Kingdom of Judah

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Judea is a term used for the mountainous southern part of the historic Land of Israel.

Map of the region in the 9th century BC

The Kingdom of Judah (Hebrew: מַלְכּוּת יְהוּדָה, Modern Malkut Yəhuda Tiberian Malkûṯ Yəhûḏāh) existed at two periods in Jewish history. According to the Hebrew Bible, a kingdom emerged in Judah after the death of Saul, when the tribe of Judah elevated David, who came from the Tribe of Judah, to rule over it. After seven years David became king of a reunited Kingdom of Israel. During this period, Jerusalem became the capital of the Judah.^[1] However, in about 930 BC the united kingdom split, with ten of the twelve Tribes of Israel rejecting Solomon's son Rehoboam as their king. The Tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to Rehoboam, and reformed the Kingdom of Judah, while the other entity continuing to be called the Kingdom of Israel, or Israel. The Kingdom of Judah is also often referred to as the Southern Kingdom, while the Kingdom of Israel following the split is referred to as the Northern Kingdom.

Judah existed until 586 BC, when it was conquered by the Babylonian Empire under Nebuzar-adan, captain of Nebuchadnezzar's body-guard.^[2] With the deportation of most of the population and the destruction of the Temple and of Jerusalem, the destruction of the kingdom was complete. Gedaliah, with a Chaldean guard stationed at Mizpah, was made governor to rule over Judah,^[3]^[4] but before long he was assassinated, and the remnant of the community was left leaderless.

The Davidic dynasty began when the tribe of Judah made David its king, following the death of Saul. The Davidic line continued when David became king of the reunited Kingdom of Israel. When the united kingdom split, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin continued to be loyal to the Davidic line, which ruled it until the kingdom was destroyed in 586 BC. However, the Davidic line continued to be respected by the exiles in Babylon, who regarded the Exilarchs as kings-in-exile.

[edit] Territory

The Kingdom of Judah comprised the territories of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, an area of about 8,900 km² (3,436 sq mi). During the first period of the Kingdom of Judah, the capital was Hebron, and during the second period, the capital of the united kingdom, Jerusalem, continued as the capital of Judah. Jerusalem was in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin.

The area that comprised the kingdom consisted of the area known as Har Yehudah ("the mountain (district) of the gorge(s)"). The area seems to have originally been occupied by Kenites, Calebites, Othnielites, and in Jerusalem Jebusites.

After the breakdown of the United Monarchy, the border between Benjamin and Ephraim (which was the border between the northern and southern kingdoms) became a matter of dispute between them. Though Bethel had originally been allocated to Benjamin, by the time of the prophetess Deborah, Bethel is described as being in the land of the Tribe of Ephraim.^[5] Some twenty years after the breakup of the United Monarchy, Abijah, the second king of Judah, defeated Jeroboam of Israel and took back the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah and Ephron, with their surrounding villages, with a great loss of life.^[6] Ephron is believed to be the Ophrah that was also allocated to the Tribe of Benjamin by Joshua.^[7]

[edit] History

Main article: History of Ancient Israel and Judah

Jewish king and soldiers in ancient Judah

The united Kingdom of Israel was a union of the twelve Israelite tribes living in the area that presently approximates modern Israel and the Palestinian territories. The united kingdom existed from around 1030 to about 930 BC.

After the death of Solomon in 931 BC, the ten northern tribes refused to accept Rehoboam as their king, and instead in about 930 BC chose Jeroboam, who was not of the Davidic line, as their king. The northern kingdom continued to be called the Kingdom of Israel or Israel. The revolt took place at Shechem, and at first only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David. But very soon thereafter the tribe of Benjamin joined Judah, and Jerusalem (which was in Benjamin's territory: Joshua 18:28)^[8]) became the capital of the new kingdom. The southern kingdom was called the kingdom of Judah, or Judah. 2 Chronicles 15:9^[9] also says that members of the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon "fled" to Judah during the reign of Asa of Judah.

For the first sixty years, the kings of Judah tried to re-establish their authority over the northern kingdom, and there was perpetual war between them. For the following eighty years, there was no open war between them, and, for the most part, they were in friendly alliance, co-operating against their common enemies, especially against Damascus.

Israel existed as an independent state until around 720 BC when it was conquered by the Assyrian Empire. The Bible relates that the population of Israel was exiled, becoming known as the The Ten Lost Tribes. However, other writers estimate that only a fifth of the population (about 40,000) were actually resettled out of the area during the two deportation periods under Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon II.^[10] Many also fled south to Jerusalem, which appears to have expanded in size fivefold during this period, requiring a new wall to be built, and a new source of water (Siloam) to be provided by King Hezekiah.

Reconstructed Israelite house from the Monarchy period

After the destruction of Israel, Judah continued to exist for about a century and a half until being conquered by the Babylonians. King Hezekiah of Judah (727-698 BC) is noted in the Bible for initiating reforms that enforced Jewish laws against idolatry (in this case, the worship of Ba'alim and Asherah, among other traditional Near Eastern divinities). ^[11]^[12] In his reign is also dated the Siloam inscription in Old Hebrew alphabet.

Manasseh of Judah (698-642 BC), sacrificed his son to Molech.^[13] He and his son Amon (reigned 642-640 BC) reversed Hezekiah's reforms and officially revived idolatry. According to later rabbinical accounts, Manasseh placed a grotesque, four-faced idol in the Holy of Holies.

The reign of king Josiah (640-609 BC) was accompanied by a religious reformation. According to the Bible, while repairs were made on the Temple, a 'Book of the Law' was discovered (possibly the book of Deuteronomy).^[14]

In 586 BC, the Babyloníans, under king Nebuchadnezzar II, captured Jerusalem. The First Temple was destroyed as was the city of Jerusalem. Much of the population was deported from the land and dispersed throughout the Babylonian Empire, putting an end to the independent Kingdom of Judah.

The House of David continued to be respected and recognised as leaders of the Babylonian Jewish community as Exilarchs. A Jewish kingdom was revived by the Maccabees four centuries later, in a modified form.

[edit] Prophets of Judah

Amos, born in Judah but prophesied in Israel
Habakkuk
Isaiah, cousin of king Uzziah
Jeremiah
Joel
Micah
Obadiah
Zechariah
Zephaniah

[edit] The Kings of Judah

Kings of Judah
Saul • David • Solomon • Rehoboam • Abijam • Asa • Jehoshaphat • Jehoram • Ahaziah • Athaliah • J(eh)oash • Amaziah • Uzziah/Azariah • Jotham • Ahaz • Hezekiah • Manasseh • Amon • Josiah • Jehoahaz • Jehoiakim • Jeconiah/Jehoiachin • Zedekiah This box: view • talk • edit

The genealogy of the kings of Judah, along with the kings of Israel.

For this period, most historians follow either of the older chronologies established by William F. Albright or Edwin R. Thiele, or the newer chronologies of Gershon Galil or Kenneth Kitchen,^[15] all of which are shown below. All dates are BC.

Albright	Thiele	Galil	Kitchen	Common/Biblical name	Regnal Name and style	Notes

1000–962		1010–970	1010–970	David	דוד בן-ישי מלך ישראל David ben Yishai, Melekh Ysra’el	Reigned over Israel & Judah in Jerusalem for 33 years and 7 years in Hebron, 40 years in total. Death: natural causes
962–922		970–931	971–931	Solomon	שלמה בן-דוד מלך ישראל Shelomoh ben David, Melekh Ysra’el	Reigned over Israel & Judah in Jerusalem for 40 years. Death: natural causes Son of David by Bathsheba, his rights of succession were disputed by his older half-brother Adonijah
922–915	931–913	931–914	931–915	Rehoboam	רחבעם בן-שלמה מלך יהודה Rehav’am ben Shlomoh, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 17 years. Death: natural causes
915–913	913–911	914–911	915–912	Abijam	אבים בן-רחבעם מלך יהודה ’Aviyam ben Rehav’am, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 3 years. Death: natural causes
913–873	911–870	911–870	912–871	Asa	אסא בן-אבים מלך יהודה ’Asa ben ’Aviyam, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 41 years. Death: severe foot disease
873–849	870–848	870–845	871–849	Jehoshaphat	יהושפט בן-אסא מלך יהודה Yehoshafat ben ’Asa, Melekh Yahudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 25 years. Death: natural causes
849–842	848–841	851–843	849–842	Jehoram	יהורם בן-יהושפט מלך יהודה Yehoram ben Yehoshafat, Melekh Yahudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 8 years. Death: severe stomach disease
842–842	841–841	843–842	842–841	Ahaziah	אחזיהו בן-יהורם מלך יהודה ’Ahazyahu ben Yehoram, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 1 year. Death: killed by Jehu, who usurped the throne of Israel
842–837	841–835	842–835	841–835	Athaliah	עתליה בת-עמרי מלכת יהודה ‘Atalyah bat ‘Omri, Malkat Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 6 years. Death: killed by the troops assigned by Jehoiada the Priest to protect Joash. Queen Mother, widow of Jehoram and mother of Ahaziah
837–800	835–796	842–802	841–796	Jehoash	יהואש בן-אחזיהו מלך יהודה Yehoash ben ’Ahazyahu, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 40 years. Death: killed by his officials namely: Zabad, son of Shimeath, a Moabite Woman, and Jehozabad, son of Shimrith, a Moabite Woman.
800–783	796–767	805–776	796–776	Amaziah	אמציה בן-יהואש מלך יהודה ’Amatzyah ben Yehoash, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 29 years. Death: killed in Lachish by the men sent by his officials who conspired against him.
783–742	767–740	788–736	776–736	Uzziah (Azariah)	עזיה בן-אמציה מלך יהודה ‘Uziyah ben ’Amatzyah, Melekh Yehudah עזריה בן-אמציה מלך יהודה ‘Azaryah ben ’Amatzyah, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 52 years. Death: Tzaraas George Syncellus wrote that the First Olympiad took place in Uzziah's 48th regnal year.
742–735	740–732	758–742	750–735/30	Jotham	יותם בן-עזיה מלך יהודה Yotam ben ‘Uziyah, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 16 years. Death: natural causes
735–715	732–716	742–726	735/31–715	Ahaz	אחז בן-יותם מלך יהודה ’Ahaz ben Yotam, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 16 years. Death: natural causes The Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III records he received tribute from Ahaz; compare 2 Kings 16:7-9
715–687	716–687	726–697	715–687	Hezekiah	חזקיה בן-אחז מלך יהודה Hizqiyah ben ’Ahaz, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 29 years. Death: Natural Causes Contemporary with Sennacherib of Assyria and Merodach-Baladan of Babylon.
687–642	687–643	697–642	687–642	Manasseh	מנשה בן-חזקיה מלך יהודה Menasheh ben Hizqiyah, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 55 years. Death: natural causes Mentioned in Assyrian records as a contemporary of Esarhaddon
642–640	643–641	642–640	642–640	Amon	אמון בן-מנשה מלך יהודה ’Amon ben Menasheh, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 2 years. Death: killed by his officials, which were killed later on by the people of Judah.
640–609	641–609	640–609	640–609	Josiah	יאשיהו בן-אמון מלך יהודה Yo’shiyahu ben ’Amon, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 31 years. Death: shot by archers during the battle against Neco of Egypt. He died upon his arrival on Jerusalem.
609	609	609	609	Jehoahaz	יהואחז בן-יאשיהו מלך יהודה Yeho’ahaz ben Yo’shiyahu, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 3 months. Death: Neco, king of Egypt, dethroned him and was replaced by his brother, Eliakim. Carried off to Egypt, where he died.
609–598	609–598	609–598	609–598	Jehoiakim	יהויקים בן-יאשיהו מלך יהודה Yehoyaqim ben Yo’shiyahu, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 11 years. Death: Natural Causes The Battle of Carchemish occurred in the fourth year of his reign (Jeremiah 46:2)
598	598	598–597	598–597	Jehoiachin (Jeconiah)	יהויכין בן-יהויקים מלך יהודה Yehoyakhin ben Yehoyaqim, Melekh Yehudah יכניהו בן-יהויקים מלך יהודה Yekhonyahu ben Yehoyaqim, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 3 months & 10 days. Death: King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon sent for him and brought him to Babylon, where he lived and died. Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians and Jehoiachin deposed on 16 March, 597 BC. Called Jeconiah in Jeremiah and Esther
597–587	597–586	597–586	597–586	Zedekiah	צדקיהו בן-יהויכין מלך יהודה Tzidqiyahu ben Yo’shiyahu, Melekh Yehudah	Reigned over Judah in Jerusalem for 11 years. Death: unknown. His reign saw the second rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar (588-586 BC). Jerusalem was captured after a lengthy siege, the temple burnt, Zedekiah blinded and taken into exile, and Judah reduced to a province.

[edit] 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:

586–539 BC: Babylonian Empire

539–332 BC: Persian Empire

332–305 BC: Empire of Alexander the Great

305–198 BC: Ptolemaics

198–141 BC: Seleucids

141–37 BC: The Hasmonean kingdom in Israel established by the Maccabees, after 63 BC under Roman supremacy

37 BC–70 AD: Herodian Dynasty ruling Judea under Roman supremacy (37 BC–6 AD and 41–44 AD), interchanging with direct Roman rule (6–41 CE and 44–66 AD). This ended in the first Jewish Revolt of 66–73 AD, which saw the Temple destroyed in 70 AD.

6 AD Census of Quirinius and establishment of Roman Iudaea Province

70–395: province of Roman Empire first called Judea, after 135 called Palaestina by the Romans to spite the Jews following the Second Jewish Revolt (The Bar Kokhba Revolt). 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 Ayyubids of Egypt and Damascus

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–June 1967: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, for the Old City of Jerusalem and the larger part of the area; State of Israel for a smaller strip of land in the west

June 1967 to present: State of Israel, with annexed or occupied territories

[edit] References

^ 2 Samuel 5:6-7
^ 2 Kings 25:8-21
^ 2 Kings 25:22-24
^ Jeremiah 40:6-8
^ Judges 4:5
^ 2 Chronicles 13:17-19
^ Joshua 18:20-28, esp 23
^ Joshua 18:28
^ 2 Chronicles 15:9
^ Finkelstein & Silberman 2001,The Bible Unearthed.
^ http://scholar.cc.emory.edu:80/scripts/ASOR/BA/Borowski.html
^ 2 Kings 18-20
^ 2 Kings 21
^ [1] See also 1 Kings 13, 2 Kings 22-23 , 2 Chr 34-35
^ On the Reliability of the Old Testament (2003) by Kenneth Kitchen. Grand Rapids and Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. ISBN 0-8028-4960-1.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

The Jewish History Resource Center Project of the Dinur Center for Research in Jewish History, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Complete Bible Genealogy A synchronized chart of the kings of Judah and Israel

[0] 2 Samuel 5:6-7

[1] 2 Kings 25:8-21

[2] 2 Kings 25:22-24

[3] Jeremiah 40:6-8

[4] Judges 4:5

[5] 2 Chronicles 13:17-19

[6] Joshua 18:20-28, esp 23

[7] Joshua 18:28

[8] 2 Chronicles 15:9

[9] Finkelstein & Silberman 2001,The Bible Unearthed.

[10] ttp://scholar.cc.emory.edu:80/scripts/ASOR/BA/Borowski.html

[11] 2 Kings 18-20

[12] 2 Kings 21

[13] [1] See also 1 Kings 13, 2 Kings 22-23 , 2 Chr 34-35

[14] On the Reliability of the Old Testament (2003) by Kenneth Kitchen. Grand Rapids and Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. ISBN 0-8028-4960-1.

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Kingdom of Judah

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents

[edit] Territory

[edit] History

[edit] Prophets of Judah

[edit] The Kings of Judah

[edit] From the end of the kingdom to the present

[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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