KINGS AND QUEENS WHO RULED JUDAH

A total of 19 kings and 1 queen ruled the Kingdom of Judah, bringing the total number of rulers to 20 in the history of Judah. These rulers were either faithful to God or fell into sin, reflecting the nation’s spiritual journey.

Out of these 19 kings:

7 were considered good, in the eyes of God.

12 were deemed to have done evil.

The one queen who ruled, Athaliah, also did evil.

This illustrates the contrast in leadership within Judah, where some leaders honored God’s commands, while others led the people astray.

Summary of Rulers and Their Reigns

No. Name Gender Reign Duration Actions References

1 Rehoboam M 17 years Evil 1 Kings 11:42 – “He did evil because he did not set his heart on seeking the LORD.”

2 Abijah M 3 years Evil 1 Kings 14:31-15:8 – “He committed all the sins his father had done before him”

3 Asa M 41 years Good 1 Kings 15:8-24 – “Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done.”

4 Jehoshaphat M 25 years Good 1 Kings 22:41-51 – “Jehoshaphat sought the LORD with all his heart.”

5 Jehoram M 8 years Evil 2 Kings 8:16-24 – “He did evil in the eyes of the LORD”

6 Ahaziah M 1 year Evil 2 Kings 8:24-29 – “He too did evil in the eyes of the LORD”

7 Athaliah F 6 years Evil 2 Kings 8:26, 11:1-20 – “She did evil in the eyes of the LORD, following the ways of Ahab.”

8 Joash M 40 years Good 2 Kings 11:21, 12:1-21 – “Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years of Jehoiada the priest.”

9 Amaziah M 29 years Good 2 Kings 14:1-22 – “Amaziah did what was right, but not wholeheartedly.”

10 Uzziah M 52 years Good at first, then Evil 2 Kings 15:1-7 – “Uzziah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.”

11 Jotham M 16 years Good 2 Kings 15:32-38 – “Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done.”

12 Ahaz M 16 years Evil 2 Kings 15:38-16:20 – “Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD”

13 Hezekiah M 29 years Good 2 Kings 18:1-20 – “Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.”

14 Manasseh M 55 years Evil 2 Kings 21:1-18 – “Manasseh did evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.”

15 Amon M 2 years Evil 2 Kings 21:18-26 – “Amon did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done.”

16 Josiah M 31 years Good 2 Kings 21:26-23:30 – “Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and followed the ways of his ancestor David.”

17 Jehoahaz M 3 months Evil 2 Kings 23:30-34 – “He did evil in the eyes of the LORD.”

18 Jehoiakim M 11 years Evil 2 Kings 23:34-24:6 – “Jehoiakim did evil in the eyes of the LORD.”

19 Jeconiah / Jehoiachin M 3 months Evil 2 Kings 24:6-17 – “He did evil in the eyes of the LORD.”

20 Zedekiah M 11 years Evil 2 Kings 24:17-25:30 – “Zedekiah did evil in the eyes of the LORD.”

Theological Reflection

The history of Judah’s kings reflects a constant spiritual battle between obedience to God and rebellion. The cycle of faithfulness and apostasy is a key theme in the Old Testament, particularly in the lives of these rulers.

Good Kings: Rulers like Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah are highlighted for their faithfulness to God. They led reformations, rid the land of idols, and sought God in times of distress. In doing so, they brought peace and prosperity to the land, as seen in 2 Chronicles 14:2-5 (Asa) and 2 Kings 18:5-7 (Hezekiah). Their reigns remind us of the importance of seeking God with all our hearts.

Evil Kings: On the other hand, kings like Manasseh and Ahaz led the people into sin and idolatry, turning their backs on the commandments of God. Manasseh’s reign, in particular, is a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin (2 Kings 21:10-15). Yet, Manasseh also experienced God’s grace when he repented, showing that God’s mercy is available even to the most wicked (2 Chronicles 33:10-20).

The Role of the Queen: Athaliah, who reigned after her son Ahaziah’s death, was an anomaly as a queen in the Hebrew monarchy. Her reign marked a period of apostasy, as she attempted to destroy the Davidic line. Her actions were condemned, and her demise is recounted in 2 Kings 11:1-20, where God preserved the royal line through Joash, her grandson.

Key Themes in Judah’s Royal History

Obedience and Reformation: Kings like Hezekiah and Josiah represent the blessings of obedience to God’s covenant and the importance of spiritual renewal in the life of a nation.

Judgment for Idolatry: Many kings were judged for leading the people into idolatry and failing to remove high places and idols (e.g., Ahab, Manasseh, Ahaz).

God’s Sovereignty: Even in the midst of wickedness, God’s plan for Judah continued. For example, Jeconiah’s reign ended in exile, but Jeremiah prophesied that the Davidic line would one day be restored (Jeremiah 33:17-18).

Feel free to share this deeper reflection with others as well!

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