Who are the…
KINGS of the Bible times

also known as: sovereigns, emperors, pharaohs

Introduction

The word “king” is in Scripture very generally used to denote one invested with authority, whether extensive or limited. In the New Testament, the Roman emperor is spoken of as a king (1 Peter 2:13, 17), and Herod Antipas, who was only a tetrarch, is also called a king (Matthew 14:9; Mark 6:22).

ALSO SEE

Answers about the pharaohs of the Bible
tetrarch
queen
prince
governor
judge
anoint
crown
diadem
scepter
branch (symbol of kings)
Ahimelech (meaning brother of the king)
burial

Sovereign God

Scripture applies the title of King to God as a whole and to Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 27:11).

I charge you…that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. —1 Timothy 6:13-16 NASB excerpt

He is a great King over all the Earth —Psalm 47:2 KJV

“I Am a Great King,” says the Lord of hosts —Malachi 1:14

…He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords… —1 Timothy 6:15 NKJV

These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings… —Revelation 17:14 NKJV

…He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. —Revelation 19:16 NKJV

Everlasting King / King Eternal (Jeremiah 10:10; 1 Timothy 1:16-17)

SEE:

What is the Sovereignty of God?
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY, election, and man’s free will—What does the Bible say? Answer
Kingly office of Christ
Prophecies about The Messiah—ultimate king of Israel
Names of God

The people of God are also called “kings” (Dan. 7:22, 27; Matthew 19:28; Rev. 1:6, etc.). Death is called the “king of terrors” (Job 18:14 KJV).

There were 31 wicked kings subdued by Joshua in Canaan at God’s command (Joshua 12:9, 24).

Old Testament King — Kings bear a greater responsibility before God to live, lead and govern righteously and wisely, with goodness, mercy and in the fear of God.

Also, in His Sovereignty, God can and has moved the hearts and minds of kings to fulfill His purposes.

Hebrew kings

Jehovah was the sole King of the Jewish nation (1 Samuel 8:7; Isaiah 33:22). But there came a time in the history of that people when a king was demanded, that they might be like other nations (1 Samuel 8:5). The prophet Samuel remonstrated with them, but the people cried out, “Nay, but we will have a king over us.” The misconduct of Samuel's sons was the immediate cause of this demand.

The Hebrew kings did not rule in their own right, nor in name of the people who had chosen them, but partly as servants and partly as representatives of Jehovah, the true King of Israel (1 Samuel 10:1).

The limits of the king's power were prescribed (1 Samuel 10:25).

Many of the records of these kings are recorded in The Book of Kings One and Two, and the Book of Chronicles One and Two. There also existed the chronicles of King David, but these have been lost.

The officers of a king’s court included:

the recorder or remembrancer (2 Samuel 8:16; 1 Kings 4:3)
the scribe (2 Samuel 8:17; 20:25
the officer over the house, the chief steward (Isaiah 22:15
the “king's friend,” a confidential companion (1 Kings 4:5)
the keeper of the wardrobe (2 Kings 22:14)
captain of the bodyguard (2 Samuel 20:23)
officers over the king's treasures, etc. (1 Chronicles 27:25-31)
commander-in-chief of the army (1 Chronicles 27:34)
the royal counsellor (1 Chronicles 27:32; 2 Samuel 16:20-23).
ambassador

More information

Chronological list of Hebrew kings

Kings of the 12 tribes of Israel, before they divided

A competitor king

King Ishbosheth (4th son of King Saul) (aka Eshbaal, Ish-bosheth, Ishbaal) ruled part of Israel for 2 years during a civil war against David. This is before the 12 tribes fully split after King Solomon.

The list of monarchs of the Kingdom of Israel therefor starts with Jeroboam I, the first king after the full division.

Kings of the Kingdom of Judah

AFTER the division / in chronological order

Rehoboam—Israel split during his reign and both Judah and Israel sank in increasing moral and spiritual decay
Abijah
Asa
Jehoshaphat
Jehoram
Ahaziah
Athaliah, a queen
Joash (Jehoash)
Amaziah
Uzziah (Azariah)
Jotham
Ahaz—wicked
Hezekiah
Manasseh
Amon
Josiah
Jehoahaz
Jehoiakim
Jehoiachin (Jechonias, Jeconiah)
Zedekiah

Kings of the Kingdom of Israel

AFTER the division / in chronological order

Jeroboam I—wicked
Nadab—assassinated
Baasha—wicked
Elah—wicked (son of Baasha)
Zimri—wicked
Tibni—ruled only part of the kingdom during a 4-year civil war against Omri (1 Kings 16:21, 22); Omri prevailed, and Tibni died
Omri—wicked
Ahab—wicked
Ahaziah—wicked
Jehoram (Joram)—wicked
Jehu
Jehoahaz—wicked
Jehoash (Joash)
Jeroboam II
Zechariah
Shallum
Menahem—wicked
Pekahiah—wicked, assassinated
Pekah—wicked
Hoshea—wicked