2 Kings 15:20

20 Menahem got the money from the rich men of Israel by forcing each one to contribute fifty pieces of silver. So Tiglath Pileser went back to his own country.

2 Kings 15:20 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 15:20

And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the
mighty men of wealth
Who were most able to pay it, by which means he eased the poor, and might thereby attach them to him:

of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria:
that is, he required them to pay fifty shekels apiece to make up the above sum as a present to Pul; though the words in the original text lie more naturally thus, "to give to the king of Assyria fifty shekels of silver for one man"; that is, for every man in his army; which amounted to about six pounds a man:

so the king of Assyria turned back;
to his own country:

and stayed not there in the land;
in the land of Israel, neither to distress nor to help Menahem, for which he gave him the money.

2 Kings 15:20 In-Context

18 He sinned against the Lord, for until the day of his death he followed the wicked example of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel into sin.

19 Tiglath Pileser, the emperor of Assyria, invaded Israel, and Menahem gave him thirty-eight tons of silver to gain his support in strengthening Menahem's power over the country.

20 Menahem got the money from the rich men of Israel by forcing each one to contribute fifty pieces of silver. So Tiglath Pileser went back to his own country.

21 Everything else that Menahem did is recorded in [The History of the Kings of Israel.]

22 He died and was buried, and his son Pekahiah succeeded him as king.