Judah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kingdom of Judah
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| 9th or 8th century BCE–586 BCE | |||||||||
Map of the region in the 9th century BCE
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| Capital | Hebron Jerusalem |
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| Common languages | Hebrew | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Historical era | Levantine Iron Age | ||||||||
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• Established
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9th or 8th century BCE | ||||||||
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• Siege of Jerusalem (587 BCE)
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586 BCE | ||||||||
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The Kingdom of Judah was an ancient Jewish kingdom. It was located in the southern part of the Levant, near the Dead Sea. Its main cities were Jerusalem and Hebron. This kingdom existed from the 9th or 8th century BCE until 586 BCE.
How the Kingdom of Judah Began
After King Saul died, the people of Israel chose David to be their new king. This was a time when all the Israelite tribes were united under one ruler. David's son, King Solomon, later became king.
The Kingdom Splits
After King Solomon passed away, his son Rehoboam was supposed to rule. However, ten of the twelve tribes of Israel did not want Rehoboam as their leader. This disagreement caused the large kingdom to split into two parts.
The northern part became the Kingdom of Israel. The southern part became the Kingdom of Judah. Jerusalem was the capital city of the Kingdom of Judah.
The End of Judah's Rule
The Kingdom of Judah lasted for many years. But in 586 BCE, a powerful empire from Babylon attacked. The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar II, led his army to conquer Judah.
Jerusalem Falls
Nebuchadnezzar II took over Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. The city was destroyed, and the Kingdom of Judah came to an end. Many people from Judah were taken away to Babylon.
