The Kings of Judah

The Kings of Judah



Solomon 970-930 Key event: the building of the Temple
Prophets: While Samuel was dead, he did predict that the behavior of a King would be hard on the people.
Summary of reign: A time of peace and expansion, and the building of the temple.
Noteworthy remarks: Solomon is known for his writings; Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and a few of the Psalms. His fame was renown and he was loved by God for the desire he had to rule his people with wisdom.
Leadership application: It is sad that while Solomon started out so faithful in his standing with God, that at the end of his life God "had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command."

Rehoboam 930-913 I Kings 14:21-31

Key event: In pride, Rehoboam refuses good counsel and causes the people to despise him. The nation is split as a result.
Summary of reign: Judah remained at war with Jeroboam all 17 years of his reign. 
Noteworthy remarks: Shishak, King of Egypt comes up against Jerusalem and robs Temple of much wealth.
Leadership application: The nation fell to evil ways, 1 Kings 14:22-24.

Abijah 913-910 I Kings 15:1-8

Key event: N/A
Summary of reign: N/A
Noteworthy remarks: God allowed Abijah to reign because his son would turn things around for Judah. I’ve noticed that it’s very true; God blesses a good man to the third and fourth generation.
Leadership application: Abijah walked in the ways of his father and his heart was not loyal to the Lord. 1 Kings 15:3.

Asa 910-869 I Kings 15:2-24

Key event: Continual war with Baasha the King of Israel. King Asa takes gold and silver from the treasury and buys Syria’s support.
Summary of reign: He banished perverted people whom Abijah allowed to flourish, and removed the idols his father had made. He deposed his grandmother because of her idolatry. He brought to the temple silver and gold (later given for purposes of a treaty with Syria.
Leadership application: To follow a person who had allowed such evil influences before him, couldn’t have been easy! But God granted him 41 years to do this. God will give us time to do the work He has for us to do.
Noteworthy remarks: He was a good king and helped get Judah back on track with the Lord.

Jehoshaphat 872-848 I Kings 22:41-50

Key event: He made peace with king Ahab of Israel.
Prophets: This is the time of the Prophet Elijah and Elisha who were in Israel.
Summary of reign: Peaceful
Noteworthy remarks: The ships that were built to collect gold from Ophir came to naught.
Leadership application: Jehoshaphat continued to bring back righteousness in the land of Judah and removed the remainder of evil influences. Still, the people were still allowed to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places. While some kings were able to destroy the high places, there were other kings like Johoshaphat who did not. Perhaps this was due to a "measure of faith" that is given to us? Yet it seemed that the reign of those who did not do a thorough "house cleaning" had troubles during their reign. 

Jehoram 853-842 2 Kings 8:16-24

Key event: Edom revolts against Judah’s authority and chose their own King.
Summary of reign: Jehoram walked in the way of the kings of Israel and did not do right in the ways of the Lord.
Noteworthy remarks: It would seem that a son would follow in the footsteps of a good father, but Jehoram’s marriage alliance to Ahab’s daughter, was against him. Ahab was a wicked household and such a marriage was an invitation to the same wickedness.
Leadership application: Despite Jehoram’s efforts to keep control of Moab, his life was not lived in the ways of the Lord, and it showed . . .

Ahaziah 842-841 2 Kings 8:25-29

Key event: Ahaziah goes to war with Joram the son of Ahab against Hazael the King of Syria.
Summary of reign: A brief one year
Noteworthy remarks: There seems to be a close tie between the two young kings. Unfortunately it was one that did neither one of them any good.
Leadership application: Ahaziah dies simply by keeping evil company as he and Joram go to war against Jehu and both are killed.

Athaliah 841-835 2 Kings 11:1-3; 13-16

Key event: Athalia, the mother of Ahaziah kills all remaining royal heirs but Joash who is hidden away.
Summary of reign: N/A
Noteworthy remarks: N/A
Leadership application: Athaliah is not mentioned as either being a good or bad queen but from her act of murder, I wouldn’t trust her for anything! Her cry before her death, "Treason! Treason!" look to be the last words she ever uttered as she was killed at the horses entrance to the new king’s house. And all the people rejoiced at her death.

Joash 835-796 2 Kings 11:21-12:1-21

Key event: Joash repairs the temple
Prophets: No prophets are mentioned in the 2 Kings account but there is a godly priest, Jehoiada, who instructed Joash throughout his 40 year reign.
Summary of reign: After an abortive attempt to repair the temple, Joash succeeds when it becomes an effort shared by the people and the money put into the hands of the honest builders. 
Noteworthy remarks: From the scripture it’s not revealed whether it was the right thing for Joash to buy off an attack from Hazael with the Temple gold or not, but that’s what happened.
Leadership application: Strangely, Joash was murdered by his servants in his own house. 

Amaziah 796-767 2 Kings 14:1-20

Key event: Defeat of Edom
Summary of reign: After killing the servants who had killed his father, Joash, it is noted that Amaziah did not kill other relatives, obeying the law of Moses that forbid this. While he defeated Edom, his pride got the best of him and he was then defeated by Jehoash the King of Israel who took gold and silver from the Temple.
Noteworthy remarks: While "doing right in the sight of the Lord," a conspiracy was plotted against him and he was also killed by servants.
Leadership application: We cannot tell how to judge a King like Amaziah as God looks upon the heart. In this leader we see both a fair share of good and bad.

Uzziah/Azariah 792-740 2 Kings 15:1-7

Key event: The Lord struck the king with leprosy and it is not explained why.
Summary of reign: N/A
Noteworthy remarks: N/A
Leadership application: While doing right in the sight of God with the exception of tearing down the high places, it seems harsh that he would be struck with lebrosy when his father before him was not. As we have learned, some things may not be explained, but we can trust God in these seemingly puzzling accounts!

Jotham 750-735 2 Kings 15:32-38

Key event: He built the upper gate of the House of the Lord
Summary of reign: N/A
Noteworthy remarks: "In those days the Lord began to send Rezin King of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah."
Leadership application: It’s recorded that Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the Lord after his father. Again there is mention of the high places not being destroyed. Maybe these later judgements against these kings are due to that area of disobedience.

Ahaz 735-719 2 Kings 16:1-20

Key event: Ahaz deletes the treasury of the temple to give to the king of Assyria.
Summary of reign: Desecration of all God’s laws, dictates, and rulings.
Noteworthy remarks: Made an alliance with Assyria, rebuilds a temple he saw in Damascus and worships idols.
Leadership application: It is almost an understatement that Ahaz is recorded as not doing right in the eyes of the Lord. It seemed he undermined everything that God has so painstakingly (if that could be said of God), put together. Ahaz was on par with Ahab. 

Hezekiah 727-715 2 Kings 18:1 through 20:21

Key event: With the King of Assyria breathing threats, Hezekiah fortifies his cities.
Summary of reign: He did well–if only it wasn’t already too late . . .
Noteworthy remarks: Getting water to Jerusalem by tunnel was a tremendous feat. Resisting the attacks of the King of Assyria is also noteworthy. He asks for 15 more years of life and did well with the exception of making looting the temple easier for the conquest that was coming.
Leadership application: Finally the high places are removed and Hezekiah proves to have followed God in every area of his Kingship.

Manasseh 698-462 2 Kings 22:1-18

Key event: Sin
Summary of reign: "Manasseh shed very much innocent blood."
Noteworthy remarks: God is very specific about the sins of Manasseh and there are quite a few verses that describe the despicable things Manasseh did. It was almost as if God was wanting us to know, "there is a limit and this man went beyond it!"
Leadership application: "He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger." It almost seems that Manasseh was "hell bent" to destroying all his father did and to defy the Most High God.

Amon 642-640 2 Kings 21:19-22

Key event: N/A
Summary of reign: N/A
Noteworthy remarks: It was the servants of Amon that conspired against him and the people of the nation killed those conspirators! 
Leadership application: The son is like his father doing the same sins. His reign is obviously cut short for it can’t get much worse than this!

Josiah 640-609 2 Kings 22-23:30

Key event: TRUE WORSHIP IS RESTORED!!!!
Summary of reign: Israel begins to act like a nation under God. Feasts (the Passover) are restored, and blessings come before the final end.
Noteworthy remarks: "He did not turn aside to the right hand or the left." And Josiah is rewarded for his tender heart toward God. He will not see the final destruction in his lifetime.
Leadership application: Josiah is a wonderful example of a man who in love for God has great power to do mighty things for Him. This love gives him strength from God Himself. I believe Josiah was in some ways a purer soul than even Hezekiah.

Jehoahaz 609 2 Kings 23:31-34

Key event: Pharaoh Necho puts him in prison
Summary of reign: He did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Noteworthy remarks: N/A
Leadership application: N/A

Jehoiakim 609-597 2 Kings 23:35-37

Key event: The treasury is further ransacked by Pharoh Necho in Jehoiachin’s 11 year reign.
Summary of reign: N/A
Noteworthy remarks: N/A
Leadership application: N/A

Jehoiachin 598-597 2 Kings 24:8-12
Key event: Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon comes against Jerusalem and the city is besieged.
Summary of reign: N/A
Noteworthy remarks: N/A                                         
Leadership application: Jehoiachin did evil in the sight of God. This is not ending well . . .

Zedekiah 597-586 2 Kings 24:17-20

Key event: He is the last king in Judah and reigns 11 years in Jerusalem
Summary of reign: N/A
Noteworthy remarks: N/A
Leadership application: He ends the reign of the Kings of Judah by doing evil in the sight of the Lord. His sons are killed and his eyes goudged out. He is deported to Babylon.