2 Kings 15 explained: Kings Murdered, Assyria Closes In

Azariah's long reign (vv. 1-7)

Azariah, also called Uzziah, ruled Judah for 52 years and is judged a good king, though local hilltop shrines outside the Jerusalem temple stayed in use. A serious skin disease later forced him to live apart, so his son Jotham ran the government; 2 Chronicles links the disease to his burning incense in the temple, a task reserved for priests.

Jehu's family line ends (vv. 8-12)

Zechariah kept up worship at the golden calf shrines set up by Israel's first king, Jeroboam, and was killed in public by Shallum after six months. His death ended Jehu's family line, which the writer sees as fulfilling an earlier promise that it would last four generations.

One month, then another coup (vv. 13-16)

Shallum ruled one month before Menahem marched from Tirzah, an old royal city, and killed him. Menahem then massacred a town called Tiphsah (its location is uncertain) for refusing to open its gates, even ripping open pregnant women, and the text reports this atrocity plainly.

Buying off Assyria (vv. 17-22)

When the Assyrian king Pul, usually identified with Tiglath-Pileser III, threatened Israel, Menahem paid him a huge sum of silver to back his shaky rule. He raised it by charging every wealthy man fifty shekels, and Assyrian records from the time also list Menahem as paying tribute.

More murders, land lost (vv. 23-31)

Menahem's son Pekahiah was murdered by his officer Pekah, and Pekah was later murdered by Hoshea. In between, Assyria seized Israel's northern regions, including Galilee, and deported their people; Christians later read this humbled Galilee in light of Jesus' work there, following Isaiah 9.

Jotham rules Judah (vv. 32-38)

Jotham, who had already governed for his sick father, became king, is also judged good, and rebuilt a gate of the temple courts. The closing note says the kings of Aram (Syria) and Israel began moving against Judah, which sets up the crisis of the next chapter.

Key verse: 2 Kings 15:29

Something to think about

When power keeps changing hands by force, who do you think pays the highest price, and why?