16. Menahem . . . smote Tiphsah—Thapsacus, on the Euphrates, the border city of Solomon's kingdom (1 Kings 4:24). The inhabitants refusing to open their gates to him, Menahem took it by storm. Then having spoiled it, he committed the most barbarous excesses, without regard either to age or sex. 1 Kings 4:24- :. MENAHEM'S REIGN. read more
10. Shallum’s evil reign in Israel 15:13-16Shallum’s reign was even shorter than Zechariah’s. It lasted only one month (752 B.C.).Menahem was the commander-in-chief of Jeroboam II’s army. [Note: Josephus, 9:11:1.] He was serving in Tirzah, Israel’s former capital. Menahem regarded Shallum as a usurper to the throne. He evidently believed that as commander of the army he should have succeeded Zechariah. Menahem probably attacked Tiphsah in Israel because its inhabitants refused to acknowledge... read more
Sundry brief AnnalsThis chapter relates the reigns of Azariah and Jotham of Judah, and of Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah of Israel.1. In the twenty and seventh year] Since Jeroboam came to the throne in the fifteenth year of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:23), and Amaziah only reigned 29 years (2 Kings 14:2), his son must have succeeded him in Jeroboam’s fifteenth year. Azariah in 2 Kings 15:13, 2 Kings 15:30 is called Uzziah.5. The Lord smote the king] For the reason see 2 Chronicles... read more
(16) Then.—After slaying Shallum, and seizing the supreme power.Tiphsah.—The name means ford, and elsewhere denotes the well-known Thapsacus on the Euphrates (1 Kings 4:24). Here, however, an Israelite city in the neighbourhood of Tirzah is obviously intended. The course of events was apparently this: after slaying Shallum, Menahem returned to Tirzah, and set out thence at the head of his entire army to bring the rest of the country to acknowledge him as king. Tiphsah resisting his claims, he... read more
THE AGONY OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM2 Kings 15:8-31Shallum B. C. 740Menahem B. C. 740-737Pekahiah B. C. 757-735Pekah B. C.735-734"Blood toucheth blood."- Hosea 4:2"The revolters are profuse in murders."- Hosea 5:2"They have set up kings, but not by Me: they have made princes, and I knew it not."- Hosea 8:4"Non tam reges fuere quam lures, latrones, et tyranni."- WITSIUS, "Decaph.," 326.WITH the death of Zachariah begins the acute agony of Israel’s dissolution. Four kings were murdered in forty... read more
CHAPTER 15 1. Reign and death of Azariah (Uzziah) (2 Kings 15:1-2 ; 2 Chronicles 26:0 ). 2. Reign and death of Zachariah (2 Kings 15:8-12 ) 3. Reign and death of Shallum (2 Kings 15:13-15 ) 4. Menahem, King of Israel (2 Kings 15:16-18 ) 5. Pul of Assyria and Menahem (2 Kings 15:19-20 ; 1 Chronicles 5:26 ) 6. Death of Menahem (2 Kings 15:21-22 ) 7. Pekahiah and his death (2 Kings 15:23-26 ) 8. Pekah and his death. Hoshea (2 Kings 15:27-31 ) 9. Jotham, King of Judah (2 Kings... read more
15:16 Then Menahem smote {f} 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.(f) Which was a city of Israel that would not receive him as their king. read more
AZARIAH'S REIGN IN JUDAH (vv.1-17) The reign of Azariah began after Jereboam had reigned 27 years in Samaria. We have seen Azariah (Uzziah) was only 16 years old when he began to reign, and reigned 52 years in Jerusalem (v.2). His mother (Jecholiah) must have been a believer, for Uzziah's reign generally was honouring to the Lord (v.3). It is noted, however, that he did not remove the high places of worship, where the people burned incense (v.4). Nothing more is said here of Azariah's... read more
THE ASSYRIAN CAPTIVITY AZARIAH OF JUDAH (2 Kings 15:1-7 ) This king is called Uzziah in 2 Kings 15:13 ; 2 Kings 2:0 Kings 15 :2 Kings 15:30 , and in 2 Chronicles 26:0 . Read the last-named chapter for an enlargement of his history and an explanation of certain features not given here. Note his long reign, his generally good character, the cause of his failure, and the circumstance that his son reigned with him jointly for a short period. ISRAEL’S NEW ENEMY (2 Kings 15:8-31 ) Zachariah is... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 15:8-26
Chaos in Israel (15:8-26)The long and prosperous reign of Jeroboam II brought political as well as social and religious troubles. When Jeroboam died, Israel entered a time of political chaos, as ambitious men fought to seize power. The nation lost its stability, and Assyria soon began to show interest in adding Israel to its rapidly expanding empire.Jehu’s dynasty, which began bloodily, ended bloodily when its fifth king was murdered after a reign of only six months (8-12; cf. 10:30; Hosea 1:4;... read more