2 Kings 15

Kings Azariah, Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Jotham
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Text
Explanation
 1 ¶ In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.
 2  Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
 3  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;
.4  Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.
  1 - Azariah Or "Uzziah" verses 13, 30, 32 and 34 of this chapter. Also in Isaiah, and elsewhere.
  3 - That which was right Partially, for awhile v5.
  4 - High places Not all were pagan but some dedicated to the true God were not authorized. Also see v35.
.5  And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.
 6  And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
 7  So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
  5 - Smote See 2ch2616.
 8 ¶ In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.
 9  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
.10  And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
 11  And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
.12  This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.
  10 - Shallum Nothing more is know about him.
  10 - Before the people Or apparently "in public."
  12 - This was the word Predicted about the dynasty of Jehu 2ki1030.
.13  Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.
.14  For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
 15  And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
.16  Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.
 13 - Shallum ... reigned "Menahem is supposed to have been one of Zachariah's generals. Hearing of the death of his master, when he was with the troops at Tirzah, he hastened to Samaria, and slew the murderer, and had himself proclaimed in his stead. But, as the people of Tiphsah did not open their gates to him, he took the place by assault; and as the text tells us, practised the most cruel barbarities, even ripping up the women that were with child!" (Clarke's Commentary)
  14 - Tizrah This was an early capital of Israel beginning with Jeroboam 1ki1417.
 17  In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.
 18  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
  18 - Departed not ... sins Continuing in rebellion against God.
.19  And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
 20  And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.
 21  And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
 22  And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.
  19 - Pul Scholars believe this is another name for Tiglath-pileser III. See 1ch0526.
  20 - Exacted ... of mighty men This tax was extortion an unreasonable practice of the time denounced by the prophets. See am0206, am0315, am0603,4, am0806.
  22 - Pekahiah Followed his father on the throne. The other four of the last kings of Israel took the throne by assassination.
.23  In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
 24  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
 25  But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
 26  And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
  24 - Evil in the sight of the Lord Prophetic calls from the Lord were ignored. The nation was soon to pay the price.
  25 - Captain From shalish. Literally "third." It may have indicated the rank of the officer.
 27  In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
 28  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
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.29  In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
.30  And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
 31  And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
  29 - Took Ijon and ... "These places belonged to Israel; and were taken by Ben-hadad, king of Syria, when he was in league with Asa, king of Judah. See 1Ki 15:20. They were regained by Jeroboam the second; and now they are taken from Israel once more by Tiglath-pileser. From 1Ch 5:26, we learn that Pul and Tiglath-pileser, kings of Assyria, carried away into captivity the two tribes of Reuben, and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; all that belonged to Israel, on the other side of Jordan. These were never restored to Israel." (Clarke)
  30 - Hoshea ... made a conspiracy "Tiglath-pileser III claims that it was he who placed Hoshea upon the throne of Israel. See on v.29. Probably Hoshea was forced to recognize the suzerainty of the Assyrian king before he was permitted to take the throne in Israel." (SDA Bible Commentary, p. 938).
  30 - Twentieth year See on v.23.
.32 ¶ In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.
 33  Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.
 34  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
.35  Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.
  35 - Higher gate Probably the "high gate" of Benjamin je2002. Here perhaps "higher" in importance than the high places.
 36  Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
.37  In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.
 38  And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
  38 - Jotham slept . . .David his father The word, Father, often means ancestor.

 

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