2 Kings 15

Judah's King Azariah

1 In the twenty-seventh year of Israel's King Jeroboam, Azariah[a] son of Amaziah became king of Judah.
2 He was 16 years old when he became king; he reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah; [she was] from Jerusalem.
3 Azariah did what was right in the Lord's sight just as his father Amaziah had done.
4 Yet, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.[b]
5 The Lord afflicted the king, and he had a serious skin disease until the day of his death. He lived in a separate house,[c][d]while Jotham, the king's son, was over the household governing the people of the land.[e]
6 The rest of the events of Azariah's [reign], along with all his accomplishments, are written about in the Historical Record of Judah's Kings.
7 Azariah rested with his fathers, and he was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His son Jotham became king in his place.[f]

Israel's King Zechariah

8 In the thirty-eighth year of Judah's King Azariah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in Samaria for six months.
9 He did what was evil in the Lord's sight as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
10 Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He struck him down publicly,[g] killed him, and became king in his place.
11 As for the rest of the events of Zechariah's [reign], they are written about in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.
12 The word of the Lord that He spoke to Jehu was, "Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel."[h] And it was so.

Israel's King Shallum

13 In the thirty-ninth year of Judah's King Uzziah, Shallum son of Jabesh became king; he reigned in Samaria a full month.
14 Then Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzah to Samaria and struck down Shallum son of Jabesh there. He killed him and became king in his place.
15 As for the rest of the events of Shallum's [reign], along with the conspiracy that he formed, they are written about in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.

Israel's King Menahem

16 At that time, [starting] from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah, all who were in it, and its territory. Because they wouldn't surrender,[i] he attacked [it and] ripped open all the pregnant women.[j]
17 In the thirty-ninth year of Judah's King Azariah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel; [he reigned] 10 years in Samaria.
18 He did what was evil in the Lord's sight. Throughout his reign, he did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
19 Pul[k] king of Assyria invaded the land, so Menahem gave Pul 75,000 pounds[l] of silver so that Pul would support him to strengthen his grip on the kingdom.
20 Then Menahem exacted 20 ounces[m] of silver from each of the wealthy men of Israel to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not stay there in the land.
21 The rest of the events of Menahem's [reign], along with all his accomplishments, are written about in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.
22 Menahem rested with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah became king in his place.

Israel's King Pekahiah

23 In the fiftieth year of Judah's King Azariah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria; [he reigned] two years.
24 He did what was evil in the Lord's sight and did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
25 Then his officer, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him and struck him down, as well as Argob and Arieh,[n] in Samaria at the citadel of the king's palace. There were 50 Gileadite men with Pekah. He killed Pekahiah and became king in his place.
26 As for the rest of the events of Pekahiah's [reign], along with all his accomplishments, they are written about in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.

Israel's King Pekah

27 In the fifty-second year of Judah's King Azariah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria; [he reigned] 20 years.
28 He did what was evil in the Lord's sight. He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee-all the land of Naphtali-and deported the people to Assyria.
30 Then Hoshea son of Elah organized a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked him, killed him, and became king in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.
31 As for the rest of the events of Pekah's [reign], along with all his accomplishments, they are written about in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.

Judah's King Jotham

32 In the second year of Israel's King Pekah son of Remaliah, Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah.
33 He was 25 years old when he became king; he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.
34 He did what was right in the Lord's sight just as his father Uzziah had done.
35 Yet, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places. It was Jotham who built the Upper Gate of the Lord's temple.[o]
36 The rest of the events of Jotham's [reign], along with all his accomplishments, are written about in the Historical Record of Judah's Kings.
37 In those days the Lord began sending Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.[p]
38 Jotham rested with his fathers, and he was buried with his fathers in the city of his ancestor David. His son Ahaz became king in his place.[q]

2 Kings 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

Reign of Azariah, or Uzziah, king of Judah. (1-7) The latter kings of Israel. (8-31) Jotham, king of Judah. (32-38)

Verses 1-7 Uzziah did for the most part that which was right. It was happy for the kingdom that a good reign was a long one.

Verses 8-31 This history shows Israel in confusion. Though Judah was not without troubles, yet that kingdom was happy, compared with the state of Israel. The imperfections of true believers are very different from the allowed wickedness of ungodly men. Such is human nature, such are our hearts, if left to themselves, deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. We have reason to be thankful for restraints, for being kept out of temptation, and should beg of God to renew a right spirit within us.

Verses 32-38 Jotham showed great respect to the temple. If magistrates cannot do all they would, for the suppressing of vice and profaneness, let them do the more to support and advance piety and virtue.

Footnotes 17

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 15

This chapter begins with the reign of Azariah king of Judah, 2Ki 15:1-7, and then gives a short account of the several kings of Israel, to the last of them; of Zachariah, 2Ki 15:8-12, of Shallum, 2Ki 15:13,14,15 of Menahem, 2Ki 15:16-22 of Pekahiah, 2Ki 15:23-26, of Pekah, succeeded by Hoshea, the last of them, 2Ki 15:27-31, and is included with the reign of Jotham king of Judah, 2Ki 15:32-38.

2 Kings 15 Commentaries

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