Kings of Judah who were captured
This is a list of kings who were captured; that is to say, they were taken alive and were in the possession of their enemies either for a time or forever.
The capture of Manasseh, king of Judah
King Manasseh was the son and successor of King Hezekiah of the David dynasty. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem – the longest-serving king of Judah. Whiles King David pleased the Lord so much that He promised to give the kingdom to his descendants, Manasseh committed atrocities which the LORD would not pardon; as a result, Judah was taken into captivity. Manasseh committed his heart to staunch idolatry; more so, he preyed on the lives of many innocent people so much that the Bible says he filled Jerusalem with the blood of the innocent. God unleashed the Assyrian army upon him, who defeated Manasseh and his army and Manasseh was captured.
The Assyrians bound him in fetters and took him to Babylon. In Babylon, while languishing in prison, he humbled himself and prayed to God and the Lord had mercy on him and had him brought back to Jerusalem, the city of his throne. Then he continued his reign in the fear of God: he destroyed the idols he made and did what was good until his death. Reference 2 Chronicles 33:1 – 19
The capture of Amaziah, king of Judah
King Amaziah was the son and successor of King Joash. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. He started his reign in the fear of God but he apostatized along the line to seek after the gods of Edom. In consequence of this, God delivered him into the hands of his enemies. King Amaziah invited Joash, the king of Israel at the time, to war. So the army of Judah and the army of the northern kingdom of Israel came to war at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. The army of Judah was defeated and King Amaziah was captured.
King Joash of Israel did no harm to King Amaziah; rather he took advantage of his victory to sack Jerusalem of precious things; for he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and took hostages, and returned to Samaria. Reference 2 Kings 14:8 – 14.
The capture of Jehoahaz, king of Judah
King Jehoahaz was the son and successor of King Josiah. Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem. He did not do according to what his father did; rather, he forsook the Lord and practiced idolatry; hence his fall. Now the same Pheroahnechoh who killed his father in battle at Megiddo came to capture King Jehoahaz in Jerusalem.
Pharaoh dethroned him and sent him first to Riblah and then to Egypt never to return to the land of his birth, nor Jerusalem, the capital city of his throne. Pheroahnechoh, made Jehoiakim, the elder brother of Jehoahaz, king in place of Jehoahaz. Reference 2 Chronicles 36:1-4; 2 Kings 23:33
The capture of Jehoiakim, king of Judah
King Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah and the brother of King Jehoahaz, was twenty-five years old when Pheroahnechoh of Egypt made him king to reign in place of Jehoahaz, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. He also did evil in the sight of the Lord just like his brother Jehoahaz. The Lord delivered him into the hands of his enemies. Thus Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and his army came up against him. Jehoiakim was captured and was bound in fetters and was taken to Babylon – never again to return to Judea, nor Jerusalem, the capital city. Nebuchadnezzar made his son Jehoiachin king in his place. Bible Reference 2 Chronicles 36:5–8.
The capture of Jehoiachin, king of Judah
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he was made king by Nebuchadnezzar, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem, the capital of the kingdom of Judah. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, like his father, Jehoiakim. As was the common end of all idolatrous kings, Jehoiachin had to put up with many troubles. The same Nebuchadnezzar who dethroned his father and made him king came up against him and against the city Jerusalem and his army besieged the city. However, Jehoiachin acted shrewdly than his father; in that he and his household willingly surrendered themselves to Nebuchadnezzar.
After he surrendered himself to the capture, Nebuchadnezzar took him alive to Babylon never to return to Judea, the land of his birth, nor Jerusalem, the capital city of his throne. Reference 2 Kings 24:8–13
The capture of Zedekiah, king of Judah
Zedekiah was the son of Josiah and successor of Jehoiachin, his nephew. He reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. During his reign, he forsook the Lord to his undoing. He was not any different from his two brothers, Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, kings of Judah who reigned before him. Nebuchadnezzar, the scourge of God and king of Babylon, who had before captured Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin, came up against Zedekiah and his army surrounded Jerusalem for about one year, seven months. After one year, seven months, and nine days, the Babylonian army broke into the city walls and took the city Jerusalem. Zedekiah hastened out of the city by night to the plains through the king’s garden. But Nebuchadnezzar’s army pursued Zedekiah and his company, and they overtook them on the plains of Jericho. Zedekiah was captured by the Babylonians.
The Babylonian army brought Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath. There, Nebuchadnezzar passed judgment on Zedekiah and had all the sons of Zedekiah killed right before Zedekiah’s eyes: also the king of Babylon killed all the nobles of Judah. As for Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar put out his eyes and he became blind, and bound him with chains and carried him to Babylon – never to return to Judea, the land of his birth, nor Jerusalem, the capital city of his throne. Reference Jeremiah 39:1-8
Kings of Israel who were captured
The capture of Hoshea, king of Israel
Hoshea, the son of Elah, staged a coup to overthrow and kill Pekah king of Israel and reign in his place. He reigned in Samaria over Israel for nine years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, came against Hosea and Hoshea became his servant, and gave Shalmaneser presents. Along the line, the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria captured him.
The king of Assyria sent him to a foreign land, probably, Assyria, then bound him and committed him to prison – never to return to Israel, nor Samaria, the capital city of his throne. Reference 2 Kings 17:1– 4.
Kings of other nations who were captured
The capture of the King of Ai
We only know him as king of Ai; his real name was not mentioned; as his name suggests, he was the king of Ai in the days of the Joshua-led Israelites’ war campaign on the land of Canaan. Ai was a small city, which the Israelites underestimated. However, in one event of warfare, the men of Ai defeated Israel, killed thirty-six of their number, and chased the rest out of sight.
After the Israelites had made an end of purging themselves of the abomination that caused their loss to Ai, the children of Israel, led by Joshua, went up against Ai once more. They mounted strategies and set an ambush for the city. The Lord delivered Ai into their hands; and as it was the Lord’s command, in the aftermath of the war, Ai was reduced to a heap of rabbles; all that remained were some valuables and livestock for plunder and the king of Ai whom they captured and brought to Joshua.
Joshua condemned the king of Ai to death by hanging. He was hanged on a tree until evening: and as soon as the sun was down, by Joshua’s command, the Israelites took his dead body down from the tree, and threw it at the entrance of the gate of Ai, and raise over it a great heap of stones. Reference Joshua 8
The capture of the five kings of the Amorites
- Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem
- Hoham, king of Hebron
- Piram, king of Jarmuth
- Japhia, king of Lachish
- Debir, king of Eglon
Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent a message to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piram king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, asking them to come and help him to fight against the people of Gibeon because they had made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel. Therefore the five kings and their armies gathered together and encamped before Gibeon, and waged war against it. In response, the men of Gibeon sent a message to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, asking Joshua to come fast to their aid for the five kings of the Amorites that dwell on the mountains have come to attack them.
So Joshua and his army went to the aid of the people of Gibeon, their allies. With the Lord on Joshua’s side, the five kings and their armies were routed by the Israelites and the rest of their number took flight. The five kings also fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. Joshua was told that the five kings are hiding in a cave at Makkedah. Joshua, on hearing it, commanded the Israelites to roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave and set watchmen there. Later, Joshua asked that the five kings be brought before him. The children of Israel captured the five kings and brought them to Joshua from the cave.
Then Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war, “Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings.” And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of the five kings. And Joshua said to them, “Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight”. And afterward, Joshua killed them, and hanged their bodies on five trees; and they were hanging on the trees until the evening. Reference Joshua 10:23–26
The capture of Adoni-bezek, king of Bezek
Adoni-bezek was a Canaanite king. As his name suggests, he was the king of the city Bezek at the time when the Israelites, though had settled in the land, were still in the course of taking absolute possession to fulfill their divine mandate of ridding the land of the Canaanites. The Simeonites and the Jews joined forces, raise an army and came up against Bezek to defeat Adoni-bezek’s army of Canaanites and Perrizites, killing ten thousand of their number. Adoni-bezek fled for his life but he was pursued and captured alive. Then the Israelites did to Adoni-bezek something they have never done to any king since, that is, they mutilated Adoni-bezek, cutting off his thumbs and his big toes. Adoni-bezek acknowledged it to be a sort of poetic justice against him, in that he too had inflicted such a punishment on other kings he defeated. He confessed, “Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me.” The joint forces of Simeonites and Jews brought Adoni-bezek to Jerusalem, where he died. Reference Judges 1:1 – 7.
The capture of Zebah, king of the Midianites
Zebah and another king, Zalmuna, were the two kings of the Midianites who mustered a large army to come to war against Israel. The children of Israel, led by Gideon attacked them in a valley near the hill of Moreh where they were camping. At the blowing of the trumpets, the Lord set confusion amongst the ranks of the Midianite army, such that they draw their sword to kill theirselves; and the rest of the Midianites and their two kings fled for their lives. Far from over, the Israelites pursued after the Midianites and their two kings; and they caught up with Zebah and Zalmuna; and they captured them. Gideon brought Zebah and Zalmuna along to Succoth as captives of war.
This is the event of their death: Gideon told his firstborn Jether to get up, draw his sword and kill the two kings. But his son could not draw his sword to kill them for he was afraid, being just a youth. Then Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon, “Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength”. And Gideon arose, and with his sword, he killed Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian.
The capture of Zalmuna, king of the Midianites
Zalmuna, king of the Midianites, teamed up with Zebah when the Midianites waged war against the Israelites. Both of them were captured and executed by Gideon. Reference Judges 8:1–21.
The capture of Agag, king of the Amalekites
Agag was king of the Amalekites in the days of Prophet Samuel and in the days when Saul was king over all Israel. Commanded by God, the Israelites, led by Saul, were supposed to have killed all the Amalekites, both man and beast. However, Saul disobeyed, sparing the life of Agag and some choice livestock to the displeasure of God. Agag was captured and brought to the land of Israel.
While Saul and Samuel and the people of Israel were offering sacrifice at Gilgal, Samuel called for Agag. When he was brought, Samuel said to him, “As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women.” Eventually Samuel executed death sentence on Agag, cutting him into pieces at Gilgal. Reference 1 Samuel 15
The capture of Ben-hadad, king of Syria
One day, the Syrian army lost a hundred thousand soldiers in a single battle led by King Ben-hadad of Syria against Israel. The remaining twenty-seven thousand soldiers of his army run to Aphek where a wall broke and fell on them to their death raising the death toll of the Syrian army to a hundred and twenty-seven thousand men. When King Ben-hadad realized the calamity that has befallen him, he ran into hiding in the city Aphek. His servants convinced him that the kings of Israel were merciful and that they should humble themselves, and put on sackcloth and put ropes upon their heads and turn themselves into the king of Israel so that their lives would be spared. They did so and surrendered to King Ahab of Israel; hence Ben-hadad and his servants wherein the king of Israel’s possession for a time.
Their plan worked; the king of Israel treated Ben-hadad like a brother and spared his life to the displeasure of God. Reference 1 Kings 20:26–34.
Other leaders and royalties who were captured
The capture of Oreb, prince of the Midianites
Oreb was a prince of the Midianites. He joined the Midianites army to come against the children of Israel. With God on the side of the Israelites, the Midianite army was routed and they took to flight before the Israelites. Oreb and Zeeb, the princes of the Midianites fled too. Then, Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites”. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves and pursued the Midianites. At length, they captured Oreb and Zeeb.
The men of Ephraim beheaded Oreb on a rock which was later named after him. The men of Ephraim sent his head to Joshua as evidence. Reference Judges 7:25
The capture of Zeeb, prince of the Midianites
Zeeb was a prince of the Midianites. At the time when Gideon led the Israelites to route the Midianites and the Midianites fled, Zeeb also fled with Oreb from the valley near Moreh where the Midianite army camped. However fast he might have fled, freedom and or salvation was far from Zeeb, the men of Ephraim, according to Gideon’s command, overtook the fleeing Midianite army and Zeeb and Oreb were captured by the men of Ephraim.
Zeeb was beheaded at a winepress, which was later named after him. The Ephraimites sent his head to Joshua as evidence. Reference Judges 7:25
The capture of Samson, judge of Israel.
Samson, son of Manoah, was a judge in Israel for twenty years. At the time the Philistines oppressed the Israelites, Samson was the instrument God chose to use to deliver Israel from their hands. Samson was involved with many Philistine women. Later in his life, he was involved with Delilah, a Philistine woman, who worried Samson to disclose to her the secret of his great strength. Having learned the secret, she betrayed Samson to her countrymen, and Samson was captured.
After the Philistines captured Samson, they put out his eyes so that he became blind. Then they brought him to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he was made to grind in prison. Reference Judges 16:4–31.
The sons of King Jehoram
Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat was an idolatrous king who did evil in the sight of God. As a result, he suffered many sorrows – disease, invasion, etc. The Philistines invaded Judah and broke into Jerusalem, and sacked the palace of King Jehoram of precious things, and also they carried away his sons and his wives such that the only son left him was Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. The sons of Jehoram, who were captured by the Philistines never returned to Jerusalem, nor to the land of Judah. Reference 2 Chronicles 21:16–20
The sons of Zedekiah
When King Zedekiah was captured, his sons were captured along with him. They were brought alive to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, who had all the sons of Zedekiah killed at Riblah.