Kings of Israel (Tirzah or Samaria)

'And as they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and cried, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more.'
2 Kings 2:11-12.

There were a few problems with trying to work out the chronology of the kings of Israel and Judah, and some of these problems are described in the relevant sections. Here in the chronology of the Kings of Israel there are some lines of text coloured red that are labelled Error or Pre-corrected Error. These relate to the differences (called delta which is shown by the little red triangle symbol Δ) between the comparative and continuous dates given in the bible. For further explanation on comparative and continuous dating, and delta values see the section in 'The Kings of Judah and Israel Part 1'. These Errors show the comparative date of that particular year of the associated comparative king of Judah and the delta value derived from this date. The Pre-corrected Error, when this occurs, shows the continuous dates of the Israeli king in question if the interregnums had not been added, along with the delta value the Israeli king would have had.

I have also included the conventional dates as given by Edwin R. Thiele in "The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings", this will not agree with my figures here as Thiele includes co-regencies while I haven't and I have inserted interregna where I thought it was necessary into the timeline of the Kings of Israel. Also there is a more complicated concept of the length of some of the kings' reigns in regards to taking in to account non-accession and accession regal time reckoning methods, which I was unaware of previously.

Israel's Entry into Egypt: 2238 years.
Date of Exodus: 2238 years plus 430 years = 2668 years.
Building of the Temple: 2668 years plus 480 years = 3148 years.
Start of Solomon's reign: 3148 years minus 4 years = 3144 years.
End of Solomon's reign: 3148 years plus 40 years = 3184 years.

1. Jeroboam (son of Nebat)

Reigned 22 years (3184 - 3206) 'And the time that Jeroboam reigned was twenty-two years' 1 Kings 14:20.

'the son of Nebat an Ephraimite' 1 Kings 11:26.

'Then Jeroboam built Shechem....and built Penuel' 1 Kings 12:25.

'And there was war between Abijam [king of Judah] and Jeroboam.' 1 Kings 15:7.

Chronology: 3184 years plus 22 years = 3206 years.

2. Nadab (son of Jeroboam)

Reigned 2 years (3206 - 3208) 'Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years.' 1 Kings 15:25.

Chronology: 3206 years plus 2 years = 3208 years.
Error: The second year of Asa is 3206 (3204 +2) Δ 0.

3. Baasha (son of Ahijah)

Reigned 24 years (3208 - 3232) 'In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel at Tirzah, and he reigned twenty-four years.' 1 Kings 15:33.

If Nadab the previous king began his reign in the second year of Asa and then reigned two years it is hard to reconcile this with the statement that Baasha started his reign in the third year of Asa. So the two years of Nadab's reign have probably been rounded upwards from a year or so.

'And as soon as he was king, he killed all the house of Jeroboam; he left not one that breathed.' 1 Kings 15: 29.

'And there was war between Asa [king of Judah] and Baasha king of Israel all their days.' 1 kings 15:16.

Chronology: 3208 years plus 24 years = 3232 years.
Error: The third year of Asa is 3207 (3204 + 3) Δ -1.

4. Elah (son of Baasha)

Reigned 2 years (3232 - 3234) 'In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned two years.' 1 Kings 16:8.

Chronology: 3232 years plus 2 years = 3234 years.
Error: The twenty-sixth year of Asa is 3230 (3204 + 26) Δ -2.

6. Zimri (Commander of half of Elah's Chariots)

Reigned 7 days (3234) 'In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah' 1 Kings 16:15

'He killed all the house of Baasha; he did not leave him a single male of his kinsmen or friends. Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha.' 1King 16:11-12.

Chronology: 3234 years plus 7 days = 3234 years.
Error: The twenty-seventh year of Asa is 3231 (3204 +27) Δ -3.

7. Omri (Commander of the army)

Reigned 12 years (3234 - 3246) 'In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel and reigned twelve years; six he reigned in Tirzah. He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; and he fortified the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.' 1 Kings 16:23-24.

The reign of Omri is given as twelve years, however, if one compares the comparative date when he started his reign, which was in the thirty-first year of Asa with the start date for Ahab whose reign starts in the thirty-eighth year of Asa, this would give an actual reign of seven years.

Chronology: 3234 years plus 12 years = 3246 years.
Error: The thirty-first year of Asa is 3235 (3204 + 31) Δ +1.

8. Ahab (son of Omri)

Reigned 22 years (3246 - 3268) 'In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.' 1 Kings 16:29.

Chronology: 3246 years plus 22 years = 3268 years.
Error: The thirty-eighth year of Asa is 3242 (3204 + 38) Δ -4.

9. Ahaziah (son of Ahab)

Reigned 2 years (3268 - 3270) 'Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel.' 1 Kings 22:51.

'As they were both standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle, and rolled it up, and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry land.' 2 Kings 2:7-8.

'And as they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and cried, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more.' 2 Kings 2:11-12.

'Ahaziah had no son.' 2 Kings 1:17.

Chronology: 3268 years plus 2 years = 3270 years.
Error: The seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat is 3262 (3245 + 17) Δ -6.

10. Jehoram (brother of Ahaziah, son of Ahab)

Reigned 12 years (3270 - 3282) 'In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Jehoram [Joram] the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twelve years.' 2 Kings 3:1.

This king should not be confused with Jehoram king of Judah who was the son of Jehoshaphat, and not the son of Ahab and brother of Ahaziah.

'And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and shot Joram between the shoulders, so the arrow pierced his heart.' 2 Kings 9:24.

Chronology: 3270 years plus 12 years = 3282 years.
Error: The eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat is 3263 (3245 + 18) Δ -7.

11. Jehu (son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi)

Reigned 28 years (3282 - 3310) ' The time that Jehu reigned over Israel was twenty-eight years.' 2 Kings 10:36.

'Thus Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram [Jehoram].' 2 Kings 9:14.

Jehu is contemporary with Ahaziah of Judah as within a short time of becoming king he kills Ahaziah. 2 Kings 9:27. So the timeline is up to three years out as Ahaziah dies in 3279.

Chronology: 3282 years plus 28 years = 3310 years.

12. Jehoahaz (son of Jehu)

Reigned 17 years (3310 - 3327) 'In the twenty-third year of Jo'ash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.' 2 Kings 13:1.

Notice that the reign of Jehoahaz starts in the twenty-third year of Jo'ash, the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah and that Jeho'ash the son of Jeho'ahaz, the next king of Israel begins his reign in the thirty-seventh year of Jo'ash, the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah. This makes a possible reign for Jehoahaz of only 14 years and this discrepancy is picked up in the changing value of delta.

Chronology: 3310 years plus 17 years = 3327 years.
Error: The twenty-third year of Jo'ash is 3309 (3286 + 23) Δ -1.

13. Jehoash (also known as Joash, son of Jehoahaz)

Reigned 16 years (3327 - 3343) 'In the thirty-seventh year of Jo'ash king of Judah Jeho'ash the son of Jeho'ahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years.' 2 Kings 13:10

Chronology: 3327 years plus 16 years = 3343 years.
Error: The thirty-seventh year of Jo'ash is 3323 (3286 + 37) Δ -4.

14. Jeroboam II (son of Jehoash)

Reigned 41 years (3343 - 3384) 'In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Jo'ash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years.' 2 Kings 14:23.

Now Amaziah (king of Judah) reigns for 29 years, so there are another 14 years left of his reign, and the next king of Judah after Amaziah is Azariah. The next king of Israel after Jeroboam II is Zechariah who becomes king of Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Azariah's reign. So assuming that Azariah's reign follows directly on to the reign of Amaziah, and there is no reason to suppose that it doesn't, it is possible to show a large error here between the continuous and the comparative dating.

The 14 years left from Amaziah's reign (after deducting 15 years) can be added to the 38 year of Azariah's reign at which time the reign of Zechariah's reign begins. This would equal 52 years, and yet the length of Jeroboam's reign is only 41 years, and this leaves an eleven year period unaccounted for. If one takes the time up to the next Israeli king who reigns for more than just a few years, Menahem, who reigns for 10 years and whose reign begins in the thirty-ninth year of Azariah then the gap is 12 years. This gap of about twelve years is reflected in the difference between the continuous and comparative dating. This strongly suggests that there needs to be an interregnum of at least 11 years inserted at this point, and this is what I have done. See the introduction and the section about dating problems for more details.

Chronology: 3343 years plus 41 years = 3384 years.
Error: The fifteenth year of Amaziah is 3341 (3326 + 15) Δ -2.

Interregnum +11 years.

Chronology: 3384 years plus 11 years = 3395 years

15. Zechariah (son of Jeroboam)

Reigned 6 months (3395) 'In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months.' 2 Kings 15:8.

'Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him down at Ibleam' 2 Kings 15:10.

Chronology: 3395 years plus 6 months = 3395 years.
Error: The thirty-eighth year of Azariah is 3393 (3355 + 38) Δ -2.
Pre-corrected error: Zechariah (3384) Δ +9.

The pre-corrected error here is what the error would have been if the Interregnum had not been added.

16. Shallum (son of Jabesh)

Reigned 1 month (3396) 'Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah [Azariah] king of Judah, and he reigned one month in Samaria.' 2 Kings 15:13.

Chronology: 3395 years plus 1 month = 3396 years.
The year becomes 3396 after one month because of comparative dating.
Error: The thirty-ninth year of Uzziah [Azariah] is 3394 (3355 + 39) Δ -2.
Pre-corrected error: Shallum (3384) Δ +10.

17. Menahem (son of Gadi)

Reigned 10 years (3396 - 3406) 'In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah [Uzziah] king of Judah Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria.' 2 Kings 15:17.

Chronology: 3396 years plus 10 years = 3406 years.
Error: The thirty-ninth year of Azariah [Uzziah] is 3394 (3355 +39) Δ -2.
Pre-corrected error: Menahem (3384 - 3394) Δ +10.

18. Pekahiah (son of Menahem)

Reigned 2 years (3406 - 3408) 'In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years.' 2 Kings 15:23. 'And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his [Pekahiah] captain conspired against him ...and slew him .' 2 kings 15:25.

Chronology: 3406 years plus 2 years = 3408 years.
Error: The fiftieth year of Azariah is 3405 (3355 + 50) Δ -1.
Pre-corrected error: Pekahiah (3394 - 3396) Δ +11.

19. Pekah (son of Remaliah, Pekahiah's captain)

Reigned 20 years (3408 - 3428) 'In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years.' 2 Kings 15:27.

'Tiglathpileser king of Assyria came and captured' the surrounding area 2 Kings 15:29.

'The Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah and struck him down and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah' 2 Kings 15:30.

Jotham was supposed to have reigned for only 16 years so it is strange that here he is said to have reigned 20 years. Maybe he reigned longer than 16 years but was a co-regent with his father for a few years prior to being a king in his own right. If this scenario were correct it still would not account for the sudden error of 7 years that occurs between the continuous and comparative dating at the start of Hoshea's reign.

Chronology: 3408 years plus 20 years = 3428 years.
Error 1: The fifty-second year of Azariah is 3407 (3355 + 52) Δ -1.
Error 2: The twentieth year of Jotham would have been 3427 (3407 + 20) Δ -1
(This is a comparative dating of the end of the reign of Pekah, i.e. 3408 +20 = 3428).
Pre-corrected error: Pekak (3396 - 3416) Δ +11.

Interregnum +7 years

Chronology: 3428 years plus 7 years = 3435 years.

20. Hoshea (son of Elah)

Reigned 9 years (3435 - 3444) 'In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel, and he reigned nine years.' 2 Kings 17:1.

'[Shalmaneser] king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea for he had sent messagers to So king of Egypt' 2 Kings 17:4.

'In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it and at the end of three years he took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. The king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria, and put them in Halah, and on Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes' 2 Kings 18:9-11.

Chronology: 3435 years plus 9 years = 3444 years.
Error 1: The twelfth year of Ahaz king is 3435 (3423 + 12) Δ 0.
Error 2: The fourth year of King Hezekiah is 3443 (3439 + 4), and the seventh year of Hoshea is 3442 (3435 + 7) Δ +1.
Error 3: The sixth year of King Hezekiah is 3445 (3439 + 6), and the ninth year of Hoshea is 3444 (3435 + 9) Δ +1.
Pre-corrected error 1: Hoshea (3416 - 3425) Δ +19.
Pre-corrected error 2: The fourth year of King Hezekiah is 3443 and the seventh year of Hoshea was 3423 (3416 + 7) Δ +20.