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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 15:8-31

The best days of the kingdom of Israel were while the government was in Jehu's family. In his reign, and the next three reigns, though there were many abominable corruptions and miserable grievances in Israel, yet the crown went in succession, the kings died in their beds, and some care was taken of public affairs; but, now that those days are at an end, the history which we have in these verses of about thirty-three years represents the affairs of that kingdom in the utmost confusion... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 15:8

In the thirty eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months. Since Azariah began to reign in the twenty seventh of Jeroboam, 2 Kings 15:1 , and Jeroboam reigned forty one years, 2 Kings 14:23 , his last year must be the fifteenth or sixteenth of Azariah, in which year Zachariah must have begun to reign, had he immediately succeeded his father in the throne; there must be therefore an interregnum of twenty two years at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 15:9

Even all his predecessors, from the time of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, from whose sin, in worshipping the calves, they departed not. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 15:10

And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him ,.... A friend of his, as Josephus F17 Antiqu. l. 9. c. 11. sect. 1. calls him, encouraged by the dissatisfaction of the people to him: and smote him before the people, and slew him ; in a public manner, the people consenting to it, and approving of it, not liking Zachariah to be their king: and reigned in his stead ; though but a very short time. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 15:11

And the rest of the acts of Zachariah ,.... During his six months' reign, and what he might do before in the interregnum: behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel : for be they more or fewer, good or bad, they were all recorded there which were of any moment. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 15:12

This was the word of the Lord which he spake unto Jehu ,.... Which was now fulfilled in the short reign of Zachariah: saying, thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation ; see 2 Kings 10:30 , and so it came to pass; as every word of the Lord does, not one fails; for after Jehu reigned Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam the second, and Zachariah, all descendants of Jehu. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 15:13

Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah ,.... The same with Azariah: he is sometimes called by one name, and sometimes by the other, see 2 Kings 14:21 , and he reigned a full month in Samaria : and no longer; so soon were the conspiracy against his sovereign, and the murder of him, punished. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 15:14

For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah ,.... A city in the tribe of Manasseh, the royal city of the kings of Israel before Omri, of which See Gill on Joshua 12:24 , whether Menahem was of this city, or was now besieging it with an army he had the command of, as Josephus F18 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 9. c. 11. sect. 1.) suggests, is not certain; however, hearing what had befallen Zachariah, he came from hence: and came to Samaria; which, according to Bunting F19 Travels,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 15:15

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. In which, no doubt, an account of the cause of the conspiracy, and of the persons assisting to him in it, was given, with other things done in his short reign. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 15:16

Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah ,.... The Jewish writers commonly take this Tiphsah to be without the land of Israel, the same with that in 1 Kings 4:24 on the borders of Syria, and near the Euphrates; but it seems to be some place nearer Samaria, and Tirzah; according to Bunting F20 Travels, &c.; p. 169. , it was but six miles from Samaria: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it ; they refused to open... read more

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