This is a diagram that I was hoping to do for a long time, but never got a chance to finish it. But recently because of a request from a friend. So I was moved to finished it.

This is the timeline of the kings of Israel and Judah, and as well as the prophets of God that are present during that time.  This is important for us to understand this as the prophetic books of the old testament is not arranged in chronological order.

The dates in BCE are approximate date base on the Wikipedia entries of the kings of Israel and Judah. As I was drawing out the information, I was drawn to the following teachings

The Number of Kings

There are 20 kings of Judah from Rehoboam and there are 19 different kings in Israel. One would have think that both kingdom runs around t he same time. But the truth is. The Kingdom of Israel is destroyed around 720 BCE while Judah continued to survive for about 200 years

The Kingdom Of Israel And Its 9 Dynasties

One thing we can see is that the Kingdom of Israel had many changes of dynasties (Ruling family).. While Judah is completely under the house of David. Athailah was from the house of Ahab, perhaps the only princess from the Kingdom of Israel that was ever married into the house of David.

The kingdom of Israel had a history of treachery and killing, within its history there are many generals who rebelled and took over the country.  The house of Omri and the house of Jehu are the longest ruling families in Israel

Joel and Obadiah

The book of the prophets are usually dated using a few ways.
1. If any kings that are mentioned
2. If there are any historical events recorded
3. If the character was mentioned in the book of kings and chronicles

However, there was not much evidence found in the book of Joel and Obadiah hence I have added the commonly identified era and I place a question mark beside their name.

Jehoshaphat and Ahab

We know that the house of Israel and Judah sometimes go to war with each other. But during the time of Jehoshaphat, they were friends. Sometimes when I consider their friendship, it is really ironic.

1. Kings 22 when Micaiah predicted that Ahab will be killed in battle, this man dressed up his Ally as the king and that almost got King Jehoshaphat killed. Fortunately God saved him (1 Kings 22:32-34）

2. I would guess most likely Athaliah was introduced to the house of David at that time, and interestingly, you will notice that King Jehoram, Ahaziah all became bad kings. Ahaziah was even murdered by Athaliah (typical Israel politics) and she seized power. She killed all the heirs to the throne of Judah (2 kings 11:1) King Joash was only saved with the help of Jehosheba his aunt and Jehoiada the priest.

From this incident I can learn two things

1. God is faithful to his covenant that he swore to David. Hence he preserved his descendant. If Athaliah was successful in killing the house of David, the messiah would have not come the seed of David

2. “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 1 Cor 15:33 . Jehoshaphat choice of friend led to the degradation of his house. It almost cost him his life at the battle.

The Kingdom Of Israel And Its 9 Dynasties

One thing we can see is that the Kingdom of Israel had many changes  of Ruling family.. While Judah is completely under the house of David.

The kingdom of Israel had a history of treachery  and killing, within its history there are many generals who rebelled and took over the country.  The house of Omri and the house of Jehu are the longest ruling families in Israel

When God chose Jeroboam I and gave him the 10 tribes, God commanded him to lead the people like David and he would create for him a dynasty just like David (1 Kings 11:37-38)

Sadly, he did not do it, and he created golden calves for people to worship. That is why the sin of Israel is often given a brand name “The Sin Of Jeroboam the son of Nebat” His choice also let to violent history of Israel where there is degradation of faith.

God did not give up on Israel, he raised Jehu to judge the house of Ahab and anointed him king of Israel (2 Kings 9:8-19) which he did a good job , he killed all of Ahab’s house and he also killed Ahaziah the king of Judah as well as Queen Jezebel.

But sadly, Jehu did not follow God and he followed the sin of Jeroboam,  hence Israel was not restored (2 Kings 10:29-31)

God  also sent Elijah and Elisha to the house of Israel to call the people back, bad sadly not everyone repented. These people became disperse. And there are many traces of them all over the world

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Tribes_of_Israel

The Era Of Prophetic books

God has always sent prophets to his people, some of the historical characters you see are prophets. They are Samuel, Nathan,Ahijah, Elijah, Elisha, Micaiah. But interestingly they do not write prophetic books.

Perhaps there are some writing attributed to them but they are not canonized in the scripture.

When God gave Israel rest from the enemies, and blessed them during the reign of Jeroboam II, God sent Amos to warn Israel of her impending judgment. God sent Jonah to the city of Nineveh (Assyria will eventually destroyed Israel as we know in History) .

Interestingly, before the Kingdom of Israel is destroyed, there are Micah, Isaiah and Hosea. But since Israel did not repent, finally God executed the judgment.

If we were to observe the number of Prophets that exist just before the Kingdom of Judah is destroyed, God sent even more messenger to Judah. Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Daniel lived had to suffer together with the people. Nahum and Habakkuk are there as well.

The bulk of the Prophetic books are written here, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi were written last after the Exiles returned.

From here we can see this

Before God execute his judgment, he will send a lot of messengers to warn you. Most people accused the God of the old testament as a blood thirsty God who is out to kill whoever who disobey. Yet they fail to realize how many time God pleaded with his people.

One of the plea that touched my heart is the one spoken by Prophet Ezekiel

“Do I have any pleasure at all that the
wicked should die? and not that he
should turn from his ways and live?

Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’
Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way
which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel,
every one according to his ways, Repent, and
turn from all your transgressions, so that
iniquity will not be your ruin.  Cast away
from you all the transgressions which you
have committed, and get yourselves a new
heart and a new spirit. For why should
you die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of one
who dies,therefore
turn and live!” – YHWH (Eze 18:19-31)

While we often complain about the way of God is not fair, but have we been fair to God when we sin against him? Are we angry with him for judging us for our mistakes? God in fact sent countless of prophets to tell the world to stop sinning for he would have to judge it, yet man disregard the words od God, and accused him of being blood thirsty when he carried out his judgment.

Therefore God is indeed asking us “Is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?”

Let us heed the voice of the prophets, let us turn back. For God never wanted anyone to die for their sins.

I have attached the timeline here for everyone to see

Timeline Chart Of Kings And Prophets

Timeline Chart Of Kings And Prophets