A compact overview of kings across Israel’s history with approximate dates, spiritual direction, and one memory hook each.
Directions: "Toward God", "Away from God", "Mixed".
United Monarchy (one kingdom)
Saul c. 1050–1010 BCE
Direction: Mixed
Started humble, ended in disobedience and jealousy.
1 Samuel 9–31
David c. 1010–970 BCE
Direction: Toward God
“A man after God’s heart” yet repentant after failure.
2 Samuel; Psalms
Solomon c. 970–930 BCE
Direction: Mixed
He built the Temple. Became oh so wise as a gift from God and wrote Proverbs 10-22 early. He later drifted to idols, women and wealth. He finished strong repenting with the book of Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, (a repent of women and a love song analogy to God). Commisioned or wrote Psalm 72 and Psalm 127.
1 Kings 1–11
Kings of Judah (South)
Rehoboam from c. 930 BCE
Direction: Mixed
Harsh policy splits the kingdom.
1 Kgs 12; 2 Chr 10
Abijah (Abijam) c. 910s BCE
Direction: Away
Brief reign; war with Jeroboam.
1 Kgs 15; 2 Chr 13
Asa c. 910–870 BCE
Direction: Toward
Reformer; relied on God in crises.
1 Kgs 15; 2 Chr 14–16
Jehoshaphat c. 870–848 BCE
Direction: Toward
Judicial reforms; ill‑advised alliances.
2 Chr 17–20
Jehoram (Joram) c. 848–841 BCE
Direction: Away
Violence; walked in Israel’s ways.
2 Kgs 8; 2 Chr 21
Ahaziah 841 BCE
Direction: Away
Brief reign; killed by Jehu.
2 Kgs 8–9; 2 Chr 22
Athaliah (Queen) c. 841–835 BCE
Direction: Away
Usurped throne; overthrown by Jehoiada.
2 Kgs 11; 2 Chr 22–23
Joash (Jehoash) c. 835–796 BCE
Direction: Mixed
Temple repairs, later drift.
2 Kgs 12; 2 Chr 24
Amaziah c. 796–767 BCE
Direction: Mixed
Victory over Edom; pride.
2 Kgs 14; 2 Chr 25
Azariah (Uzziah) c. 792–740 BCE
Direction: Toward
Prosperity; leprosy after presumption.
2 Kgs 15; 2 Chr 26
Jotham c. 750–735 BCE
Direction: Toward
Steady builder and judge.
2 Kgs 15; 2 Chr 27
Ahaz c. 735–715 BCE
Direction: Away
Idolatry; copied foreign altars.
2 Kgs 16; 2 Chr 28
Hezekiah c. 715–686 BCE
Direction: Toward
Prayer in crisis; Sennacherib turned back.
2 Kgs 18–20; 2 Chr 29–32
Manasseh c. 686–642 BCE
Direction: Away
Longest, most evil reign; later humbled.
2 Kgs 21; 2 Chr 33
Amon c. 642–640 BCE
Direction: Away
Brief evil reign; assassinated.
2 Kgs 21; 2 Chr 33
Josiah c. 640–609 BCE
Direction: Toward
Book of the Law found; sweeping reform.
2 Kgs 22–23; 2 Chr 34–35
Jehoahaz (Shallum) 609 BCE
Direction: Away
Three months; deposed by Egypt.
2 Kgs 23
Jehoiakim (Eliakim) 609–598 BCE
Direction: Away
Vassal to Egypt/Babylon; cut up Jeremiah’s scroll.
2 Kgs 23–24; Jer 36
Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) 598–597 BCE
Direction: Away
Exiled to Babylon; later released.
2 Kgs 24–25; Jer 52
Zedekiah (Mattaniah) 597–586 BCE
Direction: Away
Final king; Jerusalem falls (586).
2 Kgs 24–25
Kings of Israel (North)
Jeroboam I c. 930–910 BCE
Direction: Away
Golden calves at Bethel & Dan.
1 Kgs 12–14
Nadab c. 910–909 BCE
Direction: Away
Assassinated by Baasha.
1 Kgs 15
Baasha c. 909–886 BCE
Direction: Away
War with Asa; continued sin of Jeroboam.
1 Kgs 15–16
Elah c. 886–885 BCE
Direction: Away
Killed by Zimri during a drinking bout.
1 Kgs 16
Zimri 885 BCE
Direction: Away
Seven‑day reign; palace burned.
1 Kgs 16
Omri c. 885–874 BCE
Direction: Away
Founded Samaria; strong dynasty.
1 Kgs 16
Ahab c. 874–853 BCE
Direction: Away
Baal worship with Jezebel; opposed by Elijah.
1 Kgs 16–22
Ahaziah c. 853–852 BCE
Direction: Away
Consulted Baal‑zebub after his fall.
2 Kgs 1
Joram (Jehoram) c. 852–841 BCE
Direction: Away
Conflicts with Moab; Elisha’s counsel.
2 Kgs 3–9
Jehu c. 841–814 BCE
Direction: Mixed
Ended Ahab’s house, but kept calf worship.
2 Kgs 9–10
Jehoahaz c. 814–798 BCE
Direction: Away
Aramean oppression; cried to the LORD.
2 Kgs 13
Jehoash (Joash) c. 798–782 BCE
Direction: Mixed
Arrows prophecy with Elisha; wars with Amaziah.
2 Kgs 13–14
Jeroboam II c. 793–753 BCE
Direction: Mixed
Prosperity; prophets Amos & Hosea speak.
2 Kgs 14
Zechariah 753 BCE
Direction: Away
End of Jehu’s dynasty.
2 Kgs 15
Shallum 752 BCE
Direction: Away
One‑month reign.
2 Kgs 15
Menahem 752–742 BCE
Direction: Away
Brutal rule; tribute to Assyria.
2 Kgs 15
Pekahiah 742–740 BCE
Direction: Away
Assassinated by Pekah.
2 Kgs 15
Pekah740–732 BCE
Direction: Away
Syro‑Ephraimite war; Assyrian pressure.
2 Kgs 15–16
Hoshea 732–722 BCE
Direction: Away
Last king; Samaria falls to Assyria (722).
2 Kgs 17
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