2 Kings 15:16-22

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,^[a] he attacked [it and] ripped open all the pregnant women.^[b]

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^[c] king of Assyria invaded the land, so Menahem gave Pul 75,000 pounds^[d] of silver so that Pul would support him to strengthen his grip on the kingdom.

20 Then Menahem exacted 20 ounces^[e] 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.

2 Kings 15:16-22 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Dt 20:11
• [b]. Hs 13:16; Am 1:13
• [c]. Tiglath-pileser
• [d]. Lit 1,000 talents
• [e]. Lit 50 shekels