The Kings of Judah

1 Kings 12:17 - But [as for] the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

The Southern Kingdom consisted of 2 tribes (Judah and Benjamin). The kingdom extended in the north as far as Bethel, while in the south it ended in the dry area known as the Negev. Its eastern and western boundaries were the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Jerusalem was its capital and it lasted from about 922-586 B.C.

List of the Kings of Judah
Kings of JudahGood or BadYears of ReignBooks of KingsII Chronicles
RehoboamBad17 yearsI Kings 12:1II Chronicles 10:1
AbijahBad3 yearsI Kings 15:1II Chronicles 13:1
AsaGood41 yearsI Kings 15:9II Chronicles 14:1
JehoshaphatGood25 yearsI Kings 22:41II Chronicles 17:1
JehoramBad8 yearsI Kings 22:50II Chronicles 21:1
AhaziahBad1 yearsII Kings 8:24II Chronicles 22:1
AthaliahII Kings 11:1II Chronicles 22:10
JoashGood40 yearsII Kings 11:4II Chronicles 23:1
AmaziahGood29 yearsII Kings 14:1II Chronicles 25:1
UzziahGood52 yearsII Kings 15:1II Chronicles 26:1
JothamGood16 yearsII Kings 15:32II Chronicles 27:1
AhazBad16 yearsII Kings 15:38II Chronicles 28:1
HezekiahGood29 yearsII Kings 18:1II Chronicles 29:1
ManassehBad55 yearsII Kings 21:1II Chronicles 33:1
AmonBad2 yearsII Kings 21:19II Chronicles 33:21
JosiahGood31 yearsII Kings 22:1II Chronicles 34:1
JehoahazBad3 monthsII Kings 23:31II Chronicles 36:1
JehoiakimBad11 yearsII Kings 23:36II Chronicles 36:4
JehoiakinBad3 monthsII Kings 24:6II Chronicles 36:9
ZedekiahBad11 yearsII Kings 24:17II Chronicles 36:11
The Babylonian Captivity 586 BCII Kings 25:1II Chronicles 36:13
Kings of Judah8 Good, 11 Bad387 Years

There were 8 good kings ruling the southern kingdom of Judah, the rest were all evil. After Josiah reigned there was no hope for Judah, the last 3 kings were evil. The Babylonians came and captured Jerusalem in 597 BC. A second attack led to Jerusalem's second defeat in 586 BC. Captives from both campaigns were taken to Babylonia to mark the captivity of the Southern Kingdom.


2 Kings 17:13 - Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, [and by] all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments [and] my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.