Jeroboam

Jeroboam II was a king of Israel who reigned for 41 years, restoring some of Israel's former territories.

Jeroboam II was a king of Israel who reigned for 41 years, from around 786 to 746 BC. He was the son of Jehoash and the grandson of Jehoahaz. During his reign, Jeroboam II was able to restore some of Israel's former territories, extending the kingdom's boundaries to the "entrance of Hamath," as predicted by the prophet Jonah.

Despite his military successes, Jeroboam II continued in the idolatrous practices of his predecessors, maintaining the worship of the golden calves in Bethel and Dan. The prophets Amos and Hosea, who were active during his reign, condemned the social injustice, religious corruption, and moral decay prevalent in Israel at the time.

Jeroboam II's reign was marked by prosperity and stability, but this was followed by a period of decline and political turmoil after his death. His son Zechariah succeeded him but was assassinated after only six months on the throne.

Jeroboam II., the son and successor of Jehoash, and the fourteenth king of Israel, over which he ruled for forty-one years, B.C. 825-784 (2 Kings 14:23). He followed the example of the first Jeroboam in keeping up the worship of the golden calves (2 Kings 14:24). His reign was contemporary with those of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:23) and Uzziah (15:1), kings of Judah. He was victorious over the Syrians (13:4; 14:26, 27), and extended Israel to its former limits, from “the entering of Hamath to the sea of the plain” (14:25; Amos 6:14). His reign of forty-one years was the most prosperous that Israel had ever known as yet. With all this outward prosperity, however, iniquity widely prevailed in the land (Amos 2:6-8; 4:1; 6:6; Hos. 4:12-14). The prophets Hosea (1:1), Joel (3:16; Amos 1:1, 2), Amos (1:1), and Jonah (2 Kings 14:25) lived during his reign. He died, and was buried with his ancestors (14:29). He was succeeded by his son Zachariah (q.v.).

His name occurs in Scripture only in 2 Kings 13:13; 14:16, 23, 27, 28, 29; 15:1, 8; 1 Chr. 5:17; Hos. 1:1; Amos 1:1; 7:9, 10, 11. In all other passages it is Jeroboam the son of Nebat that is meant.