 Samuel 1-4 Samuel (as a youth)
Samuel c. 1060-1020 Last Judge; anointed first two kings of Israel 1 Samuel 7-8, 10, 16 Samuel
United Monarchy Saul c. 1050-1010 First king of Israel; initially successful but later rejected by God 1 Samuel 9-31 Samuel
Ishbosheth c. 1010-1008 Ruled part of Israel for 2 years after Saul's death 2 Samuel 2:8-10
David c. 1010-970 Unified the kingdom; made Jerusalem the capital; received covenant promise 2 Samuel 5-24, 1 Chronicles 11-29 Nathan, Gad
Solomon c. 970-930 Built the First Temple; known for wisdom and wealth 1 Kings 1-11, 2 Chronicles 1-9 Nathan, Ahijah
Divided Monarchy (Israel) Jeroboam I c. 930-909 First king of northern Israel; instituted calf worship 1 Kings 12-14 Ahijah, Unnamed prophet (1 Kings 13)
Nadab c. 909-908 Son of Jeroboam; assassinated by Baasha 1 Kings 15:25-28
Baasha c. 908-886 Exterminated Jeroboam's family; warred with Judah 1 Kings 15:27-16:7 Jehu son of Hanani
Elah c. 886-885 Son of Baasha; assassinated by Zimri 1 Kings 16:8-14
Zimri c. 885 (7 days) Reigned for 7 days; committed suicide when opposed 1 Kings 16:15-20
Omri c. 885-874 Built Samaria as new capital; father of Ahab 1 Kings 16:21-28
Ahab c. 874-853 Married Jezebel; promoted Baal worship; opposed by Elijah 1 Kings 16:29-22:40 Elijah, Micaiah
Ahaziah c. 853-852 Son of Ahab; brief reign marked by idolatry 1 Kings 22:51 2 Kings 1:18 Elijah
Joram/Jehoram c. 852-841 Brother of Ahaziah; killed by Jehu 2 Kings 3:1-9:26 Elisha
Jehu c. 841-814 Destroyed Baal worship; fulfilled prophecy against Ahab's house 2 Kings 9-10 Elisha
Jehoahaz c. 814-798 Son of Jehu; Israel oppressed by Aram under his reign 2 Kings 13:1-9 Elisha
Jehoash/Joash c. 798-782 Son of Jehoahaz; recaptured cities from Aram 2 Kings 13:10-25 Elisha
Jeroboam II c. 793-753 Long, prosperous reign; expanded Israel's borders 2 Kings 14:23-29 Hosea, Amos, Jonah
Zechariah c. 753-752 Last of Jehu's dynasty; reigned only 6 months 2 Kings 15:8-12 Hosea
Shallum c. 752 (1 month) Reigned for 1 month; killed by Menahem 2 Kings 15:13-15 Hosea
Menahem c. 752-742 Brutal reign; paid tribute to Assyria 2 Kings 15:16-22 Hosea
Pekahiah c. 742-740 Son of Menahem; assassinated by Pekah 2 Kings 15:23-26 Hosea
Pekah c. 752-732 Allied with Aram against Judah; opposed by Isaiah 2 Kings 15:27-31, Isaiah 7 Hosea, Isaiah
Hoshea c. 732-722 Last king of Israel; kingdom fell to Assyria 2 Kings 17:1-6 Hosea
Divided Monarchy (Judah) Rehoboam c. 930-913 Son of Solomon; his harsh response caused the kingdom to divide 1 Kings 12, 14:21-31 Shemaiah
Abijam/Abijah c. 913-911 Son of Rehoboam; brief reign marked by war with Israel 1 Kings 15:1-8
Asa c. 911-870 Long reign; instituted religious reforms 1 Kings 15:9-24, 2 Chronicles 14-16 Azariah son of Oded, Hanani
Jehoshaphat c. 870-848 Righteous king; allied with Israel; instituted judicial reforms 1 Kings 22:41-50, 2 Chronicles 17-20 Jehu son of Hanani, Jahaziel, Eliezer
Jehoram/Joram c. 848-841 Married Ahab's daughter; promoted idolatry 2 Kings 8:16-24, 2 Chronicles 21 Elijah (letter)
Ahaziah c. 841 Brief reign; killed by Jehu along with Joram of Israel 2 Kings 8:25-29, 2 Chronicles 22:1-9
Athaliah (Queen) c. 841-835 Daughter of Ahab; usurped throne; promoted Baal worship 2 Kings 11:1-16, 2 Chronicles 22:10-23:15
Joash/Jehoash c. 835-796 Rescued as infant; restored Temple; assassinated 2 Kings 11:21-12:21, 2 Chronicles 24 Zechariah son of Jehoiada
Amaziah c. 796-767 Initially righteous; defeated Edom; defeated by Israel 2 Kings 14:1-20, 2 Chronicles 25 Unnamed prophet (2 Chron. 25:15)
Azariah/Uzziah c. 790-739 Long, prosperous reign; became leprous for entering Temple 2 Kings 15:1-7, 2 Chronicles 26 Isaiah
Jotham c. 750-735 Righteous king; built gates of Temple 2 Kings 15:32-38, 2 Chronicles 27 Isaiah, Micah
Ahaz c. 735-715 Wicked king; made alliance with Assyria against Israel and Aram 2 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 28 Isaiah, Micah, Oded
Hezekiah c. 715-686 Righteous king; religious reformer; withstood Assyrian siege 2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chronicles 29-32 Isaiah, Micah
Manasseh c. 697-642 Longest-reigning king; very wicked, later repented 2 Kings 21:1-18, 2 Chronicles 33:1-20 Nahum, Unnamed seers (2 Chron. 33:18)
Amon c. 642-640 Wicked king; assassinated after 2 years 2 Kings 21:19-26, 2 Chronicles 33:21-25 Nahum
Josiah c. 640-609 Last righteous king; major religious reforms; killed by Pharaoh Necho 2 Kings 22:1-23:30, 2 Chronicles 34-35 Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Huldah
Jehoahaz c. 609 (3 months) Son of Josiah; deposed and exiled by Pharaoh Necho 2 Kings 23:31-33, 2 Chronicles 36:1-4 Jeremiah
Jehoiakim c. 609-598 Placed on throne by Pharaoh Necho; opposed Jeremiah 2 Kings 23:34-24:6, 2 Chronicles 36:5-8 Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Uriah
Jehoiachin c. 598-597 Reigned 3 months; exiled to Babylon 2 Kings 24:8-16, 2 Chronicles 36:9-10 Jeremiah, Ezekiel
Zedekiah c. 597-586 Last king of Judah; Jerusalem and Temple destroyed 2 Kings 24:18-25:21, 2 Chronicles 36:11-21 Jeremiah, Ezekiel
Babylonian Exile [No king] (Babylonian Emperor = Nebuchadnezzar) c. 586-539 Jews exiled to Babylon; some remained in Judah 2 Kings 25:22-26, Jeremiah 39-43 Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
Persian Period Sheshbazzar (Persian Emperor = Cyrus) c. 538 Led first return from exile; laid Temple foundation Ezra 1:8-11, 5:14-16
Zerubbabel (Persian Emperor = Darius I) c. 520-515 Led Temple rebuilding; possible grandson of Jehoiachin Ezra 3-6 Haggai, Zechariah
Ezra (Persian Emperor = Artaxerxes I) c. 458 Priest and scribe; led religious reforms Ezra 7-10, Nehemiah 8
Nehemiah (Persian Emperor = Artaxerxes I) c. 445-433 Rebuilt Jerusalem's walls; instituted social reforms Nehemiah 1-13 Malachi

Sources on Prophets

  • In most cases the Minor Prophets are not directly referenced in Kings or Chronicles. The first verse of the prophets' books will often explicitly refer to the kings who were reigning. In other cases it is inferred from events.
  • Hosea mentions just Jeroboam, but future verses reference events which suggest he covered multiple reigns

Note on additional prophets:

  • Joel: Dating uncertain. Possibly active during the reign of Joash of Judah (c. 835-796 BC) or in the post-exilic period (5th-4th century BC).
  • Obadiah: Dating uncertain. Possibly active during the early exilic period (c. 586 BC) or earlier, during the reign of Jehoram of Judah (c. 848-841 BC).


Empires Conflict and Events
Regional
  • Early conflict was mostly with local groups such as Philistines and Edomites
Assyrian
  • First mentioned in 2 Kings 15:19, when Menakah (Israel) pays tribute.
  • Within 30 years, Hoshea (Israel) is the last king, and it was completely resettled from 722 BC.
  • Ahaz (Judah) made deal with Assyria, but later Hezekiah (Judah) defended Jerusalem from Assyrian siege.
  • Assyria controlled Egypt, and the Pharaoh killed Josiah (Judah) in battle, and placed Jehoiakim (Judah) on throne, but was then attacked by Babylonians.
Babylonian
  • First mentioned in 2 Kings 20:12, when they visit Hezekiah (Judah) but Babylon was still part of Assyrian empire at this stage.
  • Many years later, after power struggle, Babylon rebelled and then invaded Ninevah (Assyria) in 612 BC.
  • Jehoiakim (Judah) became vassal of Nebuchadnezzar (Babylonian) soon afterwards in 2 Kings 24:1 but rebelled.
  • Jehoiachin (Judah) reigned for three months, and Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon) invaded and carried off all the treasures and people.
  • Zedekiah (Judah) was then appointed but again rebelled, so Nebuchadnezzar (Babylonian) destroyed the whole city including the temple in 586 BC.
Persian
  • Grew in size and attacked Babylon in 539 BC.
  • Cyrus (Persia) allowed the Jews that were in Babylon return to Jerusalem to lay foundation of temple.
  • Darius I (Persia) later supports the Jews in rebuilding the temple.
  • Xerxes I (Persia) chose Esther as his queen.
  • Artaxerxes I (Persia) allowed Ezra to return to Jerusalem to re-establish law of Moses, and Nehemiah to be governor and rebuild city walls.