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 (2Kg 14:23). He followed the example of the first Jeroboam in keeping up the worship of the golden calves (2Kg 14:24). His reign was contemporary with those of Amaziah (2Kg 14:23) and Uzziah (2Kg 15:1), kings of Judah. He was victorious over the Syrians (2Kg 13:4; 2Kg 14:26f), and extended Israel to its former limits, from "the entering of Hamath to the sea of the plain" (2Kg 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 2:6ff; Amos 4:1; Amos 6:6; Hos 4:12ff). The prophets Hosea (Hos 1:1), Joel (Joel 3:16; Amos 1:1f), Amos (Amos 1:1), and Jonah (2Kg 14:25) lived during his reign. He died, and was buried with his ancestors (2Kg 14:29). He was succeeded by his son Zachariah.