by
Damien F. Mackey
Reading through the accounts of the kings of Israel in
Kings and Chronicles,
I was really surprised to find that Jeroboam II does
not figure in Chronicles.
Suspecting (16th
September, 2019), once again, that there may be some degree of duplication
amongst the listings of the kings of Israel of the Divided Monarchy period,
and then reading through the accounts of the
kings of Israel in Kings and Chronicles, I was really surprised to find that
Jeroboam II does not figure at all in Chronicles.
That I was not
mistaken or deluding myself about this was confirmed when I read introductory
parts of Todd Bolen’s thesis (2002):
The Reign of
Jeroboam II: A Historical and Archaeological Interpretation
For instance, Todd Bolen commences by writing of the scant
treatment of Jeroboam II in the entire Scriptures despite the king’s undoubted
importance:
It has long been
recognized that some of the most defining political and military events
received little attention from the theologically-oriented
writer of the Scriptures. Jeroboam II was one such king whose
importance to Israel’s political history went virtually unnoticed in the biblical
record. Though he ruled longer than any other king of the north, the Scriptures
accord him one of the briefest treatments of all kings (2
Kings 14:23-29). Much of this record is not unique to Jeroboam, but
simply repeats the standard formulaic denunciation of wicked rulers.
The most peculiar feature
of the biblical record of Jeroboam’s rule is its report of his territorial
expansion: “He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from
Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah.... He recovered for
Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah” (2 Kings 14:25,
28). Typical assessments of Jeroboam’s reign extrapolate this note of northern
expansion to include unprecedented glory, wealth, and prosperity for the nation
of Israel. Conversely, recent attempts have been made to reject all suggestions
of material prosperity or territorial expansion under Jeroboam
II.
This study assesses the
rule of Jeroboam II by first considering his historical background. The
devastating oppression by the Arameans in the days before Jeroboam came to the
throne are the backdrop for the expressions of expansion
and wealth. Assyrian campaigns against Damascus reversed the
fortunes of the southern Levant at the beginning of the eighth century B.C.,
and allowed Israel to rebound from a time of territorial oppression and
economic poverty. The geographical references are studied in order to best
understand the precise extent of Jeroboam’s kingdom to the north, east, and
south. The conclusion of this study is that by the latter half of Jeroboam’s
reign, Hamath and Damascus were paying regular tribute to Israel, much of
Transjordan was under Israelite control, and the nation of Judah was an ally.
The archaeological record
of the first half of the eighth century reveals a period of renewed
construction and some measure of material prosperity.
However, the current state of archaeological research
does not support the position that Jeroboam’s kingdom was wealthier than the
kingdom of Ahab. Analysis of the excavations at Hazor, Tirzah,
Dan, Samaria, and Megiddo indicate that Israel at this time
experienced a resurgence, and specific material finds at these sites reflect a
degree of prosperity that appears limited primarily to the
upper class.
The Samaria
ostraca attest to an administrative system in Jeroboam’s coregent years whereby
governmental officials were given land grants to meet their needs while
residing at the king’s table at the capital. An understanding of the society of
Jeroboam’s day is completed with a study of Amos’ and
Hosea’s records of the Israelites’ religious and social failures.
Then
Todd Bolen, in his Introduction to Chapter I, will proceed to tell of this
startling fact: “Chronicles does not so much as hint of his
existence, even in regnal synchronisms”:
For
slightly over two hundred years, the northern kingdom of Israel survived as a
sovereign nation in the tumultuous ancient Near East. Situated amidst larger
and stronger powers, Israel was easily affected by the political forces and
movements of the empires and powers around her. Within the relatively short
span of two hundred years, Israel endured devastating conquest by the Egyptians,
exacting tribute payments to the Assyrians, crushing oppression by the
Arameans, damning idolatrous influence from the Phoenicians, but rarely
satisfying independence.
After
Jeroboam ben Nebat led the northern tribes away from a united kingdom with
Judah, Israel would never again hold the territorial dominion that it enjoyed
under David and Solomon, save perhaps one time.
Control
of the trade routes would often be contested, and Israel would frequently be on
the losing end. The history of this nation was not one in which to take great
pride; its existence was marked by foreign oppression, dynastic usurpations and
rival reigns.
The
characteristics of Jeroboam II’s rule were not unlike those of his nation; it
was not an era of uniform prosperity, peaceful coexistence, or popular
satisfaction. His age was one marked by both blessings and curses, rises and
falls, successes and failures, prosperity and adversity. The unvaried character
sometimes attributed to the first half of the eighth century BC is unfounded.
Israelite society reflected a wide range of events, circumstances and feelings,
and Jeroboam’s reign was anything but static.
The
first half of the eighth century was not a replication, however, of any other period
of Israel’s existence. No king of Israel ruled longer than Jeroboam II, and no
dynasty had as many monarchs sit on the throne as did that of Jeroboam’s
forebear, Jehu. Jeroboam’s rule stands in stark contrast to that of his
predecessors and successors. The half-century before him witnessed the most
violent and trying time of persecution Israel had ever faced. Beaten down so
that they were like “dust at threshing time,” the apostate rulers of Israel
ultimately sought out even the Lord for salvation (2 Kgs 13:7).
The
last half of the ninth century was most unlike the period of expansion and
economic growth that Jeroboam fostered, and the stability that he established
would be unknown after his death. In the period following Jeroboam, a duration
shorter than Jeroboam’s reign, the country would have six rulers, four of them
dying violent deaths. In fact, the Israelite nation under Jeroboam experienced
an age that was unique - both in strength and stability.
Without
the brief record in the Book of Kings and cursory mentions in two prophetic
works, the name of this man would not be preserved (2 Kgs 14:23-15:8; Amos 1:1;
7:9-11; Hos 1:1).
Even
the parallel account of the history of the Divided Monarchy neglects to mention
Jeroboam, even in passing.
A
replica of the Megiddo Seal of Shema, servant of King Jeroboam II. Photo:
Ferrell Jenkins, https://ferrelljenkins.blog/2018/07/15/the-shema-seal-from-megiddo/
Chronicles
does not so much as hint of his existence, even in regnal synchronisms. This
king of unusually long reign and reported strong position is not attested to in
Assyrian, Aramean, Hamathite, Babylonian, or Egyptian annals or inscriptions.
Furthermore, the known history of the ancient Near East for his period is
surprisingly sparse; very little has been preserved. The extent of the
historical record is related in the Book of Kings:
In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam
son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one
years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of
the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. He was
the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of
the Arabah, in accordance with the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, spoken
through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher. The
LORD had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was
suffering; there was no one to help them. And since the LORD had not said he
would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand
of Jeroboam son of Jehoash. As for the other events of Jeroboam’s reign, all he
did, and his military achievements, including how he recovered for Israel both
Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the
book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Jeroboam rested with his fathers,
the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king. (2 Kgs
14:23-29 NIV4)
The
sources for Jeroboam’s forty-year reign are, unfortunately, not only brief but
sketchy as well. Very few details about his military accomplishments, economic
prosperity, or administrative ability are known. The extrabiblical sources for
this period of time are also very limited. Jeroboam’s father is recorded as
having paid tribute to the Assyrians a few years prior to Jeroboam’s accession.
The usurper of the throne of Jeroboam’s son also received mention for a similar
action some ten years after Jeroboam’s death. The Samaria Ostraca likely date
to the time of Jeroboam, but their interpretation and implications are somewhat
unclear. The Zakkur and Pazarcik stelae both record contemporaneous events, but
far to the north of Israelite territory. Assyrian annals concentrate on the
troublesome events of home, and any western excursions receive very little
detail. No inscriptions have been found from the smaller nations neighboring
Israel.
The
prophets Amos and Hosea both date at least a portion of their oracles to the
reign of Jeroboam. Amos’ work is particularly
valuable as he details the oppression of the
lower class. His sharp remarks, pointed
denunciations, and predictions of judgment undoubtedly
reflect the Israelite society during
this period. Also, Amos is unique in specifically
condemning the Israelite monarch for
his wickedness (7:9-11). Hosea appears
to have begun his prophetic ministry during the reign of Jeroboam (1:1), but
his words are more general in nature. ….
[End of quote]
Todd Bolen’s opening remark, “that some
of the most defining political and military events received little attention
from the theologically-oriented
writer of the Scriptures”, may not necessarily be entirely true. Jeroboam
so-called II may figure more prominently in the Scriptures than is thought –
but under an alter ego.
That
alter ego was, I believe, the potent Jehoash, the presumed father of
Jeroboam II:
An Old Testament “saviour”
of Israel
(6) An Old
Testament "saviour" of Israel
In
another article on Israel’s kings of the Divided Monarchy period, I had forensically
employed the methodology of alter egos to show that the:
Last six Kings of
Israel were only three
(6) Last six Kings
of Israel were only three
there
concluding as follows:
My
conclusion
Zechariah
(murdered) = Pekahiah (murdered);
Shallum
(murderer-murdered) = Pekah (murderer-murdered);
Menahem
(murderer) = Hoshea (murderer).
The
last six listed kings of Israel were, in actual fact, only three.
For
more on King Zechariah (above), see my article:
Zakir Stele in an
historical context
(6) Zakir Stele in
an historical context
For
a discussion of how the long life of the prophet Jonah may early have impacted
Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:25), but, much much later, have impacted Nineveh, as according
to the Book of Jonah, see e.g. my article:
Search for
historical prophet Jonah requires re-casting Assyro-Babylonia
(6) Search for
historical prophet Jonah requires re-casting Assyro-Babylonia
and
the related article:
Adad-Nirari III
favoured by some for the Book of Jonah’s ‘king of Nineveh’
(6) Adad-Nirari
III favoured by some for the Book of Jonah’s ‘king of Nineveh’
For
the geographical origins of the prophet Jonah, see e.g. my article:
Were any Old
Testament prophets from Galilee?
(6) Were any Old
Testament prophets from Galilee?
