The Southern Kingdom of Judah
Carousel of images for this Bible Exhibit
The Baptism of Jesus
Jesus’ baptism is depicted in the 19th-century painting. John the Baptist is wearing traditional robes made of camel hair, pouring water over Jesus, who stands before him. The dove from heaven has descended on Jesus, representing the Holy Spirit's presence.
The Spirit Descending on Jesus
This painting from 1895 shows John the Baptist pouring water over Jesus, whose head is illuminated, representing his divine nature. The Holy Spirit, represented by the dove, is descending on Jesus.
The Baptism of Christ
This Renaissance painting from 1591 imagines the scene at the Jordan River where John the Baptizer is pouring water over Jesus as the dove descends from God the Father, pictured in the clouds.
The Baptism of Christ
This Baroque period painting from 1622-1623 imagines the scene of John pouring water over Jesus while the Spirit descends in the form of a dove.
The Baptism of Christ
This 19th-century painting depicts God’s light shining down on Jesus as he rises up out of the water.
Bethany Beyond the Jordan
The baptism site known as “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” ruins on the eastern side of the Jordan River across from Jericho. This location has been preserved as the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.
The Baptism Site of Jesus
This is a side view of Jesus’ baptism site, known as “Bethany Beyond the Jordan,” on the eastern side of the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
The Modern Jordan River
This picture is of the modern Jordan River near the traditional baptismal site. In Jesus' day, the river would have been significantly wider with a greater water flow.
A Monument Marking Jesus’ Baptism
A cross marking the area of Jesus' baptism site overlooking the Jordan River.
St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
This is one of several churches or chapels rebuilt in this area, marking Jesus’ baptism.
Listen to this Bible Exhibit
The Southern Kingdom of Judah continued the original kingdom from which the Northern Kingdom split from in 931 B.C. 1 Kings 12:16-20. The Southern Kingdom was composed of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and had its capital in Jerusalem, as it was for King David and Solomon. Because the Temple of the Lord was in Jerusalem, many Levites from the Northern Kingdom moved down to Judah in protest against the North’s idolatry and new places of pagan worship.
The Southern Kingdom of Judah had greater spiritual strength, political stability, and unity than the North. In the South, only the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin had to share power, and all twenty kings were from the line of David.
The prophets of Judah, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, played a significant role in shaping the religious and political identity of the kingdom. They sparked religious reforms, and eight kings were good monarchs.
God granted the Southern Kingdom about 100 more years of existence than the North. But Judah, too, fell into idolatry which brought God’s judgment. In 586 B.C., the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple and the rest of the city, and most of those that did not die were exiled to Babylon 2 Kings 25:1-7.
This Bible Exhibit is one of the several hundred found on the Bible Compass within the Bible Ventures app
