Kings of Israel

Question 1

How did Saul’s successor, his son Ish-bosheth, die?

Answer 1

He was assassinated by two of his generals, Baanah and Rechab, who believed that David would reign. (2 Samuel 4)

Question 2

Who was the first king of the Northern Kingdom?

Answer 2

Jeroboam

Jeroboam -> Nadab

Question 3

How many years did Nadab reign in Israel?

Answer 3

Nadab reigned two years.

Jeroboam -> Nadab

Question 4

How did Nadab die?

Answer 4

Baasha assassinated him while they were laying seige to Gibbethon, a Philistine city.
Jeroboam -> Nadab -> Baasha

Question 5

The prophet Ahijah told Jeroboam that his entire family would be wiped out. How did this come to pass?

Answer 5

When Baasha assassinated Nadab, son of Jeroboam and king, he proceded to eliminate all the offspring of Jeroboam who could contest the throne.
Nadab -> Baasha -> Elah

Question 6

How many years did Elah reign in Israel?

Answer 6

Elah reigned two years.

Baasha -> Elah -> Zimri

Question 7

How did Elah die?

Answer 7

While Elah was drunk, Zimri, commander of his chariots, assassinated him. Zimri then executed all of Elah’s family who would contest the throne. This was for the sins of Baashah, Elah’s father.
Baashah -> Elah -> Zimri

Question 8

How long did Zimri reign in Israel?

Answer 8

Zimri reigned just two days.

Elah -> Zimri -> Omri

Question 9

How did Zimri’s reign come to an end?

Answer 9

Having assassinated the king, Elah, he assumed the throne. But almost immediately, the people chose Omri instead. They left their seige of Gibbethon (Philistines) and beseiged Tirzah, the royal city. Seeing what was happening, Zimri set his house on fire with himself inside.
Elah -> Zimri -> Omri

Question 10

How long did Omri reign in Israel?

Answer 10

Omri reigned twelve years.

Zimri -> Omri -> Ahab

Question 11

How long did Ahab reign in Israel?

Answer 11

Ahab reigned twenty two years.

Omri -> Ahab -> Ahaziah

Question 12

Who did God command Elijah go and anoint as future king of Israel? And what would this future king do?

Answer 12

Elijah anointed Jehu. Jehu would put to death the prophets of Baal.
Joram -> Jehu -> Jehoahaz

Question 13

Which king of Syria fought against Ahab?

Answer 13

Ben-hadad.

Question 14

Why did Ahab let the king of Syria live? And what was the consequence?

Answer 14

Ben-hadad, king of Syria, promised to return to Ahab/Israel the cities that were conquered and taken by his father, and would permit him to engage in trade in Damascus. But for this reason, God sent a prophet proclaiming that Israel would be conquered by Syria.
Omri -> Ahab -> Ahaziah

Question 15

What did Ahab do that caused God to blot out his family?

Answer 15

He coveted Naboth’s vineyard and had Naboth murdered. (Though Jezabel did this without Ahab’s knowledge, Ahab is held accountable.) However, upon hearing this he “humbled himself” before God, and so God deferred the judgement to a later generation.
Omri -> Ahab -> Ahaziah

Question 16

Who did God command Elijah go and anoint as future king of Syria? And for what purpose?

Answer 16

Hazael. Hazael would war against the Northern Kingdom, and this was the beginning of judgement for the sins of Ahab.
Omri -> Ahab -> Ahaziah

Question 17

Why did Ahab, asking assistance from Johoshaphat, go to war against Syria?

Answer 17

After three years of peace, it occurred to him that Ramoth-Gilead belonged to Israel and needed to be taken back. This is where God sent false prophets to incite Ahab to war, and only Micaiah told the truth; that Ahab would die.
Omri -> Ahab -> Ahaziah

Question 18

How did Ahab die?

Answer 18

Fighting Syria, he disguised himself as a common soldier, owing to the prophecy of Micaiah that he would die. But a Syrian soldier shot an arrow at random, and this hit Ahab between the joints in his armour, and he died.
Omri -> Ahab -> Ahaziah

Question 19

How long did Ahaziah reign in Israel?

Answer 19

Ahaziah reigned two years.

Ahab -> Ahaziah -> Joram

Question 20

How did Ahaziah die?

Answer 20

Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his home. He then inquired from Baal-zebub whether he would live, but Elijah intervened asking “Is there no God in Israel that you need to ask Baal-zebub?” Ahaziah sent squadrons out to see Elijah, but Elijah called down fire upon them.
Ahab -> Ahaziah -> Joram

Question 21

Who succeeded Ahaziah?

Answer 21

Ahaziah’s brother, Joram/Jehoram (same name as the king of Judah at the same time), succeeded him because he had no children.
Ahaziah -> Joram -> Jehu

Question 22

Joram/Jehoram sought help from the king of Judah (also Jehoram) to fight against whom? Which other king accompanied them, and why did Elisha assist?

Answer 22

Moab was attacking Israel, so he sought the help of Jehoram (Judah) and the king of Edom. But they found themselves in the desert with no water, and so for Jehoram of Judah’s sake, Elisha made ditches which filled with water. Moab saw the reflection of red in the water and thought it was blood, assuming the three kings had fought against each other, and so rushed in and were defeated.
Ahaziah -> Joram -> Jehu

Question 23

Which Syrian king beseiged Samaria to the point that the citizens were eating their children. But two lepers found the Syrian camp abandoned, and the seige came to an end? And who was king in Israel?

Answer 23

Ben-Hadad (Syria). Joram (Israel) [confirm]

Ahaziah -> Joram -> Jehu

Question 24

How was Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, secceeded?

Answer 24

Ben-Hadad was sick and sought the word of Elisha in Damascus as to whether he would recover. He sent Hazael to Elisha, but Elisha told Hazael that he would be king and would devastate Israel. This is why Hazael went and assassinated Ben-Hadad by smothering him with a wet blanket and succeeded him.

Question 25

How did Jezebel die?

Answer 25

Jehu came and called to those who were on his side to push her out the window. He then went in to eat and drink, and by the time they came out to deal with Jezabel’s body, the dogs had dragged her off.
Joram -> Jehu -> Jehoahaz

Question 26

How was Ahab’s family exterminated (according to prophecy)?

Answer 26

Jehu sent a letter asking for the heads of Ahab’s 70 sons. The people did this because Jehu was now feared, having killed both Joram (king of Israel) and Ahaziah (king of Judah).
Joram -> Jehu -> Jehoahaz

Question 27

Who was Jehu’s ally in destroying the Baal worshippers?

Answer 27

Jehonadab, father of the Rechabites (mentioned in Jeremiah).

Joram -> Jehu -> Jehoahaz

Question 28

Which king’s army was reduced to just 50 or so men by Syria?

Answer 28

Jehoahaz

Jehu -> Jehoahaz -> Jehoash

Question 29

When Elisha was dying, which king came to grieve, and was told by Elisha to shoot arrows into the ground, but was not zealous enough to shoot more than three?

Answer 29

Jehoash

Jehoahaz -> Jehoash -> Jeroboam II

Question 30

What did Jeroboam II do in Israel, as was apparently prophesied by Jonah (though not documented)?

Answer 30

He fortified the border of Israel and successfully saved Israel from Syria’s attacks during his reign. He also took back Hamath and Demascus.
Jehoash -> Jeroboam II -> Zechariah

Question 31

Who reigned after Jeroboam II? His reign was short though. How long did he reign, and how did his reign come to an end?

Answer 31

Zechariah reigned six months after Jeroboam II, but was assassinated by Shallum.
Jeroboam II -> Zechariah -> Shallum

Question 32

This king assassinated his predecessor and only managed to reign one month himself.

Answer 32

Shallum assassinated Zechariah, who had only reigned six months. But he only reigned one month, himself being assassinated by Menahem.
Zechariah -> Shallum -> Menahem

Question 33

What atrocity did Manahem commit during his reign?

Answer 33

He sacked Tirzah and its territory, slicing open the pregnant women, because they refused to let him into the city.
Shallum -> Menahem -> Pekahiah

Question 34

When Assyria attacked Israel in the time of Menahem, what did Menahem do? And what was the Assyrian king’s name?

Answer 34

Menahem paid off Pul, the king of Assyria, but demanded the payment from the people.
Shallum -> Menahem -> Pekahiah

Question 35

Who succeeded Menahem in Israel?

Answer 35

His son, Pekahiah.

Menahem -> Pekahiah -> Pekah

Question 36

How did Pekahiah’s reign come to an end?

Answer 36

Pekah, with 50 men from Gilead, assassinated him.

Pekahiah -> Pekah -> Hoshea

Question 37

In whose reign did the king of Assyria overthrow Israel in the first instance? And what was his name?

Answer 37

Tiglath-Pileser overthrow Israel in the time of Pekah. He conquered the entire region of Naphtali, and many of the major cities in Israel, including Kadesh, Hazor and Gilead, but not Samaria.
Pekahiah -> Pekah -> Hoshea

Question 38

Who was the final king of the Northern kingdom of Israel, and how did he come into power?

Answer 38

The final king of the Northern kingdom was Hoshea. He assassinated his predecessor, Pekah. The history books also suggest that he was appointed by Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, who had already devasted Israel.
Pekah -> Hoshea

Question 39

What caused Shalmanasser, king of Assyria, to beseige and take Samaria, finally sending all of Northern Israel into captivity?

Answer 39

Hoshea had been paying tribute to the king, but had now refused.
Pekah -> Hoshea