Before 742 BC, Judah (Jotham) is attacked by Damascus (Rezin) and Israel (Pekah) in an attempt to force Judah to join them against Assyria. But an attack by Assyrua upon Aram relieved Judah’s pressure.
| Period or Event | King | Time-Frame | Overview |
| Jeroboam | After leading the 930 BC coup that led to his control of Israel (the Northern Kingdom), Jeroboam established a capital at Tirzah in Shechem (1 Kings 12:25). Jeroboam also created shrines with golden calves (Canaanite god Ba’al) at Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:26-33). Jeroboam implemented the Bethel and Ban public temples to service the northern and southern parts of the kingdom, respectively. Israel worshipped Yahweh, although worship of Canaanite god Ba’al eclipsed reverence to Yahweh. According to 1 Kings 12:26-31, Jeroboam appeased Ba’al worship because he was afraid otherwise his citizens would head to Jerusalem and wind up reverting to obliging the Davidic Dynasty continued by Rehoboam. He continued to build additional bamot (highplaces), public shrines reminiscent of Canaanite tradition. In ~925 BC, Shishak (Sheshonq) invaded and attacked towns in Israel and Judah (1 KIngs 14:25-28). | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital at Tirzah | 930-880 BC | Capital is at Tirzah in Shechem. | |
| Omride Dynasty Start | Omri | 885-873 BC | Dynastic unrest had plagued prior kings of Israel. Omri, commander of the Israelite army, had his opponents killed so he could establish the Omride Dynasty. From 885-880 BC, he ruled from Tirzah. In 880 BC, he bought the field of Shemer and founded Samaria as his capital. During this time, Judah was weak and may have actually been a vassal to Israel. |
| Capital at Samaria | 880-720 BC | Capital is at Samaria. Has a collection of ostraca and ivories, as well as a pool and a palace. | |
| Ahab | 873-851 BC | Marries Jezebel, daughter of Sidonian king Ethbaal. Built temple to Ba’al at Samaria. Built Jezreel. Ben-Hadad I of Aram Damascus invaded Israel after being bribed by Asa of Judah with temple gold (1 Kings 15:16–20). Aram Damascus was a major threat that kept Ahab engaged until he was killed in a battle. Ben-Hadad II of Damascus (with 32 kings) unsuccessfully besieged Samaria. | |
| Jehoram | 849-843 BC | In 850 BC he joined Jehoshaphat of Judah (874-850 BC) and king of Edom against Mesha of Moab (2 Kings 3); Mesha supposedly defeated (2 Kings 3). Ben Hadad (II) besieges Samarai (2 Kings 6:24ff) but siege lifted aftera period of time. Battles with Hazael and is wounded (2 Kings 8:28ff). | |
| Jehu | 843-816 | In 843 BC, Jehu led a coup d’etat against the Omride Dynasty (2 Kings 9-10). His coup was facilitated by Hazael of Damascus, who attacked Israel (Tel Dan destroyed) to create a diversion. Jehu was aided by the prophet Elisha, who anointed him king (2 Kingss 9:1ff) and thus ended the Omride Dynasty. Jehu killed Jehoram of Israel and Ahaziah of Judah at Jezreel. Also, Jehu killed Jezebel (wife of Ahab) in Jezreel. Sons of Ahab and all of House of Ahab were executed. In addition, Jehu slaughtered priests of Ba’al. In 841 BC, Jehu paid tribute to Assyrian king Shalmanesser III, as noted in the Black Obelisk. | |
| Jehoahaz | 816-800 BC | ||
| Jeroboam | 785-745 BC | ||
| Israel’s Demise | 720 BC | The Assyrians conquered Israel. | |
The Moabite Stone (aka Mesha Stele) is a ~850 BC stone, written by Moabite king Mesha, tells of Mesha’s liberation of Moab after 40 years of Israelite control by the House of Omri. It correlates to 2 Kings 1 and 1 Kings 3:4, “After death of Ahab, Moab rebelled…” Mesha mentions attacking Israelite towns in Gad and rebuilding Moabite towns, as well as possible references to House of David.
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