Kings of Israel and Judah

Josiah
Hebrew Name: Yo'shiyahu ben 'Amon
Judah (Southern Kingdom)
Prophets: Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Nahum, Zephaniah
Became king at age 8, instituted religious reform after finding book of the law. Listened to prophetess Huldah. Celebrated Passover. He was killed in battle by archers during the battle against Neco of Egypt when he foolishly tried to prevent them from crossing his land to get to Assyria. Reigned for 31 years.

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Jehoahaz (south)
Hebrew Name: Yeho'achaz ben Yo'shiyahu
Judah (Southern Kingdom)
Prophets: Habakkuk, Jeremiah
Reigned for 3 months. Necho II, king of Egypt, dethroned him, had him replaced by his brother, Eliakim. He was carried off to Egypt, where he died.

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Jehoiakim
Hebrew Name: Yehoyaqim ben Yo'shiyahu
Judah (Southern Kingdom)
Prophets: Jeremiah
His name was Eliakim, but it was changed by Pharaoh Necho, who appointed him puppet ruler of Judah. Jeremiah said he deserved the burial of an ass because he built himself a palace when his people were heavily taxed to pay Egyptian tribute.

In 605 BCE, Babylonia won Judah from Egypt. After three years of their rule, Jehoiakim rebelled and then promptly died, leaving his son to cope with Babylonian revenge.

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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).