Samuel the prophet – God would lead Samuel to oversee the beginning of one of the most vile and destructive periods in the history of Israel. (The age of the Kings.) God anointed him to lead Israel from a time when God used judges to guide it to being ruled by kings. During Samuel's life, he anointed two kings. The first was Saul, who was God's choice according to the people's desire, and the second was David, who was God's choice according to His desire. 

 

Samuel was very faithful to God, and when he spoke to kings, it came directly from God Himself. He was sharp and bold and was used by God to confront sin. He loved Israel and gave his life to serve God in guiding them. 1 Samuel 7 

 

The time of the kings – After the period of the Judges, the people of Israel insisted on being ruled by a king, so Israel entered a new era in which kings would rule over them. The land of Israel saw many different rulers and faced many enemies. Very few faithful kings would rule over God's people; therefore, the land of Israel saw great affliction and distress because of their wickedness. Only a few faithful men judged Israel with righteous intent. The ones who did saw the great blessings of God upon them and their people. 

 

The people wanted a king – The first king was chosen because of Israel's mistrust of God. Their unwillingness to trust God as their King led them to desire a king from among them to reign in Israel, as they saw the other nations do. God desired that He be the one true spiritual King of Israel, but they could not be obedient to the Spirit and needed a man to rule over them. 1 Samuel 8

 

The first King – Because of Israel's lust, God told the prophet, Samuel, to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel. He reigned as king for forty years. Even though Saul had a well-established prophet, Samuel, to guide his rule as king, he could not remain faithful to God. Saul was often disobedient to God, which would cost him the kingdom. God told Samuel to remove Saul from being king of Israel. After Saul, God gave the kingdom to David, who was faithful to rule according to God's will. David was the king God needed to establish a great covenant with Israel. 1 Samuel 9-10

 

David reigns as King of all Israel – God Himself chose David, a man after His own heart, to rule Israel. Called and chosen as a young shepherd boy, David was a king who would fall into sin as others did, but because his heart was after God, he always found favor and repentance in the eyes of the Lord, something other kings could not do. 

 

When God commanded David, he always did right before the Lord. Because of David's faithfulness to God, God did not forget Israel, and Jesus Christ would sit on his throne. Before David reigned as king, Israel was a divided land and people. It was King David who unified the land of Israel, both north and south. 

 

He also unified Israel as a people and a nation, showing us an example of a righteous king bringing together the body of Christ as one kingdom of God.

 

David was the greatest King ever to rule Israel, and God showed great favor toward Israel because of the anointing on David's life. As a boy, he taught us how to overcome a lion and a bear, then defeat a giant with just a stone. As a man, he taught us how to rule righteously and obey God. But when we sin, our sin is against God alone, and therefore God alone can forgive us with great love. David's legacy would establish a throne for Jesus Christ to sit upon. 1 Samuel 1-13; 2 Samuel 2; 2 Samuel 5

 

Solomon anointed King – While David was alive, God promised him that his heir would sit on his throne. So when David died, God chose Solomon, David's son, and gave him great wisdom to lead Israel. Solomon was the wisest of all kings and had great wealth. 1 Kings 1-4

 

Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem – By the word of the Lord, Solomon built God a temple in Jerusalem. This temple was a type of the temple of Jesus Christ in the New Jerusalem. Though it was likened to the tabernacle of Moses, it differed from it in that it was now a permanent building established in the city of God, Jerusalem, rather than a wandering tabernacle seeking a home. 1 Kings 5-7

 

Solomon loved many women – Although most of Solomon's life was in faithfulness to God, he loved and married many strange women of other nations who served other gods at the end of his life. These women turned his heart away from the Lord. 1 Kings 11

 

Because of this, he set up strange gods in Israel and led the people to worship them. There was much effect that followed Solomon's rebellion. For the nation of Israel, it would mean years of separation from God, filled with much sorrow.

 

The kingdom divided – Because Solomon did not keep his covenant with the Lord, the kingdom was taken from him and divided into two parts. North, which is Israel, and south, which is Judah, separating the twelve tribes. Remember that Israel was made up of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, so when Israel divided, ten tribes would abide in the north and two tribes in the south. The seed of David (the tribe of Judah) would stay in Jerusalem, in Judah, where the temple of God is. Jesus is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The tribe of Benjamin also remained in the south with Judah. 1 Kings 11:29-12:33

 

The northern Kingdom of Israel – The northern kingdom was ruled by King Jeroboam, the first of many northern kings,Israel established itself in Samaria. This northern kingdom was known as Ephraim, adding a reference to the son of Joseph. Idols were set up in place of the Lord, and Israel (in the north) would not see one righteous king sit on the throne.

 

Kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel

(All wicked kings, not one is righteous).

 

1. Jeroboam 1 (22 years), who reigned from 931–910 BC. He set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan to prevent people from returning to Jerusalem and instituted an alternative priesthood and feast days. He set the stage for every king of the north to reign with evil intent. Nearly every later king is compared to him—"He caused Israel to sin." 1 Kings 22:52

2. Nadab (about 2 years)

3. Baasha (24 years)

4. Elah (2 years)

5. Zimri ( 7 days)

6. Omri (12 years)

7. Ahab, married to Jezebel (22 years), who reigned from 874–853 BC. He was considered one of the worst kings in the Old Testament. He was married to Jezebel, a Sidonian princess who promoted Baal and Asherah worship. Ahab built a temple to Baal in Samaria and oversaw widespread idolatry and persecution of prophets. He was well known for his conflicts with the prophet Elijah (the Mt. Carmel showdown). Ahab's son Ahaziah, after him, also continued in Ahab's sin.

8. Ahaziah (2 years)

9. Jehoram (12 years)

10. Jehu (28 years)

11. Jehoahaz (17 years)

12. Jehoash (16 years)

13. Jeroboam II (41 years)

14. Zachariah (6 months)

15. Shallum (1 month)

16. Menahem (10 years)

17. Pekahiah (2 years)

18. Pekah (20 years)

19. Hoshea (9 years), the last king of Israel, was conquered by Assyria, and his people were scattered throughout the nations.

 

The southern Kingdom of Judah – Ruled by Rehoboam, Judah established itself in Jerusalem. Rehoboam was the first king of the south, who was the son of Solomon. Wickedness would be a consistent pattern in Judah. Only a few kings would follow the Lord to preserve the temple of God in Jerusalem. 

 

After the kingdom split (after Solomon), the Southern Kingdom of Judah had a mixture of good and evil kings. The Bible identifies a handful as good, meaning they followed the LORD, upheld His covenant, and led spiritual reform (though some had flaws).

 

Kings of the Southern Kingdom of Judah

(Good kings are in bold)

 

1. Rehoboam (17 years

2. Abijah (Abijam) (3 years)

3. Asa (41 years) removed idols, repaired the altar of the LORD, and led spiritual reform. He relied on God early in his reign, though stumbled later—but still considered a good king. 1 Kings 15:9–15; 2 Chronicles 14–16

4. Jehoshaphat (25 years) walked in the ways of his father, Asa. He sent teachers throughout Judah to instruct the people in the Law and trusted God in battle. 1 Kings 22:41–43; 2 Chronicles 17–20

5. Jehoram (8 years)

6. Ahaziah (1 year)

7. Athaliah's usurpation (6 years)

8. Joash (Jehoash) (40 years)

9. Amaziah (29 years)

10. Uzziah (Azariah) (52 years)

11. Jotham (16 years) did what was right and strengthened Judah militarily and spiritually. 2 Kings 15:32–34; 2 Chronicles 27

12. Ahaz (16 years)

13. Hezekiah (29 years) was one of Judah's greatest kings. He removed high places, destroyed idols, and restored Temple worship because he trusted the LORD completely. God delivered Judah from the Assyrians during his reign. 2 Kings 18–20; 2 Chronicles 29–32

14. Manasseh (55 years)

15. Amon (2 years)

16. Josiah (31 years) was the most faithful king since David. He found the Book of the Law and led the greatest reform in Judah's history: destroyed idols, and renewed the covenant with the Lord. The Passover he held was the greatest since the time of the judges. 2 Kings 22–23; 2 Chronicles 34–35

17. Jehoahaz (Josiah's son) (3 months)

18. Jehoiakim (Josiah's son) (11 years)

19. Jehoiachin (Jeconiah), Jehoiakim's son (3 months)

20. Zedekiah (Mattaniah), Josiah's son (11 years old), the last king of Judah, was captured by Nebuchadnezzar and taken to Babylon.

 

Note: Because the kings of Israel and Judah were unfaithful to God, both Israel (north) and Judah (south) were disobedient to God as nations. In the end, both were captured and put into captivity by Assyria and Babylon.

 

Prophets of Israel – During the reign of the Kings, before their enemies overtook them, God raised prophets, also known as seers, to reveal God's will to all of Israel and Judah. They were seers because they could see in the Spirit through dreams and visions, and they led Israel accordingly. Having a prophet is like having a personal connection with God.

 

These prophets continued to bring the word of the Lord to Israel and Judah, reprove them of their sin, and guide them insalvation, prosperity, and deliverance from their enemies. All the prophets, except a few, were rejected and killed, causing God to bring destruction upon His people again and use their enemies to do it. 

 

God has always brought warnings before destruction. Even in the earliest times of Israel's journeys through the wilderness, God was faithful to save them from hunger and thirst and to meet any other necessities they had. But Israel could not control their lust to follow other gods and always rebelled against the truth. They didn't want to be blessed by God; instead, they wanted to live in wickedness.

 

From Moses to Samuel, Isaiah to Jeremiah, and Ezekiel to Daniel, God never failed in bringing His people an answer out of any trouble they faced. If only His people could obey His voice.

 

The only time the people of God were not destroyed was when they obeyed the words of the prophets of God. Obedience is a key to prosperity. Without a prophet, the one who has the vision of God, the people will always be destroyed and perish. This proved true once again in the nations of Israel and Judah.  

 

2 Chronicles 36:15-16 The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy.

 

The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered and scattered – After many wicked kings in northern Israel, God gave Israel over to their enemies to be destroyed. Assyria overtook the northern kingdom, and all the people were scattered among the nations. This included the ten tribes of Israel, who were still in the north. Because of many years of war, rebellion, disobedience, captivity, and every wicked work, Israel (Samaria) would finally be captured and scattered, never to rise again as Israel.  Complete account in 2 Kings 17; 2 Kings 18:9-12

 

2 Kings 18:12 Because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. They neither listened nor obeyed.

 

(Samaria would not be restored to salvation until after Jesus began His work there, beginning with the woman at the well. It was later that Phillip, the evangelist, and the apostles brought a revival to Samaria in the book of Acts.) You will find many references in the Old and New Testaments concerning those who are scattered. God promised that He would eventually return His people, whom His enemies had scattered, to their rightful home.

 

The Southern Kingdom of Judah was conquered and captured – Even with a few righteous Kings, Judah continued to rebel as a people, denying the prophets that God sent them. God turned the southern kingdom of Judah over to the King of Babylon, who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, and burned it with fire. He then carried them away into captivity for seventy years. Judah was destroyed roughly 136 years after the Northern Kingdom of Israel was captured. 2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36:9-16; Jeremiah 39; you can also read Jeremiah's lament over Jerusalem in the Book of Lamentations. 

 

This kingdom also had plenty of opportunities to repent from evil and follow the Lord. Because there were a few righteous kings in Judah, God spared them on many occasions, but that favor would not last. In the end, God brought them to captivity but did not destroy them. One reason was that God loved King David. He made him a promise that his seed would bring forth Jesus Christ, so they were only captured and put into captivity for a short time. (You will read about this in part 10).

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​Extra Content: Prophets List During the Time of the Kings.

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Samuel - prophesied to King Saul (1st King of Israel), anointed David as King. Life is detailed in the book of 1Samuel (1 Samuel 2:35; 3:19-20); Acts 3:24; 13:20-23, Hebrews 11:32

 

Prophet (2) - company of prophets (who’s not named; during the time Samuel the prophet), King Saul prophesied with them. 1 Samuel 10:5-16; 19:20-24

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David - father of Jesus, anointed King of Israel (2nd King of united Israel) As well as reading his life’s example in 1-2Samuel and 1-2Chronicles, many of his writings are found in the book of Psalms; Acts 2:29-30; 13:20-23; Romans 1:3

 

Gad - prophesied to King David (2nd King of united Israel). 1 Samuel 22:5; 2 Samuel 24:11-14,18-19; 1 Chronicles 21:9-19; 29:29; 2 Chronicles 29:25

 

Nathan - prophesied to King David (2nd King of united Israel). 2 Samuel 7:1-7; 1 Chronicles 17:1-15; 2 Samuel 11:1-13; 23:39; 2 Samuel 11:14-27; 2 Samuel 12:1-12; 2 Samuel 13-18; 1 Kings 1; 2 Samuel 12:14

 

Asaph - a seer for King David (2nd King of united Israel) who prophesied with instruments in the tabernacle. 1 Chronicles 6:31-32,39; 1 Chronicles 15:1-19; 1 Chronicles 16:4-5, 7-37; 25:1-9; 29:30; 2 Chronicles 35:15 (His name appears in the superscriptions of Psalms 50; 73-83)

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Heman - a seer for King David (2nd King of united Israel) who prophesied with instruments in the tabernacle. 1 Chronicles 6:31-32,39; 1 Chronicles 15:1-19; 1 Chronicles 16:4-5, 7-37; 25:1-9; 2 Chronicles 35:15

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Jeduthun - a seer for King David (2nd King of united Israel) who prophesied with instruments in the tabernacle. 1 Chronicles 6:31-32,39; 1 Chronicles 15:1-19; 1 Chronicles 16:4-5, 7-37; 25:1-9; 2 Chronicles 35:15

 

Agur - prophesied unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal. Proverbs 30

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Ahijah - prophesied to King Jeroboam (1st King of northern Israel). 1Kings 11:29-39; 2Chronicles 10:15; 1Kings 14:1-17; 15:28-30

 

Shemaiah - prophesied to King Rehoboam (1st King of the southern kingdom of Judah). 1King 12:22-24; 2Chronicles 11:2-4; 12:5-12, 15

 

Man of God (1) - (who’s not named) - came out of Judah to prophesy to King Jeroboam (1st King of northern Israel). 1Kings 13; 2Kings 23:16-18

 

Prophet (3) - an old prophet (who’s not named) that prophesied against the man of God who disobeyed the Lord (during the reign of King Jeroboam, 1st King of northern Israel). 1Kings 13; 2Kings 23:16-18

 

Iddo - a prophet and seer who recorded the events of King Solomon’s reign concerning King Jeroboam (1st King of northern Israel). 2Chronicles 9:29; 12:15; 13:22

 

Azariah - prophesied to King Asa of Judah (3rd King of the southern kingdom of Judah). 2Chronicles 15:1-15

 

Hanani - a seer who prophesied to King Asa (3rd King of the southern kingdom of Judah). 2Chronicles 16:1-10

 

Jehu - prophesied against King Baasha (3rd King of northern Israel). 2Chronicles 16:7;1Kings 16:1-7; prophesied to King Jehoshaphat (4th King of the southern kingdom of Judah) 2Chronicles 19:1-3; 2Chronicles 20:34

 

Elijah - prophesied to King Ahab and Jezebel (8th King of northern Israel), and also prophesied to King Jehoram (5th King of the southern kingdom of Judah) by letter. 1Kings 17 - 2Kings 2; 2Chronicles 21:12-20; Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 11:12-15; 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-9

 

Jahaziel - prophesied in the congregation before King Jehoshaphat (4th King of the southern kingdom of Judah). 2Chronicles 20:14-18

 

Eliezer - prophesied against King Jehoshaphat (4th King of the southern kingdom of Judah). 2Chronicles 20:35-37

 

Prophet (4) - 100 prophets (who’s not named; during the time Elijah the prophet) that were hidden by Obadiah (governor of the house of Ahab) in a cave from Jezebel (wife of King Ahab 8th King of northern Israel). 1Kings 18:4,13

 

Prophet (5) - (who’s not named; during the time Elijah the prophet) - Prophesied to King Ahab (8th King of northern Israel). 1Kings 20:13-27

 

Man of God (2) - (who’s not named) - Prophesied to King Ahab (8th King of northern Israel). 1Kings 20:28

 

Prophet (6) - (who’s not named; of the sons of the prophets; during the time Elijah the prophet) - Prophesied to King Ahab (8th King of northern Israel). 1Kings 20:35-43

 

Micaiah - prophesied to King Ahab (8th King of northern Israel). 1Kings 22; 2Chronicles 18

 

Elisha - a prophet with a double portion of the prophet Elijah. Lived and prophesied in Israel during Kings Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram, Jehu, and Jehoahaz reigns (8th - 12th Kings of northern Israel). 1Kings 19 - 2Kings 13 (2Kings 5:8)

 

Prophet (7) - (who’s not named; of the sons of the prophets; during the time Elisha the prophet). 2Kings 2:3-15; 2Kings 4:1, 38-44; 5:22; 6:1

 

Prophet (8) - (who’s not named; the young man the prophet; during the time Elisha the prophet) Prophesied to (King) Jehu (11th King of northern Israel). 2Kings 9:1-10

 

Zechariah (son of Jehoiada, the priest) - prophesied to King Joash (8th King of the southern kingdom of Judah). 2Chronicles 24:20-25; Matthew 23:34-35

 

Man of God (3) - (who’s not named) - Prophesied to King Amaziah (9th King of the southern kingdom of Judah) (*Note: this man of God could be the same man that is a prophet in verse 15 of this chapter). 2Chronicles 25:7-9

 

Prophet (9) - (who’s not named) - Prophesied to King Amaziah (9th King of the southern kingdom of Judah). 2Chronicles 25:15-16

 

Jonah - prophesied to Israel during the reign of King Jeroboam II (14th King of northern Israel) -prophesied to turn Nineveh (capital of Syria), to repentance. Book of Jonah; 2Kings 14:23-26

 

Amos - prophesied in Israel to King Jeroboam II (14th King of northern Israel), also during the reign of King Uzziah (10th King of the southern kingdom of Judah), two years before the earthquake. Amos 1; 7:14-15; 9:11-15 (also remembered by the Apostle James in the counsel of Jerusalem when declaring God’s work in the Gentile Acts 15:13-17)

 

Isaiah -prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (10th - 13th Kings of the southern kingdom of Judah). Book of Isaiah; 2Kings 19-20; 2Chronicles 26:22; 32:20, 32; Matthew 1:22-23

 

Hosea - prophesied in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (10th - 13th Kings of the southern kingdom of Judah), and in the days of King Jeroboam II (14th King of northern Israel). Book of Hosea

 

Micah - prophesied in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (11th - 13th Kings of the southern kingdom of Judah), which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. Book of Micah

 

Oded - prophesied in the days of Ahaz (12th King of the southern kingdom of Judah), to a host that went up to Samaria with the captives of Judah. 2Chronicles 28:9-11

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Northern Kingdom of Israel Falls to Assyria (Samaria is taken and the Israelites are scattered to enemy nations. This is the end of northern Israel)

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Nahum - prophesied to the King of Assyria and the destruction of Nineveh (capital of Syria). Book of Nahum

 

Obadiah - prophesied against Edom (Esau and his generations). Book of Obadiah

 

Joel - prophesied concerning the great day of the Lord. Book of Joel

 

Prophet (10) - (who’s not named; the Lord’s servants the prophets) Prophesied to Manasseh (14th King of the southern kingdom of Judah). 2Kings 21:10-15

 

Zephaniah - presumed to have prophesied in the days of King Josiah (16th King of the southern kingdom of Judah). Book of Zephaniah

 

Huldah - a prophetess, prophesied to King Josiah (16th King of the southern kingdom of Judah). 2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34

 

Jeremiah - prophesied in the days of King Josiah (16th King of the southern kingdom of Judah), and King Johoiakim (17th King of the southern kingdom of Judah), unto the end of King Zedekiah (20th King of the southern kingdom of Judah), unto the carrying away of Jerusalem into captivity. Book of Jeremiah; Book of Lamentations; (Jeremiah 1:5); 2Chronicles 36:21-22; Ezra 1:1; (Jeremiah has a confrontation with a prophet named Hananiah, Jeremiah 28)

 

Urijah - prophesied to King Jehoiamkim (18th King of the southern kingdom of Judah). Jeremiah 26:20-23

 

Habakkuk - prophesied during the reigns of King Josiah and King Jehoiakim (16th and 18th Kings of the southern kingdom of Judah). Book of Habakkuk

 

Southern Kingdom of Judah Falls to Babylon (the temple is destroyed and Jerusalem is burned with fire, and the Israelites are carried away to Babylon)

 

Two Prophets prophesied during Israel's Captivity.

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Ezekiel - prophesies among the captives during the 70 years of captivity. Book of Ezekiel

 

Daniel - Prophesied as a captive in Babylon. Book of Daniel; Ezekiel 14;14, 20; Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14