Judah

Region. Once a kingdom. Southern part of Israelite country `from Geba to Beersheba' (2 Kgs. 23:8); in this sense 'Israel and Judah' denoted the whole nation, 1 Sam. 17:52; David was king over Judah, 2 Sam. 2:4, 10; then 'over Israel and over Judah', 2 Sam. 3:10; 5:5; 12:8; after Solomon's death his descendants reigned over Judah alone, 1 Kgs. 12:17, i.e. the tribe of Judah, with Benjamin, 1 Kgs. 12:21-23, until its fall to the Babylonians, 586 B.C., 2 Kgs. 24:12-25. Some people remained in the land, 2 Kgs. 25:22, and others returned, Ezra 1:5; 4:1; they became known as Jews (i.e. Judahites), Neh. 1:2, and their land was called in Greek and Latin 'Judea.'