Kings of Israel and Judah

Jehoshaphat
Hebrew Name: Yehoshafat ben 'Asa
Judah (Southern Kingdom)
Reigned for 25 years. Toured the kingdom to institute religious and judicial reform, strengthened fortifications and army, revived commerce. Renewed friendship with Israel by marrying his son to their royal family and by joining in common wars. Defeated Moab by sending the choir in front of the army. Alliance with Israel brought God’s judgment

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Jehoram
Hebrew Name: Yehoram ben Yehoshafat
Judah (Southern Kingdom)
Jeshoshaphat bequeathed shares of his wealth to seven sons, but gave the kingdom to Jehoram, the first-born. Jehoram killed his six brothers to make his rule secure.

Fell into idolatry after marrying daughter of Ahab and Jezebel of Israel to seal relationship between the two nations. Lost Edom. His family, except for his youngest son, Ahaziah, was wiped out in a Philistine invasion that reached Jerusalem.

Prophet Elijah wrote to him of God’s displeasure with his actions. The Bible says he died of bowel disease. Since he was not mourned or buried in royal tombs, he may have been murdered, perhaps with poison.

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Ahaziah (Judah)
Hebrew Name: Achazyahu ben Yehoram
Judah (Southern Kingdom)
Reigned for 1 year. Trying to aid Israel’s war with Aram-Damascus, listened to evil counsel of his wicked mother, Athaliah. Ahaziah was caught in Jehu’s coup and was killed as part of Jehu’s program to wipe out Jezebel’s descendents

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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).