Chronology of Melakhim II 14-15/1
Chronology of Melakhim II 14-15
Introduction
Missing Years in the Kingdom of Yehuda
Melakhim II 14:23 states that in the fifteenth year of the reign of Amatzyahu, king of Yehuda, Yerovam became king of the kingdom of Yisrael:
בִּשְׁנַת חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה לַאֲמַצְיָהוּ בֶן יוֹאָשׁ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה מָלַךְ יָרׇבְעָם בֶּן יוֹאָשׁ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן אַרְבָּעִים וְאַחַת שָׁנָה.
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.
As Amaztyahu reigned for a total of twenty-nine years (Melakhim II 14:2), one can conclude that he ended his reign in the fourteenth or fifteenth year of Yerovam.
However, Melakhim II 15:1 states that Amatzyahu's son, Uzziyahu (Azarya),1 began his reign over the kingdom of Yehuda only in the twenty-seventh year of Yerovam:
בִּשְׁנַת עֶשְׂרִים וָשֶׁבַע שָׁנָה לְיָרׇבְעָם מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל מָלַךְ עֲזַרְיָה בֶן אֲמַצְיָה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה.
In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.
What happened during those twelve or thirteen years between Amatzyahu's death and Uzziyahu's crowning? Why did Uzziyahu not begin ruling in the fourteenth year of Yerovam, as expected?
Amatzyahu in Lachish
Melakhim II 14 shares two incidents regarding Amatzyahu which makes one question the nature of his reign, and might bear on the chronology discussed above. We are told of a battle between Amatzyahu and Yoash king of Israel, in which Amatzyahu is taken captive by Yoash. The verse then shares that Amatzyahu reigned for fifteen years after Yoash's death.2 Does this imply that despite being taken captive, he was still considered king? How long was he in captivity? Did anyone rule in his stead during that period?
Following this we are told:
(יט) וַיִּקְשְׁרוּ עָלָיו קֶשֶׁר בִּירוּשָׁלִַם וַיָּנׇס לָכִישָׁה וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ אַחֲרָיו לָכִישָׁה וַיְמִתֻהוּ שָׁם. (כ) וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֹתוֹ עַל הַסּוּסִים וַיִּקָּבֵר בִּירוּשָׁלִַם עִם אֲבֹתָיו בְּעִיר דָּוִד.
(19) And 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 upon horses; and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.
When did this rebellion happen? How long was Amatzyahu in Lachish for and who was king during this period of time?
Melakhim II 14:21 states that the people actively crowned Uzziyahu as king "תַּחַת אָבִיו אֲמַצְיָהוּ". Does this suggest that he did not simply inherit the kingship upon his father's death, but was chosen while he was still alive? In describing his accomplishments, we are told that he build Eilat "אַחֲרֵי שְׁכַב הַמֶּלֶךְ עִם אֲבֹתָיו". What is the meaning and need for this added phrase? Was there a reason to think Uzziyahu built Eilat before Amayzyahu died?
Missing Years in the Kingdom of Israel
The chronology of the contemporary kings' reigns in the Kingdom of Israel is also problematic. Melakhim II 14:23 states that Yerovam reigned for a total of forty-one years. Since Uzziyahu began his reign in the twenty-seventh year of Yerovam (Melakhim II 15:1), one can calculate that Yerovam died in the fourteenth year of Uzziyahu's reign. However, Melakhim II 15:8 teaches that Zecharyah, who reigned over the kingdom of Israel after Yerovam, began his reign only in the thirty-eighth year of Uzziyahu:
בִּשְׁנַת שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁמֹנֶה שָׁנָה לַעֲזַרְיָהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה מָלַךְ זְכַרְיָהוּ בֶן יָרׇבְעָם עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן שִׁשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים.
In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.
What happened during those twenty-four years? And finally, what is the relationship between the missing years in both kingdoms? How might a solution to one issue bear on the other?
