Jeroboam II
King of the northern kingdom for forty-one years, of the house of Jehu. Kings says he restored Israel’s borders from Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah. Amos and Hosea prophesied during his reign.
Jeroboam son of Joash reigned forty-one years in Samaria. Kings says that he restored Israel’s border from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, as the prophet Jonah had foretold, and judges him, like most northern kings, for keeping up the worship founded by Jeroboam I (2 Kings 14:23–28).
Amos and Hosea both date their work to his reign (Amos 1:1) (Hosea 1:1). The priest of Bethel reported Amos to him for saying that Jeroboam would die by the sword and Israel go into exile (Amos 7:10–11). Kings records that he died and was succeeded by his son Zechariah, who was murdered after six months; with him the dynasty of Jehu ended (2 Kings 14:29) (2 Kings 15:8–12).
In the timeline
- about 760 BC, traditional dateJonah Sent to Nineveh
The book of Jonah tells of a prophet of Israel who is sent to preach against Nineveh, flees by sea, is swallowed by a great fish and then sees the Assyrian city repent and be spared. Jesus later speaks of “the sign of Jonah”.
- about 755 BC, estimated dateAmos and Hosea Prophesy to Israel
In the prosperous years of Jeroboam II, Amos, a herdsman from Judah, denounces injustice and worship without righteousness at Bethel. Hosea makes his own marriage a picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness and of a love that will not give it up.