Kings of Israel and Judah

Ahab
Israel (Northern Kingdom)
Prophets: Elijah
Continued his father’s policies, politically effective, spiritually decadent. Completed construction in Samaria, rebuilt Jericho. Jezebel’s promotion of Phoenician cults brought the wrath of the prophet Elijah upon him. Ben-Hadad of Aram-Damascus launched two attacks that Ahab repelled, but Ahab was criticized for sparing Ben-Hadad’s life. Meanwhile, Moab revolted. Ahab was killed in final battle against Ben-Hadad.

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Ahaziah
Israel (Northern Kingdom)
Prophets: Elijah
Son of Ahab and Jezebel. His first act as king was to injure himself falling from a second story. He lived only long enough to fail twice: he tried to kill Elijah, who had predicted his death; and he tried to start a navy, which apparently sank.

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Joram
Hebrew Name: Jehoram
Israel (Northern Kingdom)
Prophets: Elisha
Also a son of Ahab and Jezebel. Made an abortive attempt to recover Moab. Samaria was besieged by Arameans but survived. In a new Aramean battle he was wounded, and while he recuperated turned the army over to his general, Jehu. Elisha commanded a revolt against Jehoram, anointing Jehu as king and urging him to kill the descendants of Jezebel, including Jehoram.

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The Jewish kings ruled over vastly different kingdoms in different periods of history. Starting in the early iron age with Saul, several kings ruled over an expanding, "United Kingdom." After the death of Solomon a fissure developed, with ten tribes separating into the Northern Kingdom of "Israel..."

( see table )

and the tribes of Benjamin and Judah continuing the Davidic line in the Southern Kingdom of "Judah."

( see table )

After the north was conquered by Assyria and the south by Babylon, a Jewish kingdom did not reappear until the second century BC with the establishment of the Hasmonean dynasty. The Hasmoneans were then followed in the first century BC by the Herodian rulers, this final group being clients of Rome, (and actually Idumean).