Kingdom of Judah
The Kingdom of Judah (Hebrew מַלְכוּת יְהוּדָה, Standard Hebrew Malḫut Yəhuda, Tiberian Hebrew Malḵûṯ Yəhûḏāh) in the times of the Hebrew Bible, was the nation formed from the territories of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin after the Kingdom of Israel was divided, and was named after Judah, son of Jacob (Israel). The name Judah itself means Praise of God.
Also see article on Judea.
Judah is often referred to as the Southern Kingdom to distinguish it from the Northern Kingdom (being the Kingdom of Israel) after the division of the Kingdom. Its capital was Jerusalem. See History of ancient Israel and Judah.
Foundations
The Kingdom of Judah's foundation is traditionally dated to the point at which Israel and Judah divided, shortly after the reign of King Solomon. However, it should be noted that King David had earlier been anointed king of Judah at Hebron. A period of civil war followed, with a unified kingdom emerging several years later, according to the biblical account.
At the end of Solomon's reign, a dispute arose between his son Rehoboam and a northern leader named Jeroboam, who had been a press-gang leader under Solomon. Jeroboam urged the young king to relax the labor requirements Solomon had forced on the northern tribes, saying, "Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you." Reheboam harshly rejected the reqest, and the northern tribes revolted. (2 Chron 10) This dispute took place at Shechem, where Reheboam was to be made king "over all Israel". At first only the tribe of Judah followed the Reheboam and the "house of David". But soon after the tribe of Benjamin joined with Judah, and Jerusalem became the capital of the new kingdom (Joshua 18:28), which was called the kingdom of Judah.
The biblical historians make it clear that the root cause of the division was spitual, resulting from King Solomon's sin of idolatry. The Southern Kingdom represents his better half, demonstrating a greater degree of faithfulness to God, while the Norhtern Kingdom falls into a consistent pattern of tolerating idolatry.
Political Dimension
Shortly after the schism, a raid of Shishak of Egypt forced Judah breifly into submission, but apparently did no lasting harm. For the next sixty years the kings of Judah aimed at re-establishing their authority over the other Israelite tribes, so that there was a state of perpetual war between them. At first Judah's small standing army, a vestige of the days of David and Solomon, was steadily successful under the leadership King Abijah. However, the next king, Asa, faced strong oppostion by Baasha of Israel, forcing Asa to seek the aid of the Aramean kingdom of Damascus. Before the death of Asa a lasting friendship was made with Israel, now under the new and powerful dynasty of Omri. Henceforth Judah assumed a subordinate role politically until Israel was crushed by the invading Assyrians.
During this time, Judah and Israel occasionally co-operated against their common enemies, especially Damascus and Ammon. Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, fought side by side with Ahab of Israel in the fateful battle of Ramoth-Gilead. Jehoshaphat strengthened the alliance by marrying his son Jehoram to Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Next, Jehu a military leader of Judah, rose against Joram of Israel and put him to death (842), but in the process Jehu also killed Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram. The northern princess Athaliah undertook to govern in Jerusalem, thus becoming the first and only Queen of Judah.
Because of Ataliah's devotion to the Phoenician deity Baal, the priests of the Temple of Yahweh placed Jehoash, the young son of Ahaziah (836 on the throne. Judah now began a course of development and prosperity which finally made it one of the area's leading kingdoms. Under his son and successor, Amaziah, the reconquest of Edom, which had been lost to Judah under Jehoram, took place (??? check). This secured a share of the overland traffic of western Arabia, as well as the control of the Red Sea trade from the Gulf of Akaba. Joash, King of Israel, soon began to percieve a threat in Amaziah and made war on Judah. The result was the defeat and capture of Amaziah and the submission of Jerusalem. This humiliation was released upon the surrender of the treasures of the Temple and of the royal palace (c. 790).
For about another century and a half Judah had a somewhat checkered existence after the termination of the kingdom of Israel till its final overthrow in the destruction of the temple (586 B.C.E.) by Nebuzar-adan, who was captain of Nebuchadnezzar's body-guard (2 Kings 25:8-21).
With the advent of Uzziah (Azariah; sole ruler 769) and the decline of Damascus the prosperity of Judah was renewed. Uzziah conquered much of the Philistine country and breifly brought even powerful Moab to heel. In fortifications and standing armies as well as in the development of all the natural resources of his country, he was a successful imitator of the great Assyrian monarchs. Jotham (sole ruler 738?) continued the vigorous régime of his father.
It should be noted that the expansion of Judah was coincident with the equally remarkable recuperation of northern Israel after the long and exhausting Syrian wars. The temporary prosperity of both kingdoms was chiefly due to the opportunities of development afforded by the decline of Damascus. Judah as well as Israel had suffered from the aggression of this powerful Aramean state; for in the early days of Jehoash (c. 835), Hazael of Damascus had ravaged the whole country up to the city of Jerusalem, which opened its gates to him and yielded up its spoil.
A decisive change took place with the accession of Ahaz, son of Jotham (735). The determining political factor was now the great Assyrian empire, reorganized under Tiglath-pileser III. (Pul). To resist his expected invasion Pekah, King of Israel, made alliance with Rezin of Damascus. Ahaz refused to join the league, and, when threatened with coercion by the allies, called in the help of the invader. The northern half of Israel was annexed by the Assyrians; and Damascus fared still worse. Judah was reprieved; but it became a vassal state of Assyria.
Hezekiah, son of Ahaz (719), prospered as long as he deferred to the prophet Isaiah with his wise policy of "quietness and confidence" in Yhwh. But in 701 he joined in a wide-spread insurrection against Assyria, with the result that the whole of Judah was devastated by the Assyrian king Sennacherib, many of its people were deported, and Jerusalem itself was spared only after a plague had broken out in the army of the invader. This national discipline favored the religious reforms of Isaiah: but Hezekiah died in comparative youth; and the reign of his son and successor, Manasseh (690), was marked by degeneracy in faith, worship, and morals. Judah was still the vassal of Assyria; and the prestige of the sovereign state had potent influence in the religious as well as in the political sphere. An attempted insurrection in the latter part of the reign of Manasseh was speedily crushed; and Judah bore until the downfall of Assyria the yoke to which Ahaz had offered submission. The brief reign of Amon (641) showed no improvement upon that of his father, Manasseh.
Reformation; Vassalage to Egypt.
Under the youthful Josiah (639) the reforming priestly party gained the upper hand. The law of Moses was promulgated, and gross abominations in religion and morals were sternly put down (621). But this promising career was soon cut short. Necho II., at the head of the revived native monarchy of Egypt, was now aiming to replace Assyria in the dominion of western Asia. He passed through Palestine with an invading force in 608; and Josiah, offering battle to him at Megiddo, was defeated and slain.
At Jerusalem Jehoahaz, second son of Josiah, was put upon the throne, but after three months was dethroned by Necho and exiled to Egypt. He was replaced by Josiah's eldest son, Eliakim, whose name was changed by Necho to "Jehoiakim" to indicate his change of allegiance. Judah's vassalage to Egypt was, however, very brief. In 607 Nineveh was taken and destroyed by the Medes. The whole of the low countries westward to the Mediterranean fell to the ally of the Medes, the new Babylonian monarchy. The Chaldean Nebuchadnezzar shattered the power of Egypt at Carchemish in 604; Syria and Palestine were soon cleared of the Egyptias; and Jehoiakim became a Babylonian subject.
The prophet Jeremiah counseled continued submission; but in 598 Jehoiakim rebelled. Jerusalem was invested; and before the siege had well begun the unhappy king died. His son Jehoiachin (597) held out for three months, and then surrendered at discretion. He and his chief men, with the flower of the kingdom, were deported. Most of the captives, with the prophet Ezekiel, were placed in an agricultural colony by the canal Chebar in central Babylonia.
Fall of Jerusalem.
Over the crippled and enfeebled kingdom was placed Zedekiah, the third son of Josiah. Again symptoms of discontent appeared, fomented by Egyptian intrigues. Again Jeremiah interposed with remonstrance, protest, and invective; and yet again the deluded Judahites rebelled. In Jan., 587, the Chaldean army appeared before Jerusalem. This time a more desperate resistance was offered. Promises of help from Egypt could not be fulfilled. The city was taken (July, 586); the leaders of the rebellion were put to death; and Zedekiah himself was carried, a blinded captive, with the greater portion of his subjects, to Babylon. All valuable property was taken away as spoil; and the Temple and city were destroyed by fire. This was the end of the royal house of David, though not the end of Jewish nationality.
The kingdom maintained a separate existence for three hundred and eighty-nine years. It occupied an area of about 8,900 km² (3,435 square miles).
Spiritual Dimension
The Kings of Judah
For this period, most historians follow the chronology established by William F. Albright, by Edwin R. Thiele, or by Gershon Galil, all of which are shown below. All dates are BCE.
| Albright dates | Thiele dates | Galil dates | Common/Biblical Name | Regnal name and style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000–962 | 1010–970 | David | דוד בן-ישי מלך ישראל Daud ben Yishai, Melekh Ysr’al |
King of a united Israel | |
| 962–922 | 970–931 | Solomon | שלמה בן-דוד מלך ישראל Shelomoh ben Daud, Melekh Ysr’al |
King of a united Israel - Son of David by Bathsheba, his rights of succession were disputed by his older half-brother Adonijah | |
| 922–915 | 931–913 | 931–914 | Rehoboam | רחבעם בן-שלמה מלך יהודה Rehav’am ben Shlomoh, Melekh Yehudah |
|
| 915–913 | 913–911 | 914–911 | Abijam | אבים בן-רחבעם מלך יהודה ’Aviyam ben Rehav’am, Melekh Yehudah |
|
| 913–873 | 911–870 | 911–870 | Asah | אסא בן-אבים מלך יהודה ’As’a ben ’Aviyam, Melekh Yehudah |
|
| 873–849 | 870–848 | 870–845 | Jehoshaphat | יהושפט בן-אסא מלך יהודה Yehoshafat ben ’As’a, Melekh Yahudah |
|
| 849–842 | 848–841 | 851–843 | Jehoram | יהורם בן-יהושפט מלך יהודה Yehoram ben Yehoshafat, Melekh Yahudah |
Killed |
| 842–842 | 841–841 | 843–842 | Ahaziah | אחזיהו בן-יהורם מלך יהודה ’Ahazyahu ben Yehoram, Melekh Yehudah |
Killed by Yehu, King of Israel |
| 842–837 | 841–835 | 842–835 | Athaliah | עתליה בת-עמרי מלכת יהודה ‘Atalyah bat ‘Omri, Malkat Yehudah |
Queen Mother, wife of Jehoram; died in a coup |
| 837–800 | 835–796 | 842–802 | Jehoash | יהואש בן-אחזיהו מלך יהודה Yehoash ben ’Ahazyahu, Melekh Yehudah |
Killed by his servants |
| 800–783 | 796–767 | 805–776 | Amaziah | אמציה בן-יהואש מלך יהודה ’Amatzyah ben Yehoash, Melekh Yehudah |
Assassinated |
| 783–742 | 767–740 | 788–736 | Uzziah (Azariah) |
עזיה בן-אמציה מלך יהודה ‘Uziyah ben ’Amatzyah, Melekh Yehudah עזריה בן-אמציה מלך יהודה ‘Azaryah ben ’Amatzyah, Melekh Yehudah |
George Syncellus wrote that the First Olympiad took place in Uzziah's 48th regnal year |
| 742–735 | 740–732 | 758–742 | Jotham | יותם בן-עזיה מלך יהודה Yotam ben ‘Uziyah, Melekh Yehudah |
|
| 735–715 | 732–716 | 742–726 | Ahaz | אחז בן-יותם מלך יהודה ’Ahaz ben Yotam, Melekh Yehudah |
The Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III records he received tribute from Ahaz; compare 2 Kings 16:7-9; Fate unknown |
| 715–687 | 716–687 | 726–697 | Hezekiah | חזקיה בן-אחז מלך יהודה Hizqiyah ben ’Ahaz, Melekh Yehudah |
Contemporary with Sennacherib of Assyria, and Merodach-baladan of Babylon (but see note 1, below) |
| 687–642 | 687–643 | 697–642 | Manasseh | מנשה בן-חזקיה מלך יהודה Menasheh ben Hizqiyah, Melekh Yehudah |
Mentioned in Assyrian records as a contemporary of Esarhaddon. |
| 642–640 | 643–641 | 642–640 | Amon | אמון בן-מנשה מלך יהודה ’Amon ben Menasheh, Melekh Yehudah |
Assassinated |
| 640–609 | 641–609 | 640–609 | Josiah | יאשיהו בן-אמון מלך יהודה Yo’shiyahu ben ’Amon, Melekh Yehudah |
Died in battle at Megiddo against Necho II of Egypt. |
| 609 | 609 | 609 | Jehoahaz (Ahaz) |
יהואחז בן-יאשיהו מלך יהודה Yeho’ahaz ben Yo’shiyahu, Melekh Yehudah אחז בן-יאשיהו מלך יהודה ’Ahaz ben Yo’shiyahu, Melekh Yehudah |
|
| 609–598 | 609–598 | 609–598 | Jehoiakim | יהויקים בן-יאשיהו מלך יהודה Yehoyaqim ben Yo’shiyahu, Melekh Yehudah |
The Battle of Carchemish occurred in the fourth year of his reign (Jeremiah 46:2) |
| 598 | 598 | 598–597 | Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) |
יהויכין בן-יהויקים מלך יהודה Yehoyakhin ben Yehoyaqim, Melekh Yehudah יכניהו בן-יהויקים מלך יהודה Yekhonyahu ben Yehoyaqim, Melekh Yehudah |
Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians and Jehoiachin deposed on March 16, 597 B.C.E. Called 'Jeconiah' in Jeremiah and Esther |
| 597–587 | 597–586 | 597–586 | Zedekiah | צדקיהו בן-יהויכין מלך יהודה Tzidqiyahu ben Yo’shiyahu, Melekh Yehudah |
The last king of Judah. Deposed, blinded and sent into exile; fate unknown. See note 2, below. |
Notes
- Hezekiah: contemporary with Sennacherib of Assyria, and Merodach-baladan of Babylon.
- Zedekiah: King during the second rebellion (588–586 B.C.E.). Jerusalem was captured after a lengthy siege, the temple burnt, Zedekiah taken into exile and Judah was reduced to a province. Nebuchadnezzar had left Gedaliah as his governor, who was killed in one last revolt, and the few members of the ruling classes left from the kingdom of Judah took the prophets Jeremiah and Baruch with them as they fled to sanctuary in Egypt.
From the end of the kingdom to the present
After the end of the ancient kingdom the area passed into foreign rule, apart from brief periods, under the following powers:
- 587–539 B.C.E.: Babylonian Empire
- 539–332 B.C.E.: Persian Empire
- 332–305 B.C.E.: Empire of Alexander the Great
- 305–198 B.C.E.: Ptolemaids
- 198–141 B.C.E.: Seleucids
- 141–37 B.C.E.: The Hasmonean state in Israel established by the Maccabees, since 63 B.C.E. under Roman supremacy
- 37 B.C.E.–AD 70: Herodian Dynasty ruling Judea under Roman supremacy (37 B.C.E.-6 C.E., 41-44 C.E.), interchanging with direct Roman rule (6-41, 44-66). This ended in the first Jewish Revolt of 66 - 73, which saw the Temple destroyed in 70.
- AD 70–395: province of Roman Empire first called Judea, after 135 called Palaestina. In 395 the Roman Empire is split into a Western and an Eastern part.
- 395–638: Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire
- 638–1099: Arab Caliphates and subject rulers
- 1099–1187: Crusader states, most notably the Kingdom of Jerusalem
- 1187–1260: dominated by the Ayyubides of Egypt
- 1260–1516: dominated by the Mamluks of Egypt
- 1516–1917: Ottoman Turks, having previously conquered the Byzantine Empire in 1453
- 1918–1948: British mandate of Palestine under, first, League of Nations, then, successor United Nations; the Emirate of Trans-Jordan was separated from the rest of Palestine in 1922, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan became independent upon the expiration of the League of Nations Mandate in 1946.
- May 1948 to present: independent State of Israel
- 1948-1967 the West Bank was occupied by, and in 1950 annexed to, Jordan. Gaza Strip was occupied by Egypt
- 1967 to present: the West Bank and Gaza Strip occupied by Israel in the Six Day War, since :1994 a semi-autonomous Palestinian Authority governs territories in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
See also
- Judea
- Kingdom of Israel
- Israel
- Judah
External links
- Complete Bible Genealogy A synchronized chart of the kings of Judah and Israel
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