8. From the beginning of the Temple to its destruction

The book of Chronicles gives a complete list of Kings and their dates matching the 390 year period from the death of Solomon to the destruction of the Temple (Ezek 4.4-5).

Then lie on your left side, and place the punishment of the house of Israel upon it; you shall bear their punishment for the number of the days that you lie there.  For I assign to you a number of days, three hundred ninety days, equal to the number of the years of their punishment; and so you shall bear the punishment of the house of Israel. (Ezek 4.4-5)

The book of Kings gives dates for both Israel and Judah together with the relative dates between the two and in the period leading up to the fall of Samaria.  Some of the dates need to be read carefully.

There are two particular points of comparison, the year in which Jehu slew both Jehoram of Israel and Ahaziah of Judah, and the fall of Samaria.  The period in between these two events is that which is most confusing and it was again a time of turmoil.

The date given here for the fall of  Samaria is 3286 whereas Ussher gives the date as 3283.  Ussher's date may well be more accurate.  The date given here is based on simply adding up the various numbers  in the Bible but inevitably because these are almost always in terms of years alone discrepancies of a few months here and there can easily build up.  

2989 Solomon begins to reign (1015BC)
2993 Building of Temple begun
3000 Temple complete
3029 Death of Solomon
Judah Israel
3029 Rehoboam (1 Ki 14.21) Jeroboam (1 Ki 14.20)
3046 Nebat (1 Ki 15.1-2)
3049 Asa (1 Ki 15.9-10)
3051 Nadab (1 Ki 15.25)
3052 Baasha (1 Ki 15.33)
3075 Elah (1 Ki 16.8)
3076 Zimri (1 Ki 16.10)
3076 Two rival kings in Israel for 5 years
Tibni  &  Omri
3081 Omri alone (1 Ki 16.23)
3087 Ahab (1 Ki 16.29)
3090 Jehoshaphat (1 Ki 22.41-42)
3109 Ahaziah son of Ahab (1 Ki 22.51)
3111 Jehoram son of Ahab (2 Ki  3.1)
3115 Jehoram (1 Ki 8.16-17)
3122 Ahaziah (1 Ki 8.25-26)
3123 Jehu slays both Ahaziah and Jehoram.
Athaliah, granddaughter of Omri of Israel, attempts to purge the royal seed and reigns.
3123 Athaliah (2 Ki 11.3) Jehu (2 Ki 10.36)
3128 Joash (2 Ki 11.21-12.1)
3150 Jehoahaz (2 Ki 13.1)
3166 Jehoash (2 Ki 13.10)
3167 Amaziah (2 Ki 14.1-2)
3169 Jeroboam apparently co-regent (See Appendix B)
3182 Jeroboam (2 Ki 14.23)
3196 Azariah (Uzziah) (2 Ki 15.1)
3123 Death of Jeroboam (2 Ki 14.23)
11 years when no King mentioned
3234 Zechariah (2 Ki 15.2)
3235 Shallum (2 Ki 15.13)
3235 Manahem (2 Ki 15.17)
3246 Pekahiah (2 Ki 15.23)
3247 Pekah (2 Ki 15.27)
Azariah leprous, Jotham rules
3248 Jotham (2 Ki 15.32-33)
3264 Ahaz (2 Ki 16.2-2)
3268 Conspiracy in which Pekah killed (2 Ki 15.30)
Hoshea ruling but not King
3277 Hoshea (2 Ki 17.1) becomes king
3280 Hezekiah (2 Ki 18.1-2)
3284 Siege of Samaria
3286 Fall of Samaria
3308 Manasseh (2 Chr 33.1)
3363 Amon (2 Chr 33.21)
3365 Josiah (2 Chr 34.1)
3396 Jehoahaz (2 Chr 36.2)
3397 Jehoiakim (2 Chr 36.5)
3407 Jehoiachin (2 Chr 36.9)
3407 Zedekiah (2 Chr 36.11)
3418 Temple destroyed (586BC)


>> Appendix A : What is Paul referring to in  Acts 13.20?

© David Phillips 1995-2021