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APPENDIX

CHRONOLOGY

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   In order to establish the chronology of the kings of Judah and Israel, it is vitally important to understand how the years of a king’s reign were reckoned. The year in which a king came to the throne was known as his accession year. His first regnal year, i.e. the first full year of the king’s reign, began on the first day of the New Year following his accession. The period between his actual accession and next New Year’s Day was known as the beginning of the reign.

   Israel, in common with other Near Eastern nations, commenced the new year on the first day of Nisan (our March-April), its first king, Jeroboam, having come from Egypt (1 Kings 12:2–3) where the new year began in the spring. Judah, however, commenced the new year on the first day of Tishri (our September-October).

   Where two or three names are shown together in the list, a co-regency is indicated—it was common for a king to take his son onto the throne with him at his coming of age (usually 12). Regnal years are used.

   Using the list it is clear from Hosea 1:1 that he prophesied from around 790 until shortly before 722 BC.

Kings of united Judah and Israel Saul 1058–1018 BC David 1018–978 Solomon     978–938 Kings of Judah Rehoboam 938–921 Abijah 921–918 Abijah / Asa 918–915 Asa 915–877 Asa / Jehoshophat 877–874 Jehoshaphat 874–852 Jehoram 852–844 Ahaziah 844–843 Athaliah 843–837 Joash 837–797 Amaziah 797–791 Amaziah / Uzziah 791–768 Uzziah 768–751 Uzziah / Jotham 751–739 Jotham 739–735 Jotham / Ahaz 735–731 Ahaz 731–728 Ahaz / Hezekiah 728–715 Hezekiah 715–695 Hezekiah / Manasseh   695–686 Manasseh 686–640 Amon 640–638 Josiah 638–607 Jehoahaz no regnal years (reigned 3 months) Jehoiakim 606–595 Jehoiachin no regnal years (reigned 3 months) Zedekiah 595–585 Kings of Israel Jeroboam I 938–916 Nadab 916–914 Baasha 914–892 Baasha / Elah 892–890 Elah 890–888 Zimri / Tibni / Omri 888–886 Omri 886–879 Omri / Ahab 879–874 Ahab 874–857 Ahab / Ahaziah 857–855 Ahab / Jehoram 855–852 Ahaziah / Jehoram 852–850 Jehoram 850–843 Jehu 843–815 Jehoahaz 815–800 Jehoahaz / Jehoash 800–798 Jehoash 798–793 Jehoash / Jeroboam II 793–782 Jeroboam II 782–752 Zechariah no regnal years (reigned 6 months) Shallum no regnal years (reigned 1 month) Menahem 751–741 Pekahiah 741–739 Pekah 739–731 Hoshea 731–722 End of Kingdom of Israel   722 BC

Later Kings of Assyria

Shalmaneser IV	782–773 BC
Ashurdan III	773–755
Ashurnirari V	755–745
Tiglath-pileser III	745–727
Shalmaneser V	727–722
Sargon II	722–705
Sennacherib	705–681
Esarhaddon	681–669
Ashurbanipal	669–627
Ashuretililani / Sinsharishkun	627–622
Sinshumlishir	622
Sinsharishkun	622–610
Ashuruballit II	610–607
Babylon conquers Assyria	607 BC

 

Shalmaneser III (858–824 BC) receiving tribute from Jehu, king of Israel (see chapter 4)

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