Kings & Prophets Timeline

We cannot understand the prophets without knowing their context. They spoke into specific situations. If we do not know those situations, we cannot understand what they were talking about.

CAUTION: Some of the dates are uncertain. For example, some people date Obadiah and Joel as the earliest prophets but others would place them among the latest. You will simply have to compare the suggestions and see which you think is most likely (or recognise the various options). Sorry about that but nobody knows for sure.

Even the dates of the kings are best estimates based on the clues we have.

The dates given indicate the time of the king's reign or the prophet's ministry, not their life.

  • Saul (1050-1010)

  • Ishbosheth

  • David (1010-970)

  • Solomon (970-930)

c930 B.C. - The Kingdom divides into Israel and Judah

Prophets in Israel

Kings of Israel

  • Jeroboam I (931-910)

  • Nadab (910-909)

  • Baasha (909-886)

  • Elah (886-885)

  • Zimri (885)

  • Omri (885-874)

  • Ahab (874-853)

  • Ahaziah (853-852)

  • Jethoram / Joram (852-841)

Kings of Judah

  • Rehoboam (931-913)

  • Abijam / Abijah (913-911)

  • Asa (911-870)



  • Jehoshaphat (870-848)


  • Jehoram / Joram (848-841)

Prophets in Judah

  • Jehu (841-814)


  • Jehoahaz (814-798)

  • Ahaziah / Azariah / Jehoahaz (841)

  • Athaliah (841-835)

  • Joash / Jehoash (835-796)

  • Joash / Jehoash (798-782)

  • Jeroboam II (782-753)

  • Zachariah (753-752)

  • Shallum (752)

  • Menahem (752-742)

  • Pekahiah (742-740)

  • Pekah (752-722)

  • Hoshea (732-722)

  • Amaziah (976-767)

  • Uzziah / Azariah (767-740)



  • Jotham (748-732)


  • Ahaz (732-716)

722 B.C. - Assyria conquered Israel and carried most of the people into captivity

  • Hezekiah (716-687)

  • Manasseh

  • Amon

  • Josiah

  • Jehoahaz / Shallum

  • Jehoiakim / Eliakim

  • Jehoiachin / Coniah / Jeconiah

  • Zedekiah / Mattaniah

586 B.C. - Babylon conquered Judah and carried most of the people into captivity

Prophets: Babylonian captivity

Babylon was conquered by Persia

c538 B.C. - Cyrus allowed the exiles to return to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel led 50,000 back.

529 - Cyrus The Great died.

522 B.C. - Darius became Persian emperor

Prophets to the returned exiles

515 B.C. - The Second Temple in Jerusalem was completed.