This shows the relative placement of the key figures of the Israelite United Monarchy. The horizontal black lines show 50 year intervals but not linked to any actual calendar years.
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Explanatory notes
Samuel
Last of Israel's judges, he assisted the nation to make the transition to monarchy despite initially being opposed to the suggestion. Although he could be strict and stern, he was respected by the people and his decisions accepted.
Saul
The first king over the United Kingdom, anointed by Samuel in response to the people's choice. A courageous and physically strong man, he was chosen as a warrior-leader, but away from the field of battle showed himself to be impulsive, weak, and increasingly suspicious and hostile. His jealousy of David arose because of his success, which was seen by Saul as a threat to his own position, and developed into a lengthy man-hunt. He died on the battlefield of Gilboa with his son Jonathan, unsuccessfully defending Israel against the Philistines.
David
Youngest son of Jesse, his early life was spent as a shepherd. A period of musical and military service to Saul ended as the the latter became increasingly jealous and hostile. Several years in hiding and exile ended after Saul's death, allowing David to take up the kingship prophecied by Samuel. He was a capable leader and established secure frontiers for Israel, aided in this by the weakness of Egypt's foreign policy under Akhenaten and the other late 18th dynasty rulers (in the New Chronology). Although he showed occasional moral lapses, his title of 'a man after God's heart' expresses the reality of his sincerity and devotion through the varied circumstances of life.
Jonathan
The eldest son of King Saul, his loyalty was divided between Saul as parent and David as friend. He assisted David's escape and promoted his case in court, but remained with his father and died with him at the defeat of Mt. Gilboa.
Solomon
Son of David and Bathsheba, he was David's choice to rule after him and assisted as coregent for David's last years. His accession was contested by David's oldest son Adonijah. He was endowed with great wisdom and was the author and compiler of much of the Wisdom literature. His large building projects required considerable forced labour in Israel, and this together with increaased taxes made him an unpopular ruler. His many political marriages to foreign wives were controversial. Trading and strategic alliances brought Israel to a position of wealth and power, and at the start of his reign Israel had its largest territorial extent. However, towards the end of his life outlying regions began to rebel and the empire started to crumble. The full effects of his poor reputation were not seen until his son Rehoboam took the throne.
Rehoboam
Son of Solomon and first ruler over the southern portion (Judah) of the divided kingdom. Poor advice from courtiers, and an attempt to maintain his father's heavy taxation and labour drafts led to the secession of the ten northern tribes (Israel) under the leadership of Jeroboam I. He fortified Judah and had generally hostile relations both with Israel and other surrounding people. In the middle of his reign, Shishak of Egypt (Rameses II in the New Chronology) plundered much of the land. Rehoboam interpreted this as divine punishment for introducing foreign religious practices into Judah, and subsequently changed this policy.
Abijam
Son of Rehoboam. Although in part adhering to his father's early corrupt religious practice, he attributed a victory over the larger army of Jeroboam I to divine help, and like his father turned back to traditional forms of worship.
Asa
His early reign was marked by active religious devotion and attempts to remove the worship places of pagan cults. During this time he secured a victory over Zerah of Ethiopia. Later in his reign he was in continual conflict with Baasha of Israel and relied on Syrian help.
Jeroboam
A wealthy man of the tribe of Ephraim, originally in charge of Solomon's work-force. An early attempt to lead an uprising resulted in exile with Shishak in Egypt (Rameses II in the New Chronology). After Solomon's death, the greed of his successor Rehoboam led to his return to successfully lead the ten northern tribes to independence. In an attempt to prevent his people returning to worship in Jerusalem, he introduced pagan temples and rituals into Israel and thus established a recurring pattern of religious rebellion.
Nadab
Son of Jeroboam I, he reigned for a short time before being killed by Baasha during a siege.
Baasha
Founder of the second of Israel's dynasties, he was of humble origin but seized the throne after killing Nadab. He was continually hostile towards Judah.
