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 this morning (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,
which thought prompted me later today to write:
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 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, 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 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.
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]
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 will be properly
explained in a new series:
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