ZECHARIAH, 6 months

SHALLUM, 1 month

MENAHEM, 10 years

JOTHAM, 16 years HOSEA

AHAZ, 16 years PEKAHIAH, 2 years

PEKAH, 20 years

HOSHEA, 9 years

HEZEKIAH, 29 years CAPTIVITY. 721 B. C. ISAIAH

MANASSEH, 55 years MICAH

AMON, 2 years

JOSIAH, 31 years

JEHOAHAZ, 3 months

JEHOIAKIM, 11 years

JEHOIACHIN, 3 months

FIRST CAPTIVITY. 597 B. C.

ZEDEKIAH (regent), 11 years

_Destruction of Jerusalem and_
SECOND CAPTIVITY. 586 B. C.

The dates given in this table are only approximate. It is impossible
to give the exact dates of many of the events in Bible history. In
many cases no date is given in the Bible itself, and many times the
date is in round numbers or is obscure. Accuracy in the matter of
dates was not thought to be so necessary in those days as it is now.

{237}

THE KINGDOM OF THE SOUTH.

REHOBOAM.

_How a Foolish Young King Lost the Best Part of His Kingdom_.

(Under the great King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel rose to the
zenith of its power and glory. Its territory stretched from sea to
sea, its commerce was world-wide. Jerusalem with its great temple and
its luxurious palaces became a magnificent city. But even during the
reign of Solomon there began to be mutterings of discontent. Solomon
was a great king, but his very magnificence laid heavy burdens upon
the people. Taxes must be raised, very burdensome taxes, and a great
number of servants and slaves must be kept. Solomon was strong enough
to prevent an open rebellion in his own day, but as soon as he died
the smoldering fire burst into flame. His son Rehoboam was an arrogant
and very foolish young man. The people petitioned for a redress of
their grievances and a lightening of their burdens. The elders whom
the king consulted advised him to listen to these reasonable requests.
But he gave heed instead to the advice of young men as willful and as
inexperienced as himself, and replied that he would lay heavier
burdens yet upon the people.

Then the old cry of protest, "To your tents, O Israel," was raised.
The people of the North seceded, and under the leadership of a man
named Jeroboam, set up a k