King Saul was the FIRST King of Israel (all 12 tribes) and reigned for 40 accession years.
How long did he reign?
Acts 13:21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
Biblical Authority for using Accession vs Non - Accession Count.
1 Samuel 13:1 ¶ Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
See timeline. Both are true. Saul reigned one year (Accession), two years (Non - Accession), the year -1046 B.C.
When did he reign?
See Solomon's Tab to learn how we discovered when Saul ruled. It requires working backwards from when Solomon laid the foundation of the temple in his fourth year.
King David was the 2nd King of Israel
2 Samuel 5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
1 Kings 2:11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
You'll notice David reigned first in Judah for the first seven years, then in Israel for the last 33 Years. As highlighted on his timeline.
We also read what appears to be a contradiction below, these verses conflict with 1 Kings 2:11 above.
2 Samuel 5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah
seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
2 Samuel 2:11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
We harmonize this by recognizing that David reigned seven accession years in Hebron, and the first six months would be part of his first non -accession year, the year -1007 B.C.
King Solomon was the THIRD King of Israel (all 12 Tribes).
How long did he reign for?
2 Chronicles 9:30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
1 Kings 11:42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
1 Kings 11:43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
Co-Regency
How do we prove the King David and Solomon Co-regency.
First we can prove that Solomon doesn't lay temple until David's death.
2 Samuel 7:12 ¶ And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
2 Samuel 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
Proving 4th Year
2 Chronicles 3:1 ¶ Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
2 Chronicles 3:2 And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.
We know Solomon began to lay the foundation of the temple in his 4th year in -967 B.C, which means David had died this same year. We can then place
David's 40th year (967 B.C) of his reign, being simultaneous with
Solomon's 4th Accession year (967 B.C) .
Then start to back track 4 years to figure out when the co-regency began. Then go back 1 more year (-971 B.C) for non - accession. Continuing backwards we can figure out the years for the rest of David's and Saul's rule, knowing they each reigned 40 years (accession)
Secular Evidence Matches up Biblical Timeline for Solomon's Death.
Something that is worth noting is that the death of Solomon in 931 B.C (10,082 Earth's Age), is the same date that secular archeologist/historians have arrived at from historical evidence. Just think, if one error is made on the timeline it would throw it off by many years, and this is what has happened with Bishop User's Calendar, as well as the Jewish Calendar.
This Biblical Time line discovered by Harold Camping is the only one that matches up with this secular data.
King Rehoboam was the FIRST King of Judah (post Solomon). This is when the Kingdom was divided and the Kings of Israel ruled over 10 tribes, and the Kings of Judah ruled over two tribes, Judah and Benjamin.
When did he reign?
The year Solomon died, -931 B.C. This would've been Rehoboams 1st Non-Accession year, since it wasn't a full year of reigning. His first Accession year (first full year of reigning) would begin the following year, -930 B.C.
How long did he reign?
seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
2 Chronicles 12:13 ¶ So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
King Jeroboam was the FIRST King of Israel (post Solomon). This is when the Kingdom was divided and the Kings of Israel ruled over 10 tribes, and the Kings of Judah ruled over two tribes, Judah and Benjamin.
When did he reign?
Rehoboam and Jeroboam reigned concurrently beginning in (931 B.C).
1 King 11:10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.
1 Kings 11:11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
1 Kings 11:12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.
1 Kings 11:13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.
1 Kings 11:28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.
1 Kings 11:29 ¶ And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:
1 Kings 11:30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
1 Kings 11:31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
1 Kings 11:32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)
(Read 1 Kings 12:1-19) to more information.
How long did he reign?
Two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.
God gives us his reign in non-accession
King Abijam was the 2nd King of Judah (two tribes)
When did he reign?
1 Kings 15:1 ¶ Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.
Note: Jeroboam's 18th accession year, even though his total reign is given in non-accession.
How long he reign?
1 Kings 15:2 Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
That is three accession years, 4 if you count non-accession.
King Nadab was the 2nd King of Israel (ten tribes)
When did he reign and how long?
1 Kings 15:25 ¶ And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa
king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.
Take note this is Asa's second non-accession year. Even though the Bible counts his total reign in accession years. Which means that just because a kings total count of his reign is given in accession years does not necessarily mean that every reference to his reign is given in accession years.
King Asa was the 3rd King of Judah
1 Kings 15:8 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
When did he reign?
1 Kings 15:9 ¶ And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam
king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.
How long did he reign?
1 Kings 15:10 And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
Interesting Note: Take note that the 20th year of Jeroboam is speaking of his 20th accession year, even though God gives Jeroboams total reign in non - accession. Why not say his 21 non-accession year, since his total reign of 22 years is given in non-accession. This just adds to the complexity of the Kings Timeline.
Apparent contradiction #1?
1 Kings 16:6 So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
1 Kings 16:8 ¶ In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.
So Baasha dies in Asa’s 26 non-accession Year, Asa reigned 41 accession years total. (15 years more until his death).
However this next verse causes us to scratch our head, because it appears to contradict this.
2 Chronicles 16:1 ¶ In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
How can Baasha King of Israel come up against Asa King of Judah in Asa’s 36th year if he died in Asa’s 26th year?
The answer is that this is not his 36 year of reign but rather his 36th accession year of his DYNASTY.
When did His Dynasty begin? After Solomons death, the Kingdoms were divided, and Rehoboam became the FIRST King of Judah (beginning the dynasty of the Kings of Judah).
If you go -931 B.C + 36 that gets you to -895 B.C. This is actually Asa’s 16th Accession year (not 36). This also allows for King Baasha to be still alive, and it’s his 15th non-accession year.
King Baasha was the 3rd King of Israel
When did he reign?
1 Kings 15:28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.
This was Asa's 3rd non-accession reign, 2nd accession.
How long did he reign?
1 Kings 15:33 ¶ In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.
That is, 24 non-accession years.
King Elah & Zimri we're the 4 & 5th Kings of Israel
When did he reign and how long?
1 Kings 16:8-12, 15 (KJV)
8 In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over
Israel in Tirzah, two years.
9 And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah,
drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
10 And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of
Judah, and reigned in his stead.
11 And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all
the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.
12 Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he
spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
15 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah.
And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
King Elah was 4th King of Israel
When did he reign and how long?
1 Kings 16:8-12, 15 (KJV)
8 In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over
Israel in Tirzah, two years.
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King Zimri was the 5th King of Israel
When did he reign and how long?
9 And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah,
drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
10 And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of
Judah, and reigned in his stead.
11 And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all
the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor
of his friends.
12 Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he
spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
15 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah.
And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
Note: Zimri only reigned for seven days. So we placed him with Elah.
Kings Tibi & Omri were the 6th & 7th Kings of Israel
Context Information
1 Kings 16:15-18 (KJV)
15 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah.
And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
16 And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the
king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the
camp.
Omri is made King the same day Zimri begins to reign in the year 885 B.C. Zimri only reigns seven days then dies.
17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of
the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,
When did he reign?
Zimri, Omri and Tibni all began to reign in the same year 885 B.C. Which is King Asa's 27th Non - Accession year.
1 Kings 16:21-23 (KJV)
21 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son
of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
22 But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of
Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
23 In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah
Tibi dies in Asa's 31st accession year or -880 B.C. Omri reigns another 6 years and dies in -874 B.C for a total reign of 12 Non Accession years.
1 Kings 16:23 In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
Note this is speaking of when Omri began to reign by himself, after Tibni dies, its at this point he reigns for another 6 years, for a total of 12 years.
1 Kings 16:29 ¶ And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
Asa's 38th Non-Accession year is -874 B.C
This has to be Asa's 38th Non - Accession year, because if Omri begins to reign in -885 B.C, and the Bible tells us he reigned for a total of 12 years, that takes us to the year -874 B.C, when Omri dies and Ahab begins to reign.
King Omri was the 7th King of Israel
When did he reign?
1 Kings 15:28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.
This was Asa's third non-accession reign, 2nd accession.
How long did he reign?
1Kings 15:33 ¶ In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.
King Baasha was the 3rd King of Israel
When did he reign?
1 Kings 15:28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.
This was Asa's third non-accession reign, 2nd accession.
How long did he reign?
1Kings 15:33 ¶ In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.
King Ahab was the 8th King of Israel
1 Kings 16:28-30 (KJV)28 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
When did he reign?
29 And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa
king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.
1 Kings 22:41-43 (KJV)41 And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
King Ahaziah was the 9th King of Israel
When did he reign and how long?
1 Kings 22:51-52 (KJV)
51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of
Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.
52 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of
his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:
King Joram/Jehoram of Israel
King Joram/Jehoram was the 10th King of Israel.
Not to be confused with Joram/Jehoram King of Judah who has the same two names, reigned the same duration of time (12 Ac yrs, 13 N-Ac yrs) and even reigned at the same time, or just about. The slight difference is the Judah Joram began to reign -854 B.C, vs -853 B.C for Israel Joram.
Click to highlight
Another prime example of how God hides truth and why we must carefully search the scriptures.
When did he reign and how long?
2 Kings 3:1 (KJV)
1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
Ahab (Israel-8) and his son Ahaziah (Israel-9) died the same year. Because Ahaziah (Israel-9) had no son, his brother Joram / Jehoram (Israel-10) became king.
So we can see Joram / Jehoram (Israel-10) was also a son of Ahab (Israel-8).
King Jehu was the 11th King of Israel
When did he reign?
2 Kings 9:21, 24, 27 (KJV)
21 And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and
Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.
This is Joram / Jehoram (Israel-10) NOT Joram / Jehoram (Judah-5).
24 And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.
27 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.
2 Kings 15:12 (KJV)12 This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the
throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.
We know Joram of Israel died in -841 B.C because he reigned for 12 years, which means this is when Jehu began to reign.
How long did he reign for?
2 Kings 10:36 (KJV)
And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.
King Jehoshaphat was the 4th King of Judah
How long did he reign?
1 Kings 22:42 Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
When did he reign?
1 Kings 22:41-43 (KJV)41 And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
43 And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.
God does give us some insight as to why there was a co-regency between Asa and Jehoshaphat.
2 Chronicles 16:12-13 (KJV)
12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
Asa was diseased in his feet, which perhaps means he couldn't run the kingdom on his own.
King Jehoram was the 5th King of Judah
When did he began to reign?
We are not directly told when the rule of Jehoram / Joram began or ended.
We must figure it out by deduction.
2 Kings 1:1-2, 17 (KJV)
1 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.
17 So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the
son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
We know what year Ahaziah (Israel-9) died and Joram / Jehoram (Israel-10) became king. This year corresponded to the 2nd year of Jehoram / Joram (Judah-5), -853 B.C.
With this information we know that Joram King of Judah began to reign in -854 B.C. This is a starting point.
Joram of Judah (5) Reigned one Year Earlier than Joram of Israel (10)
Thus Jehoram / Joram King of Judah (5) became king one year earlier, which is the same year that Ahaziah King of (9) became coregent with his father Ahab King of Israel (8).
What year did the reign of Joram King of Judah end?
Jehu kills Joram King of Israel & Ahaziah King of Judah in the year -841 B.C
We also know that Jehu King of Israel (11) killed BOTH Joram / Jehoram King of Israel (10) and Ahaziah / Jehoahaz / Azariah King of Judah (6) the same year.
2 Kings 9:21, 24, 27 (KJV)
21 And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and
Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.
This is the Joram / Jehoram King of Israel (10) NOT Joram / Jehoram King of Judah (5).
24 And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.
27 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.
We know the year that
Ahaziah / Jehoahaz / Azariah King of Judah (6) died, -841 B.C which is the 12th and last accession year of Joram King of Israel before Jehu slew them both.
When did Ahaziah Become King?
If we can find this year, we can figure out when his father Joram / Jehoram King of Judah-5) dies. There's no verses that we've found that indicates a co-regency therefore the year Joram dies, must be the same year Ahaziah becomes King. Keep in mind that they would not be the same year, IF there was a coregency.
2 Kings 9:29 (KJV)
And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.
2 Kings 8:25 (KJV)
25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.
26 Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mothers name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel
Since Ahaziah / Jehoahaz / Azariah King of Judah (6) reigned only 1 accession year. We do not read about a coregency between Ahaziah / Jehoahaz / Azariah King of Judah (6) and his father Joram /Jehoram (Judah-5).
It is most likely that Joram / Jehoram (Judah-5) died the year his son became king. There are however some complications with this theory.
2 Chronicles 21:1-5 (KJV)
1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
2 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
Jehoram reigns 8 years or 12 accession years?
5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
We bviously, Jehoram / Joram (Judah-5) reigned for a total of 12 accession or 13 non-accession years.
How do we harmonize this with the 8 year reference? It says he reigned 8 years in Jerusalem not 8 years total. Remember Omri reigned for 6 years in Tirzah and 6 years in Samaria for at total of 12 non-accession years.
1 Kings 16:23-24 (KJV)
23 In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
24 And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.
When were these 8 years in Jerusalem?
My initial thought was that this was a reference to his first accession years of being coregent with his father Jehoshaphat (Judah-4).
It make sense that he would murder his brethren after
his father Jehoshaphat (Judah-4) died. Jehoshaphat (Judah-4) was a saved man. Even an unsaved man would not want one of his sons murdering all the others.
2 Chronicles 21:1-4 (KJV)
1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
2 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
The rest of the chapter goes on to highlight all the bad things that that happened during the reign of Joram / Jehoram (Judah-5).
This seems to confirm my initial thoughts. However, there is another verse we have to contend with.
2 Kings 8:16-17 (KJV)
16 And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.
17 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
The 5th non-accession year of Joram / Jehoram (Israel-10) corresponds to 10,164 EA / 849 BC.
Mr. Camping believes that during this year Jehoshaphat (Judah-4) became minor king and his son Joram / Jehoram (Judah-5) became major king.
If he began to reign in Jerusalem that year,
that would mean he reigned in Jerusalem for 8 non accession years.
Mr. Camping has made a point of saying that the total reigns of the kings of Judah is given in accession years. If we adopt Camping’s interpretation, the 8 years would be given in non - accession years rather than accession years.
That said it is only concerning his reign in Jerusalem rather than his total reign of 12 accession years or 13 non-accession years. There is no single verse that gives the entire reign of Joram / Jehoram (Judah-5) not to be confused by:
2 Kings 3:1 (KJV)
1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
This is a reference to Jerom / Jehoram (Israel-10) not (Judah-5)
2 Chronicles 21:19-20 (KJV)
19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but notin the sepulchres of the kings.
In case you’re wondering, in the process of time that we read about in Genesis 4:3 in relation to
Cain and Abel.
Process is H7093 Time is H3117 Yom (Day). Here in 2 Chronicles, H7093 does not appear, only H3117 (Yom).
Revelation 20:2-3 (KJV)
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Revelation 20:6 (KJV)
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no
power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
The fundamentalist churches of the church age made two big mistakes in reference to these two verses.
1. They assumed the thousand years are literal.
2. They assumed the they were a reference to the same time period.
I did not want to make the same mistake.
2 Kings 8:17 (KJV)
17 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 21:5 (KJV)
5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
That said, I believe these two verses had to be a reference to the same time period.
I’m not sure if the 8 years is a reference to his first 8 accession years where he was coregent or his last 8 non-accession years when he was major king. Either way, we know what years he reigned.
Mr. Camping discusses this on pages 24-29 of Perfect Harmony.We have one more complication with Ahaziah / Jehoahaz / Azariah (Judah-6).
2 Kings 8:26 (KJV)
26 Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in
Jerusalem. And his mothers name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
2 Chronicles 22:2 (KJV)
2 Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in
Jerusalem. His mothers name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
King Ahaziah was the 6th King of Judah
See King Joram's (Judah 5) tab for information about when Ahaziah ruled.
King Athaliah (woman king) was the 7th King of Judah
When did she reign?
Athaliah's son (Ahaziah king of Judah) was slain by Jehu King of Israel, we learned this took place in the year
-841 B.C, her 1st non-accession year, (see Joram King of Israel's tab). The year her son died, she began to reign.
2 Chronicles 22:10-12 (KJV)
10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.
Athaliah killed all of her grandsons thus allowing her to take the throne.
11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.
However God kept alive one of her grandsons, by using Jehoiada the preist, because He told David the following.
1 Kings 9:5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
How long did she reign for?
12 And he was with them hid in the house of God
six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.
20 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house.
21 Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.
At the end of her six years of reign, she was killed and her Grandson Jehoash began to reign when he was seven.
King Joash/Jehoash was the 13th King of Israel
When did he reign and how long?
2 Kings 13:9-10 (KJV)
9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.
10 In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to
reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.
King Jeroboam was the 14th King of Israel
2 Kings 14:16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.
We know this is not the same Jeroboam who was the first King that reigned over Israel when God divided the tribes into two Kingdoms after Solomon, because he is the son of Jehoash.
When did he reign and how long?
2 Kings 14:23 ¶ In the fifteenth year of
Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah
Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.
However, this 15th Accession Year is when Jeroboam began to reign as sole King, not the very first year of his reign, co-reigning with his father Joash King of Israel (not Joash King of Judah).
So how do we figure out when he began his first year of reigning, if it's not the 15 accession year of Amaziah? We're looking for when he began His first Non-accession year as co-reigning with Joash his Father, King of Israel.
However, before we look into this, let's consider this. We're seeing this similar pattern often. This is how God writes the Bible , where we can't always take a verse at face value, but it has to be carefully determined, what does God mean when He says "began to reign", does this mean the first year of a co-regency or the first year of a
sole Reign? God is teaching us there is a difference.
Bible Clues
This is when we look for clues in the Bible that could help us figure this out.
2 Kings 14:23 ¶ In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned
forty and one years.
Earlier we took a look at this verse and discovered that Jeroboam’s total reign was 41 years. So we know the length of time he reigned. However we don’t know when he began to reign.
Let’s take a look at...
2 Kings 15:8 In the thirty and eighth year of
Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.
We know that the 38th year of Azariah is -751 B.C, which is when Zachariah the son of Jeroboam begins to reign, which means Jeroboam dies this same year. Now we have his end point, -751 B.C.
Since Jeroboam reigned a total of 41 years, let’s back track. Lets take -751 B.C and minus 41 years, that takes you to
-751-41=-792. That’s when Jeroboam began to reign.
Which means we're on the right track with understanding that 2 Kings 14:23 is referring to his reign as sole ruler. Now we have Harmony.
2 Kings 14:29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.
King Zechariah was the 15th King of Israel
.2 Kings 15:8-10 (KJV)
8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.
9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
When Did He Reign For And How Long?
2 Kings 15:8-10 (KJV)
8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.
10 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
Mr. Camping believes that this 6 month period ends just before 1 Nisan 10,263 EA (750 BC).
See Perfect Harmony Pages 40 and 43 (4th printing August 2008).
King Shallum was the 16th King of Israel
1 King 15:10 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
When did he reign and how long?
We just read that Shallum King of Israel (16) slew Zachariah King of Israel (15) and took his place.
2 Kings 15:13-14 (KJV)
13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the
nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.
14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
King Menahem was the 17th King of Israel
14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
When did he reign and how long?
2 Kings 15:17-18 (KJV)
17 In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.
18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
King Pekahiah was the 18th King of Israel
2 Kings 15:22-24 (KJV)
22 And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.
When did he reign and how long?
2 Kings 15:23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign
over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
25 But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
King Pekah was the 19th King of Israel
2 Kings 15:25 But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
When did he reign and how long?
2 Kings 15:27-28 (KJV)
27 In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
King Hoshea was the 20th King of Israel
When did he reign and how long?
2 Kings 15:30 (KJV)
30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the
twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
2 Kings 17:1 (KJV)
1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
2 Kings 18:9-12 (KJV)
9 And it came to pass in the fourth year of
king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
10 And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
11 And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:
12 Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
This ends the kings of Israel. There will be no more comparisons between the kings of Israel and Judah.
King Jehoahaz was the 12th King of Israel
When did he reign and how long?
2 Kings 13:1-2 (KJV)
1 In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.
2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the
son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
King Joash/Jehoash was the 8th King of Judah
2 Kings 11:20-21 (KJV)
20 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the kings house.
21 Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.
When did he reign and how long?
We know Athaliah began to reign in -841 B.C, and reigned for 6 accession years, which takes us to -835 B.C, so Joash begins to reign that year.
Also we read here
2 Kings 12:1 (KJV)
1 In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mothers name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada
the priest instructed him.
King Amaziah was the 9th King of Judah
When did he reign?
2 Kings 14:1-2 (KJV)
1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.
How long did he reign for?
2 He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.
2 Kings 14:17 (KJV)
17 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
Joash / Jehoash King of Israel (13) died in 10,231 EA / 782 BC. Fifteen years later is 10,246 EA / 767 BC and the year Amaziah King of Judah (9) died.
Note: Why does God let us know he reigned 15 more years after the death of Jehoahaz King of Israel (12), if we already know when he began to reign and how long he reigned? Perhaps God is highlighting the number 15 for us?
King Uzziah/Azariah was the 10th King of Judah
When did he reign and how long?
2 Kings 15:1 (KJV)
1 In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.
Note this is Jeroboam the 14th King of Israel not
Jeroboam the 1st King of Israel who began to reign when the Kingdom was divided from Solomon.
This verse makes it appear that Uzziah/Azariah began his reign Jeroboam's 27th Non - Accession (-766 B.C), however when examined more closely this is not possible because we know Uzziah/Azariah began reigning -789 B.C which is actually Jeroboam's 4th Non - Accession year not 27th year.
How do we reconcile this apparent contradiction?
However we can understand that when it says began to reign it's not referring to the first year he began to reign as King, but rather the first year he began to reign as solo ruler, this 27th year would be the year Uzziah/Azariah is no longer co-reigning along side his father Amaziah, so it's the first year he began to reign but by himself.
It's interesting to note that Uzziah/Azariah's is 39 years old at this point. He was 16 years old when he began to reign (see verse below), 23 years later when he began to reign as sole ruler makes him 39 years old, (Jeroboam's 27th Non - Accession year)
So when did this King actually begin to reign? Or how do we prove it REALLY was Jeroboams 4th non accession year, not his 27th, that Uzziah/Azariah began to reign?
2 Kings 15:27 ¶ In the two and fiftieth year of
Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
We know Pekah King of Israel began to reign the same year Pekahiah died in -738 B.C. This was his first Non - Accession Year with corresponds with Uzziah/Azariah's 52nd Non - Accession Year. This lets us know two things.
1. It was Uzziah's/Azariah's 52 non accession year, not his
52 Accession which we will later find out was his total reign.
2. This locks in the fact that Azariah/Uzziah had to begun to reign in Jeroboams 4th Non - Accession Year and not his 27th Non Acccesion year as it appears in 2 Kings 15, which means we're on the right track with the 27th year referring to his reign as Sole ruler.
Consider this. God wrote the Bible with traps and there are two good reasons to believe that Azariah's reign began in Jeroboams 27th year. And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
2 Kings 14:19 Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.
2 Kings14:20 And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.
2 Kings 14:21 ¶ And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
1. You see, it appears that as soon as Amaziah dies (which would’ve been his 29th accession year), Azariah at 16 begins to rule and further more we learn in the following verse that Azariah begins to reign at 16 years old in Jeroboams 27th year
2 Kings 15:1-3 (KJV) 1 In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.
Which one would try to place Azariah’s first year of reign at the very end, the 29th year, of Amaziah’s reign. You see it almost appears to fit and work, except it won’t work with understanding when Pekak began to rule.
How long did he reign for?
2 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;
Coregency
Why was there such a long co-regency between Amaziah King of Judah (9) and his son Uzziah /Azariah King of Judah (10)?
2 Kings 14:8-14 (KJV)
8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to
Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
9 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to
Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
10 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
11 But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.
12 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.
13 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
14 And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
Notice Amaziah was taken hostage by
Joash / Jehoash King of Israel (13). This is most likely when the co-regency began between Amaziah and Uzziah.
The foolish actions of Amaziah would have made him very unpopular and they made his son Uzziah/Azariah king. Presumably, they slew Amaziah later.
2 Kings 14:18-21 (KJV)
18 And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
19 Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.
20 And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.
21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
King Jotham was the 11th King of Judah
2 Kings 15:7 So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
When did he reign?
2 Kings 15:32-34 (KJV)
32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.
Note: This is Jotham's 2nd Non - Accession Year. However, it's his first year reigning as sole King, which makes it his FIRST Non - Accession year as sole ruler.
Co-regency & How long did he reign for?
Jotham King of Judah (11) began to reign in 10,275 EA / 738 BC, one year before his father Uzziah /Azariah King of Judah (10) died.
God does give us some insight as to the reason for this
co-regency.
2 Chronicles 26:16-21 (KJV)
16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:
18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.
19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.
20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.
21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.
2 Kings 15:32-34 (KJV)
32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.
33 Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.
34 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father
Uzziah had done.
It says that he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem not that he reigned a total of 16 years.
Jotham King of Judah (16) was either major or sole king for 16 accession years. In 10,291 EA / 722 EA his son
Ahaz King of Judah (12) becomes major king. Although the coregency started 8 years earlier.
Mr. Camping had a slightly different answer. He believed that Ahaz King of Judah (12) became major king one year later than I Brian H. He believed this occurred in 10,292 EA / 721 BC.
This is based on:
2 Kings 16:1-2 (KJV)
1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
2 Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.
Mr. Camping accurately points out that the
17th accession year of Pekah King of Israel (19) corresponds to 10,292 EA / 721 BC.
However, I believe we should be looking at the
17th non-accession year of Pekah King of Israel (19) corresponding to 10,291 EA / 722 BC. I think this conclusion harmonizes much better with 2 Kings 15:32-33.
The 16th accession year of Jotham King of Judah (11) is the same as the 17th non-accession year of Pekah (Israel-19). It makes sense that Jotham’s last year reigning in Jerusalem corresponds to his son Ahaz’s first year (non-accession) as major king.
Mr. Camping's analysis on this point is in Perfect Harmony pages 48-50.
King Ahaz was the 12th King of Judah
How long did he reign?
2 Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.
2 Kings 16:1-2 (KJV) 1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
Ahaz King of Judah (12) reigned for a total of 16 accession years. We have already established that he became major king in 10,291 EA / 722 BC.
When did he reign for Sixteen years?
This does not however tell us when the 16 years began or ended. With that said it has been previously established that the reign of Pekah King of Israel (19) ended in 10,295 EA / 718 BC.
2 Kings 15:30 (KJV)
30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
2 Kings 17:1 (KJV)
1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
Here we see the 12th accession year of
Ahaz King of Judah (12) corresponds to the
20th year of Jotham King of Judah (11). This is 10,295 or 718 BC.
From this point (-718 B.C) all we have to do is
back track←←← and we'll see his
first accession year lands on -729 B.C, his first
non-accession year lands on -730 B.C, So Ahaz King of Judah (12) became co-regent with his father in 10,283 EA / -730 B. If go forward by four years from (-718 B.C) , we'll get to the year of his death (-714 B.C) since he reigned a total of 16 years.
King Hezekiah was the 13th King of Judah
2 Kings 16:20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
When did he reign?
2 Kings 18:1-2 (KJV)
1 Now it came to pass in the third year of
Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
How long did he reign?
2 Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.
King Manasseh was the 14th King of Judah
2 Kings 20:21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
How long did he reign?
2 Kings 21:1 (KJV)
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah.
When did he reign?
(Excerpt taken from Harold Campings “The Perfect Harmony of the Hebrew Kings”).
Co-Regency
“For two reasons, we immediately suspect that during a number of these fifty-five years, Manasseh was co-regent with his father Hezekiah.
• The first reason is that he was a child of twelve years when he began to reign. It is true that other kings, like Joash (seven years old), and Josiah (eight years old), began to reign as children, but in their situations, their fathers who were reigning kings, were killed in untimely fashion. Hezekiah, who was Manasseh’s father, reigned for twenty-nine years; his death was not a result of palace rebellion.
• That brings us to the second reason. In Hezekiah’s fourteenth year, he had become deathly ill. We read in
II Kings 20:1: In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
And in
II Kings 20:6: And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
This event occurred in Hezekiah’s fourteenth year (701 B.C.). We know this because his reign for twenty-nine years and fifteen of these years were added at the time of his illness. Since Hezekiah knew the year of his death, it seems very appropriate that he would begin to prepare his young son Manasseh for the kingship by making him co-regent during the closing years of his life.
How long was the co-regency?
How many years was Manasseh co-regent with his father Hezekiah? We have no immediate information in the Bible that helps us. However, as we have already noted, near the end of Judah’s history, the Bible gives us much information concerning the king of Babylon who destroyed Judah.
Additionally, the secular record concerning the king of Babylon is sufficiently detailed and accurate so that we can harmonize this information with the Biblical record and know that we have truth. Based on the preceding information, which we will develop later in our study, we know that Manasseh began to reign in the eighteenth year of his father, Hezekiah, which was the year 697 B.C. His twelfth year, 685 B.C., was his first full year of reigning alone. The year of his death, which was his fifty-fifth year, was, therefore, 642 B.C. “
So where do we place Manasseh on the Kings timeline?
2 Chronicles 33:1 ¶ Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
Remember we learned earlier on in the timeline that just like when God said "And Beget" could mean a immediate son or grandson, great grandson, well likewise when God says "And Began to reign" It could either mean he began to reign as co-regent or began to reign by himself. Understanding which one it is, makes all the difference where to place a King on the timeline
Mr Camping placed Manasseh beginning to reign as sole Ruler when he was 12 years old, which is the year after Hezekiah his father died. This would make him begin to rule by himself at just 12 years old, which means he was co-reigning with his father Hekiziah since his birth, which makes sense because Hezekiah knew he only had 12 years left.
2 Kings 21:16 ¶ Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
2 Kings 21:17 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
2 Kings 21:18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
King Amon was the 15th King of Judah
Kings 21:18-19 (KJV)
18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
How long did he reign?
19 Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.
When did he reign?
(Excerpt taken from Harold Campings “The Perfect Harmony of the Hebrew Kings”).
“Amon reigned for two years.
Therefore, he began to reign in the year 642 B.C. His first official year was 641 B.C., and he was killed in the second year of his reign, 640 B.C.
II Kings 21:23-24 records his untimely death:
And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house. And the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.”
King Josiah was the 16th King of Judah
How long did he reign?
2 Kings 22:1 (KJV)
1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.
When did he reign?
(Excerpt taken from Harold Campings “The Perfect Harmony of the Hebrew Kings”).
“
Since Josiah reigned for thirty-one years by the accession year reckoning, which was the way all of the reigns of the kings of Judah had been figured, his thirty-first year was 609 B.C His death is recorded in
II Kings 23:29-30: In his days Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead. “
We place Josiah’s first year of reigning at 640 B.C the same year Amon his father died. Since he reigned for 31 years that takes us to 609 B.C that year he died.
Josiah King of Judah (16) died in 10,404 EA = (2 * 3 * 17) * (2 * 3 * 17) 609 BC = 3 * 7 * 29
King Josiah was the 17th King of Judah
II Kings 23:29-30: In his days Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.
And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead.
(Not Jehoahaz the 6th King of Judah, or Jehoahaz the 12th King of Israel). There are three different Kings with the same name.
When did he reign and how long?
(Excerpt taken from Harold Campings “The Perfect Harmony of the Hebrew Kings”).
“
Jehoahaz reigned only three months.
II Kings 23:31: Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
Therefore, he reigned during the year 609 B.C. He was deposed by Pharaoh Necho, as disclosed in
II Kings 23:33-34: And Pharaoh-nechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.
And Pharaoh-nechoh made Eliahkim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there. “
Jehoahaz didn’t even reign a full year, in died in 609 B.C in Egypt.
King Jehoiakim was the 18th King of Judah
12 Kings 23:34-36 (KJV)
34 And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.
How long did he reign?
36 Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
When did he reign?
(Excerpt taken from Harold Campings “The Perfect Harmony of the Hebrew Kings”).
“
Since Jehoaikim began to reign in 609 B.C., his eleventh year was 598 B.C.
In Jeremiah 25:1, we discover the next time- reference to Jehoiakim. There we read:
Jeremiah 25:1
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all of the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.
Nebuchadrezzar becomes King
From this reference we know what year King Nebuchadrezzar began to reign. The fourth year of Jehoiakim was 605 B.C., which means that the first year of the Babylonian king was also 605 B.C.
The next citation that we will examine is II Chronicles 36:6, where God informs us that Jehoikim was deposed by the king of Babylon:
“Against him came up Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.”
We place Jehoiakim beginning to reign at 609 B.C due to his brother Jehoahaz dying in 609 B.C, after only reigning for a few months. Both sons of Josiah.
King Jehoiachin/ Jeconiah / Coniah
King Jehoiachin was the 19th King of Judah
How long did he reign?
Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
How long did he reign?
(Excerpt taken from Harold Campings “The Perfect Harmony of the Hebrew Kings”)
First let's address an apparent contradiction.
"In II Kings 24:6, we learn that Jehoiachin (also called Jeconiah and Coniah in the Bible), the son of Jehoiakim, became the next king.
II Kings 24:8:
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother’s name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
But II Chronicles 36:9 reports that he was eight years of age when he began to reign:
II Chronicles 36:9
Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the slight of sight of the LORD.
This apparent contradiction is resolved when we recognize that Jehoiakim made his eight-year-old son co-regent with himself almost immediately after Jehoiakim ascended the throne. In the year 609 B.C, Jehoiakim began to reign.
The next year, 608 B.C., his eight-year-old son, Jehoiachin, was made co-regent with him. Thus, ten years later, when Jehoiachin was 18 years old, he was already reigning when his father, Jehoiakim, was taken to Babylon. Jehoiachin then reigned for three months and ten days before he was taken to Babylon
Additional information concerning the deposing of Jehoiachin is given in II Kings 24:12, where we read that it was the eighth year of King Nebuchadnezzar.
II Kings 24:12: And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother and his servants, and his prices, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. The eighth year of King Nebuchadnezzar was, therefore, 598 B.C.”
King Zedekiah / Mattaniah
King Zedekiah / Mattaniah was the 20th King of Judah and the LAST King of the line of the Kings.
2 Kings 24:15-18 (KJV)
15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
How long did he reign?
18 Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years.
When did he reign?(Excerpt taken from Harold Campings “The Perfect Harmony of the Hebrew Kings”).
"Following the deposing of Jehoiachin, we read in II Kings 24:17- 18 that the king of Babylon made a brother king of Judah in place of Jehoiachin.
II Kings 24:17-18:
And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
The End of the Nation of Judah
Zedekiah’s first full year according to the accession year system was 597 B.C., and his eleventh year by the same system was 587 B.C. Since he was the last king of Judah, the year 587 B.C. ended the period of the kings of Judah.
Jeremiah 32:1 gives another citation that describes the time relationship between the reigns of Zedekiah and Nebuchadnezzar:
Jeremiah 32:1
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.
The tenth year of Zedekiah by the accession year system was 588 B.C., as was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar by the non-accession year system.
The End of Jerusalem
The end of Jerusalem is described in Jeremiah 52:12-15. The Bible describes the precise day that the city was destroyed.
Jeremiah 52:12-15: Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem, And burned the house of the LORD, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire: And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about. Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude.
In this citation, God again emphasizes that this occurred in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar (in the non-accession year system). In II Kings 24:12, we read that it was in the eight year of King Nebuchadnezzar that Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon.
In Jeremiah 52:28, the Bible records that it was in the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar that 3320 captives were taken.
There is no discrepancy because the eighth year of the king is the same as the seventh year. Counting from the year 605 B.C., when King Nebuchadnezzar ascended the throne, we come to 598 B.C. as his eighth year.
However, reckoning by the accession year system, the year 598 B.C. was his seventh year. Remember that in the accession year system, the year number one for a king was the first full year he reigned and, therefore, the year number one was the year immediately following the year he ascended the throne”
Likewise, in Jeremiah 52:29, we read that in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, he carried away captive 832 persons. Remember, in Jeremiah 52:12-15, we read that it was in the nineteenth year that the captain of the guard carried away certain of the poor of the city. Again there is no contradiction. The eighteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar was the same year (587 B.C.) as the nineteenth year.
The eighteenth year according to the accession year system started counting from his first full year as king (604 B.C.). The nineteenth year according to the non-accession year system started counting from the previous year (605 B.C) when he actually became king.
By God’s mercy, we have been enable to reconstruct the calendar of history covering the entire period of the kings of Israel and Judah. “
This Ends the Line Of the Kings of Judah
King Nebuchadrezzar was King of Babylon
Jeremiah 25:1
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all of the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.
Nebuchadrezzar becomes King
From this reference we know what year King Nebuchadrezzar began to reign. The fourth year of Jehoiakim was 605 B.C., which means that the first year of the Babylonian king was also 605 B.C.
We jumped 480 years from the Exodus in -1447 B.C (9566 E.A Years) to when Solomon laid the foundation of the temple in his fourth accession year reigning as King. We did this based off the following verse.
1 Kings 6:1 ¶ And it came to pass in the
four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
This placed us in the year -967 B.C, 10,046 Year of Earth's Age.
Now that we have this key date. We can count backwards to figure out some other information such as what year Solomon first reigned.
4th Full Year = -967
3rd FullYear = -968
2nd Full Year = -969
1st Full Year = -970
1st Non Accession Year = -971
However, depending on the type count the Bible gives us for Solomon, it'll make the difference. In this case we discover it's Solomon's 4th Accession year, not his
4th Non - Accession.
As we continue to work backwards we discover David's 40 year Rule, his 4 year Co-Regency with Solomon, King Saul's 40 year rule as the first King of Israel. This 80 year period (King Saul and Davids Reign) is the last 80 years of the 480. That only leaves 400 years. The first part of the 400 years is the 40 year wilderness sojourn, that leaves a remainder of 360 years.
However as seen and discussed before, the Judges periods adds up to 471 years, a 111 year excess, so Harold Camping discovered if we subtract all the years Israel was oppressed by a heathen power it adds to 360. Which means the 111 years fits into the 360 period.
Now we can pick up from Solomon's 4th Accession Year reign as King and continue down the timeline.
Math:
0 + 130 + 105 + 905 + 910 +895 + 962 + 365 + 969 + 182 + 502 + 600 + 438 + 433 + 464 + 239 + 239 + 230 + 148 + 130 + 100 + 60 + 70 + 137 + 133 + 137 + 83 + 480 = 10046
Earth's Age: 10046
B.C: -967
King's Timeline
Going through the line of the Kings might be the most complex part of the timeline, but we've attempted to lay it out in a way that is easy to understand. When going through the Kings we're going to be utilizing two methods of counting. Accession vs Non-Accession or another way to say it is Non-inclusive vs Inclusive, or Actual Years vs Calendar Years.
Why three different labels?
Harold Camping first start calling it Accession vs Non - Accession, then changed it to Non-Inclusive vs Inclusive. Chris McCann coined the terms Actual Years vs Calendar Years. These are all attempts to make it easier to understand this concept of counting.
Below is a demonstration of the two ways to count.
Accession/Non - Inclusive/Actual Years
Non - Accession/Inclusive/Calendar Years
Simple Concept
A simple way to understand this concept is the following. Let's say it's Sunday and it's early in the morning. If someone asked you how many days until next Sunday. Most people would answer there are seven days (see graph below in yellow)
However, technically the current Sunday could have up to almost an entire 24 hour period left that has to pass before reaching Monday, so the count could be started with Sunday and it could be said there are 8 days until next Sunday. (see graph below in orange)
So which method does God use in the Bible? Both!
As we go through the Kings some are counted with the Non - Accession method of count, and others with Accession. What type of count with be indicated with a color. If it has a Yellow Line we'll be using the Accession count, if it has an Orange line we'll be using the Non - Accession count.
Biblical Examples of Accession vs Non Accession
2 Kings 9:29 And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.
2 Kings 8:25 ¶ In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.
1 Samuel 13:1 ¶ Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
To the Bible critic they may use verses like these to find error or fault in God's Word, or see these as contradictions. However, apparent contradictions, serve as way to hide truth and in this case, God is teaching the two different methods of counting.
Co-Regency vs Sole Reign
God writes the Bible in a way, where we can't always take a verse at face value though at times it my feel like we should, and it may seem like we have support to continue down a certain path, but God often leaves traps or snares in the Bible (Isaiah 28:13) but it has to be carefully determined or further elaborated, what does God really mean. i.e "...For God so loved the world...". Is it ALL the people in the world, or the world of the ungodly or the world of the elect? It's the world of the elect. .In the case of the Kings, when God says "began to reign", does this mean the first year of a co-regency or the first year of a sole Reign? God is teaching us there is a difference.
Stackable vs Non-Stackable
460 Year Reign Of the 43 Kings
← TimeLine Count Picks up Here
← Saul Dies, David Becomes King
↓ -1006 B.C 10,007 E.A
David/Solomon
← Coregency →
← David Dies, Co-Regency Ends, Solomon Sole Ruler
↓ -966 B.C 10,047 E.A
David/Solomon
← Coregency →
← Solomon Dies, Jeroboam is King
↙ -931 B.C 10,082 E.A
David/Solomon
← Coregency →
← 360
Saul's Annointed King →
← 401/480
Saul's First Full Year Reign →
← End of 480 Years (Click Here) +480
♡ Jehoiachin / Jeconiah / Coniah - 19th →
Return to main Timeline ➤
First 3 Kings of Israel (All 12 tribes)
20 Kings of Judah (2 Tribes)
King Solomon - 3rd
♡King Abijam/Abijah - 2nd
♡King Ahaziah / Jehoahaz / Azariah 6th
♡Joash / Jehoash 8th
Joash / Jehoash 8th
♡Zedekiah / Mattaniah - Bad - 20th →
♡King Jehoram / Joram - 5th
Amaziah - 9th
♡Jehoiakim/Eliakim - 18th
← David's First Full Year Reign
♡King Athaliah (Queen) 7th
Elah/Zimri - 4/5th
♡Joram / Jehoram - Bad - 10th
