The Kings of Judah: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Following the tumultuous reign of King Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel was tragically rent in twain. Ten tribes formed the northern kingdom of Israel, often called Ephraim, which quickly descended into idolatry and never knew a righteous king. The southern kingdom, Judah, consisted primarily of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and maintained the Davidic lineage of kings in Jerusalem. This distinction is vital, for upon the kings of Judah rested the covenant promises made to David, culminating in the Messiah. As we survey their reigns, recorded primarily in the books of 1 and 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, we find a stark contrast in their character and conduct, aptly categorized as "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly." Their stories serve as powerful object lessons in obedience, rebellion, divine judgment, and enduring grace.
The Good Kings: Pillars of Righteousness
Despite the pervasive idolatry of the surrounding nations and the constant temptation within their own borders, a remnant of kings in Judah sought the Lord and walked in His ways. These men led significant reforms, purged idolatry, and called the people back to the covenant. Their reigns were often marked by peace, prosperity, and divine favour.
- Asa (913-873 BC): Asa was one of the earliest righteous kings of Judah, setting a strong precedent for future reformers. He began his reign by actively purging idolatry from the land.
And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God: For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
He strengthened the kingdom, built fortified cities, and relied on God against overwhelming odds, as seen in his victory over Zerah the Ethiopian (2 Chronicles 14:9-15). Though he faltered later in life by relying on Syria instead of the Lord (2 Chronicles 16:7-10), his initial devotion and reforms mark him as a good king.
- Jehoshaphat (872-848 BC): Jehoshaphat walked in the ways of his father Asa, further strengthening Judah both militarily and spiritually. He sent priests and Levites throughout the land to teach the Law of the Lord, fostering a spiritual revival.
And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
His reign was blessed with peace and prosperity, and his trust in God was exemplified during the Ammonite and Moabite invasion, where Judah gained victory through praise and faith, not force (2 Chronicles 20:1-30).
- Hezekiah (715-686 BC): Hezekiah stands out as one of Judah's most devout kings. He immediately initiated sweeping religious reforms, destroying idols, breaking down the brazen serpent (which had become an object of worship), and reopening the temple for proper worship.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
His unwavering trust in the Lord during the Assyrian siege under Sennacherib is a testament to his faith, as God miraculously delivered Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:1-37).
- Josiah (640-609 BC): Josiah, ascending the throne at a young age, is perhaps the most celebrated of Judah's good kings. His reign saw the discovery of the Book of the Law, leading to a profound national repentance and the most extensive religious reforms since David.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
Josiah utterly destroyed idolatry, cleansed the temple, and reinstituted the Passover celebration with unprecedented fervour (2 Kings 23:1-25). His heart was tender toward the Lord, and his obedience delayed God's ultimate judgment on Judah.
The Bad Kings: Flawed and Faltering
This category includes kings who, while not utterly wicked, were either inconsistent in their devotion, started well but strayed, or allowed evil to persist in the land. Their failures often brought significant spiritual and political decline to Judah.
- Rehoboam (931-913 BC): Solomon's son, Rehoboam, inherited a unified kingdom but lost ten tribes due to his folly and harshness (1 Kings 12:1-20). Though he initially sought to strengthen Judah, he quickly abandoned the Law of the Lord.
And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.
His spiritual decline led to an invasion by Shishak, king of Egypt, who plundered the temple and royal treasury (1 Kings 14:25-26). His reign exemplifies how quickly a kingdom can fall from righteousness.
- Joash (835-796 BC): Joash, rescued from Athaliah's massacre, was raised by the high priest Jehoiada and did what was right in the Lord's sight for much of his reign. He diligently repaired the temple, a commendable act.
And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
However, after Jehoiada's death, Joash succumbed to the influence of corrupt officials and turned to idolatry, even sanctioning the stoning of Zechariah, Jehoiada's son, who rebuked him (2 Chronicles 24:17-22). His reign is a tragic reminder that even a good start does not guarantee a righteous finish.
- Uzziah (792-740 BC): Uzziah was a powerful and successful king, blessed by God for much of his long reign. He fortified Jerusalem, expanded Judah's territory, and developed its resources.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
Yet, in his prosperity, pride swelled within him. He presumptuously entered the temple to burn incense, a duty reserved for the priests, and was struck with leprosy by the Lord, remaining a leper until his death (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). Uzziah's story warns against the dangers of pride and exceeding one's God-given boundaries.
The Ugly Kings: Depravity and Destruction
These kings actively promoted wickedness, led Judah into deep spiritual apostasy, and often shed innocent blood. Their reigns accelerated Judah's downward spiral, ultimately culminating in the Babylonian exile.
- Ahaz (736-716 BC): Ahaz was a king of unparalleled wickedness in Judah, actively embracing and promoting the idolatry of the surrounding nations, even to the point of child sacrifice.
But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
He stripped the temple, closed its doors, and erected altars to foreign gods throughout Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 28:24-25). In his desperation against foreign threats, he appealed to Assyria rather than the Lord, bringing Judah into vassalage and further spiritual compromise.
- Manasseh (697-642 BC): Son of the righteous Hezekiah, Manasseh plunged Judah into its deepest spiritual depravity. His reign of 55 years was marked by extreme idolatry, including rebuilding high places, setting up Asherah poles, worshipping celestial bodies, practicing divination, and even sacrificing his sons to Molech.
For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
He filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, leading the nation further astray than the Canaanites whom God had dispossessed (2 Kings 21:9). Though he later repented in Babylonian captivity (2 Chronicles 33:12-16), his initial wickedness sealed Judah's fate, making God's judgment inevitable, even after Josiah's reforms.
- Amon (642-640 BC): Amon, Manasseh's son, continued his father's evil practices but without his father's later repentance. His brief reign was characterized by a complete devotion to idolatry.
But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
He was assassinated by his own servants, a swift and inglorious end to a wicked reign.
- Jehoiakim (609-598 BC): Jehoiakim, a puppet king installed by Pharaoh-necho, was an oppressive ruler who cared little for God's Law or His prophets. He burned Jeremiah's prophetic scroll (Jeremiah 36:23), showing open contempt for the word of the Lord.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.
His rebellion against Babylon led to the first siege of Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian exile, marking the end of Judah's independence.
- Zedekiah (597-586 BC): The last king of Judah, Zedekiah was weak-willed and disobedient. Despite Jeremiah's constant warnings, he rebelled against Babylon, trusting in Egypt, and refused to humble himself before God.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
His stubbornness led to the final, devastating siege of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, and the complete exile of the Jewish people (2 Kings 25:1-21). Zedekiah witnessed his sons slaughtered and was then blinded, a tragic end to the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem.
Lessons from the Throne: The Enduring King
The saga of Judah's kings offers profound lessons. The reigns of the "Good" kings demonstrate the blessings of obedience, the power of repentance, and God's readiness to bless a nation that seeks Him. Their reforms, though sometimes temporary, bought time and testified to God's enduring covenant.
The "Bad" kings illustrate the dangers of compromise, inconsistent faith, and the corrupting influence of pride and worldly counsel. Their stories remind us that a good beginning does not guarantee a good end, and that spiritual vigilance is always required.
The "Ugly" kings reveal the depths of human depravity and the inevitable consequences of persistent rebellion against God. Their actions directly led to the downfall of Judah, the destruction of the temple, and the seventy-year Babylonian captivity, a stark fulfillment of prophetic warnings.
Yet, amidst this narrative of human failure, God's faithfulness shines forth. Even in judgment, He preserved a remnant and maintained the Davidic line, a promise that pointed to the ultimate King. The earthly kings of Judah, with all their flaws and virtues, ultimately served as a historical backdrop for the coming of the true and eternal King, Jesus Christ. Unlike the kings of Judah, who were either good, bad, or ugly, Jesus is the perfectly righteous King, who reigns forever, and whose kingdom shall have no end (Luke 1:33). He is the Son of David, who truly did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, without turning to the right hand or to the left, and in whom all the promises of God are Yea, and in Him Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20).