After the Twelve Tribes of Israel (1) conquered (sort of) the Promised Land (2) of Canaan (3) circa 1406 BC (4), but before they formed a United Monarchy (5) circa 1052 BC , they were ruled internally by tribal chieftains or Judges (6) (Judges 1-21; 1 Samuel 1-8).

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit (Judges 17:6, 21:25). As a result, the Israelites experienced many self-induced trials and hardships, being intermittently oppressed by other countries. Eventually, they desired to be like other nations and clamored for a king to rule over them (1 Samuel 8). This led to the Twelve Tribes returning to the type of central government they operated under during the times of Moses (7) and Joshua (8): one leader at the top.

Offered herein is a timeline of the Twelve Tribes of Israel which covers:

1052 BC: Formation of the United Monarchy

  931 BC: Monarchy splits into two separate kingdoms

  722 BC: Northern Kingdom of Israel (9) conquered/exiled by the Assyrians (10)

  586 BC: Southern Kingdom of Judah (11) conquered/exiled by the Babylonians (12)

KINGS OF THE UNITED MONARCHY OF ISRAEL

Between 1052 BC and 931 BC, the United Monarchy was served concurrently by three different kings: Saul (13), David (14), and Solomon (15).

(a) Saul’s reign: 1 Samuel 13:1 indicates 42 years; Acts 13:21 indicates 40 years.

SAUL
The LORD directed the Prophet (16) Samuel (17) to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel  (1 Samuel 9:1-10:27). The Bible (18) also discloses that the LORD later regretted doing so (1 Samuel 15:35). The Bible records 2 different lengths of reign for him: 40 years in Acts 13:21 and 42 years in 1 Samuel 13:1. Saul died at the Battle of Mount Gilboa (19) (1 Samuel 31; 1 Chronicles 10).
 
DAVID
Upon Saul's death circa 1010 BC, David was anointed king only over the tribe of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-4) while Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth (20), was made king over the rest of the United Monarchy of Israel (2 Samuel 2:8-10). After Ish-Bosheth reigned for 2 years, he was murdered in his bed (2 Samuel 4) and David was anointed king over all of Israel. David reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem (21) he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years (2 Samuel 5:1-5; 1 Chronicles 3:4; 1 Chronicles 29:27).
 
SOLOMON
Upon David's death circa 970 BC, his son, Solomon, became king (1 Kings 1:1-53) and reigned for 40 years (1 Kings 11:42; 2 Chronicles 9:30). Due to Solomon's continued disobedience (22), God vowed to tear apart the United Monarchy upon his death (see below).

 
THE LORD REBUKES KING SOLOMON;
FORETELLS THE SPLITTING OF THE KINGDOM

 
(1 Kings 11:9-13) The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although He had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept My covenant and My decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David My servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
 
For a similar account where the prophet Ahijah (23) forewarns King Jeroboam I (24) of the Kingdom being split into two regions, explore 1 Kings 11:29-40.

 
UNITED KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
SPLITS INTO TWO SEPARATE KINGDOMS

Bible Reference: 1 Kings 11:26-40; 1 Kings 14:21-31
 
Circa 931 BC The United Monarchy of Israel splits into two separate kingdoms when King Solomon dies. The Northern Kingdom of Israel is ruled by King Jeroboam I and consists of ten tribes: Reuben (25), Simeon (26), Dan (27), Naphtali (28), Gad (29), Asher (30), Issachar (31), Zebulun (32), Manasseh (33) and Ephraim (34). The Southern Kingdom of Judah is ruled by King Rehoboam (35) and consists of two tribes: Judah (36) and Benjamin (37).
 
For a complete list of Northern Kingdom of Israel kings, click here (38).
For a complete list of Southern Kingdom of Judah kings, click here (39).
 

NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL'S KING
REJECTS LEVITES AS PRIESTS

Bible Reference: 2 Chronicles 11:5-17
 
Circa 931 BC-910 BC King Jeroboam I and his sons reject the Levites (40) as priests. So, the Levites leave all their property and land behind and move from the Northern Kingdom of Israel to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
 
Additionally,  members from every Tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord, the God of Israel (41), followed the Levites into Judah.
 

MANY DEFECTIONS FROM ISRAEL TO JUDAH

Bible Reference: 2 Chronicles 15:8-9
 
Circa 870 BC-811 BC Large numbers from the Tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon migrate from the Northern Kingdom of Israel to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
 

ASSYRIANS INVADE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

Bible Reference: 2 Kings 15:29; 1 Chronicles 5:26
 
Circa 738 BC Led by their King Tiglath-Pileser III (42), the Assyrians invade the Northern Kingdom of Israel, taking possession of many towns and lands. The uprooted Israelites were taken prisoner and deported to Assyria (43).

 
ASSYRIANS TAKE SAMARIA;
NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL FALLS

Bible Reference: 2 Kings 17:3-6; 2 Kings 18:9-12
 
Circa 725-722 BC Led by their King Shalmaneser V (44) and his successor, Sargon II (45), the Assyrians attack the Northern Kingdom of Israel again. This time, the invaders lay siege to the entire Kingdom. After three years, the capital city of Samaria (46) falls into enemy hands. Israelites were either executed or taken prisoner into Assyria and have been known, henceforth, as the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel.
 

ASSYRIANS INVADE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH

Bible References: 2 Kings 18:13-19:37; Isaiah 7:1
 
Circa 701 BC Led by their King Sennacherib (47), the Assyrians invade and attack the fortified cities of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. They laid siege on Jerusalem, but failed to capture it.

 
BABYLONIANS SACK JERUSALEM;
SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH FALLS

Bible references: 2 Kings 23:26-27; 2 Kings 25:8-21; 2 Chronicles 36:15-23; Daniel 1:1
 
Circa 605-586 BC Led by their King Nebuchadnezzar II (48), the entire Babylonian army invaded the Southern Kingdom of Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem. Eventually, the capital city fell into enemy hands. The Temple of the Lord (49), the royal palace (1 Kings 7), every important building and all the houses of Jerusalem were burned to the ground and completely destroyed. In addition to the Temple furnishings and treasures being plundered, all gold, silver and bronze objects were stripped and transported back to Babylon. Some Temple workers were taken prisoner while many citizens were executed by the Babylonians.
 

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If you're seeking additional information about Christianity on a more personal level, consider visiting a  Christian Church here in Marion County (50). Introduce yourself to members and ask to speak with someone to learn more about Jesus. Surrendering your life to Christ (51) (b) is the most rewarding and everlasting decision you'll ever make, and it's comforting to have someone guide you as you begin your new life as a child of the Most High! May God shower you with great favor in this endeavor!
 

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Footnotes, Page Credits and External Resources appear below. Consider printing and sharing the offered PDF narrative and other listed resources with family, friends and strangers alike for use in Bible Studies (52), Home/Church Faith Sharing Groups (53), Discipleship Encounters (54) and/or Personal Faith Enrichment!
 
Modifications are welcome at [email protected].

FOOTNOTES:

  (1) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/twelve-tribes-of-israel

  (2) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/promised-land

  (3) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/canaan

  (4) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bible-timeline

  (5) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/united-monarchy-kings

  (6) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/judges

  (7) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Moses

  (8) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/joshua-son-of-nun

  (9) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/northern-kingdom-of-israel

(10) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Assyrians

(11) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/southern-kingdom-of-judah

(12) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Babylonians

(13) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/saul-king-of-israel

(14) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/a-man-after-gods-own-heart

(15) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Solomon

(16) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/prophets-of-the-bible

(17) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/samuel

(18) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/the-good-news

(19) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/battle-of-mount-gilboa

(20) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ish-bosheth

(21) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Jerusalem

(22) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/disobedience

(23) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ahijah

(24) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/jeroboam-i

(25) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/reuben-1

(26) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/simeon-1

(27) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/dan-1

(28) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/naphtali-1

(29) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/gad-1

(30) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/asher-1

(31) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/issachar-1

(32) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/zebulun-1

(33) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/manasseh-1

(34) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ephraim-1

(35) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/rehoboam

(36) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/judah-2

(37) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/benjamin-1

(38) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/kings-of-israel

(39) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/kings-of-judah

(40) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/levi-1

(41) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/God-of-the-bible

(42) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/tiglath-pileser-iii

(43) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Assyria

(44) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/shalmaneser

(45) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/sargon-ii

(46) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Samaria

(47) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/sennacherib

(48) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/nebuchadnezzar

(49) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/temple-first

(50) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/listing-by-city

(51) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/the-gracious-visitor

(52) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bible-studies

(53) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/christian-education

(54) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/discipleship

EXTERNAL RESOURCES:

 (b)  How Do I Convert to Christianity?, Got Questions Ministries, accessed January 12, 2020    https://www.gotquestions.org/convert-to-Christianity.html

PAGE CREDITS:

(c) Bible Gateway, accessed April 26, 2020 https://www.biblegateway.com/