All end up in Captivity:

Israel taken captive by Assyria - Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire - II Kings 18:9-12
Judah by Babylon - Babylon, the capital of the Babylonian Empire -

• Nadab - walked in the sins of his father. Reigned 2 years, Killed by Baash, who slew all the house of Jeroboam.
• Baasha - walked in the sins of Jeroboam.  Fought with Judah - Judah hired Assryia to attack him.
• Elah - assassinated while he was drunk.
• Zimri - reigned 7 days - was burnt to death.
• Omri - wicked above all who had been before him.
• Ahab - wickedest of all the kings of Israel.  Married Jezebel  (Elijah was the news during this time)
• Ahaziah - wicked like his father.
• Jehoram
• Hazael
• Jehu - annointed by Elisha - had his troubles with Assyria as he tried to clean house of Baalism.
• Jeroboam
• Pekah

• some short reigns: 1,2,3,8,11 years - one as short at 3 months
• some long reigns: 25,,29,31,40,41,52 years
• many wicked things - some good things!
• the people's benefits or sufferings depended on their king
• Unfortunately, God's people never did 'live happily ever after!'

• great reform
• broke down altars
• tore down high places
• removed pillars
• destroyed sun images
• put away Sodomites
• removed mother from being queen because she worshipped an idol
• died with foot disease - I Kings 15:23

• kept his fathers policies - emulated him "reigned in his stead" - II Chronicles 14:2
• one of the best kings - I Kings 15:24
• sought the Lord in all things
• provided public religious instruction with the 'book of the law.'  II Chronicles 17:7-9
• established courts of justice - checked the judges to do right right!  II Chronicles 19:5-10
• maintained a vast army
• waxed exceeding great
• However:
• he manifested weakness in his alliance with wicked kings. I Kings 22:1-36

• bad king
• married Jezebelles daughter, Athaliah (reigned later for 6 years)
• Jerusalem was plundered
• died a shameful death to the people and a horrible death from God - II Chronicles 21:18-20

JOASH

• Did well
• cleared land of Baalism
• repaired the temple
• restored worship to God
• However:
• When Joash was 7, he was just a pawn of his uncle, the high priest Jehoiada
• eventually apostatized when Jehoiada died
• stoned to death
• people came and plundered Jerusalem

• Did right
• but not with a perfect heart. II Chronicles 25:1-2
• fell into apostasy - II Chronicles 25:11-15;
• served gods of Edom
• Jerusalem plundered

• As long as he sought God, God made him prosper - I Chronicles 28:9
• huge army - best equipment
• victorious over Philistines, Arabians, Ammonites
• paid great attention to agriculture
• Greatest kingdom since the division after Solomon
• However:
• II Chronicles 26:16
• became arrogant
• God smote him with leprosy

• Very little known or recorded
• He became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God!
• He rebuilt the temple gates

• wicked young king
• went against his father's policies
• reintroduced Baal worship
• burnt his own sons in the fire - II Chronicles 28:3
• "But it helped him not!"   -  II Chronicles 28:21 - For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.
• Attacked from N,E, & W.
• Judah was brought very low!

What a mess, eh!  And it still is to this day!

However, we will still look at a few kings worth learning from in better detail!  ENSAMPLES

Hezekiah
Manasseh
Amon
Josiah
Jehoiakim
Jehoiachin (Jeconiah)
Zedekiah