Kings

Dictionary of Biblical Words:

Believers are made kings and priests unto God (Rev. 5:10¹⁰And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10), Peter 2, &c). Already they exercise the functions of priests in offering sacrifices to God (Heb. 13), and they will reign as kings with Christ. But if they have this high place toward God, in connection with the world, they are pilgrims and strangers.

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(tribe). Title of Hebrew rulers from Saul to Zedekiah, B. C. 1095-588. Other rulers (Gen. 36:31³¹And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel. (Genesis 36:31); Ex. 3:19¹⁹And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. (Exodus 3:19); Num. 31:8⁸And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword. (Numbers 31:8)). Supreme ruler (1 Tim. 1:17; 6:15¹⁷Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)
¹⁵Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (1 Timothy 6:15)).

Bible Handbook:

Tirzah, in the first instance, became the capital city and seat of government, but during the reign of Omri, Samaria, which was distant from Jerusalem about forty-two miles, became the royal city. The kingdom, consisting of the revolted ten tribes, existed for nearly 260 years under nineteen kings, till completely overthrown by the Assyrians under Shalmaneser, 721 B. C.

Notes

Not one of these kings were really good men; of only one (Jehoahaz), is it said he “besought the Lord,” and that under deep pressure, and at a time of real distress.

Idolatry from first to last characterized the reigns of these kings, and it would be well to note carefully that oft recurring expression “walked in the ways of Jeroboam,” as Israel’s first king really gave character to the kingdom during its entire history.

The longest reign was that of Jeroboam II, and the shortest reign Zimri’s — the former reigned forty-one years, and the latter seven days.

Observe that there are two kings of the name of ‘Jeroboam.’

The fifth king of Judah and the ninth king of Israel were both named ‘Jehoram’; and the sixth king of Judah and the eighth king of Israel were named ‘Ahaziah’; the seventeenth king of Judah and the eleventh king of Israel were called ‘Jehoahaz’; while the eighth king of Judah and the twelfth king of Israel were both called ‘Jehoash.’

The books of Kings specially detail the history of these kings.

There were eight dynasties in the history of this kingdom, the founders of which were Jeroboam, Baasha, Omri, Jehu, Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, Hoshea

Accession to the Throne of Israel or Ten-Tribe Kingdom

B. C.

975 Jeroboam The idolater.

954 Nadab Slain by his successor.

953 Baasha Posterity cut off.

930 Elah The drunkard.

929 Zimri The short-lived reign of the traitor.

929 Omri The builder of Samaria.

978 Ahab The apostate monarch.

897 Ahaziah Doomed to die (2 Kings 1:4⁴Now therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed. (2 Kings 1:4)).

896 Jehoram Israel and Judah united against Moab.

884 Jehu The destroyer of Ahab’s house.

856 Jehoahaz The only king “who besought the Lord.”

839 Jehoash The conqueror of Syria.

825 Jeroboam II Recovery of the sea coasts of Israel.

773 Zachariah Conspired against and slain.

772 Shallum Slain after a month’s reign.

772 Menahem The cruel king.

761 Pekahiah Slain by one of his captains.

758 Pekah First successful attack by Assyria.

730 Hoshea Last king of Israel.