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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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:1-38

REIGNS OF AZARIAH AND JOTHAM OVER JUDAH ; AND OF ZACHARIAH , SHALLUM , MENAHEM , PEKAHIAH , AND PEKAH OVER ISRAEL . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:1-38

Some lessons from the history of kings. "In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam," etc. The mighty Governor of the universe is represented as saying to the Jewish nation, "I gave thee a king in mine anger" ( Hosea 13:2 ). And truly, with a certain number of exceptions here and there through the ages, kings have proved malific scourges of the race. In this chapter there are mentioned no less than seven of those men who are called kings, but who, instead of having one grain of moral... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:8

In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah King of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria. If Azariah began to reign in the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam (verse 1), and Jeroboam died in his forty-first or forty-second year ( 2 Kings 14:23 ), Zachariah must have ascended the throne in the fifteenth or sixteenth year of Azariah. Even if Azariah became king in the fifteenth of Jeroboam, as has been shown to be probable (see the comment on verse 1), Zachariah's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:8-12

REIGN OF ZACHARIA OVER ISRAEL . FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE MADE JEHU . The writer has nothing to record of Zachariah but his murder by Shallum after a reign of six months. 2 Kings 15:8 , 2 Kings 15:9 , and 2 Kings 15:11 contain the usual formula. 2 Kings 15:10 gives the only event that needed record. 2 Kings 15:12 recalls to the reader's attention a previous passage, in which a prophecy had been mentioned, whereof Zachariah's reign was the fulfillment. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:8-22

Anarchy in Israel. With rapid descent the kingdom of Israel, which had risen to great external prosperity under Jeroboam II ; hastened to its fall. The prophets give us vivid pictures of the corruption of the times. The bonds of social life were loosened, oppression was rampant, the fear of God seemed to have died out of the land; there was no confidence, peace, or good will among any classes, in the nation. As a consequence, the throne was a prey to any adventurer who had power to seize... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:8-31

Worldly prosperity not infrequently the ruin of kingdoms. I. EXAMPLE OF SAMARIA . Scarcely ever was there a more prosperous reign than that of Jeroboam II .—a reign of forty-one years of continual success, uncheckered by a misfortune-Syria defeated, the old border everywhere recovered, Hamath occupied, Damascus brought into a subject condition. As usual, where there is military success, wealth flowed in, and with wealth, luxury. "Great houses" were built ( Amos 3:15 ), "ivory... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 15:8

In the thirty and eighth year - Rather, according to the previous numbers 2 Kings 14:23; 2 Kings 15:2, the 27th year of Azariah. Some suppose an interregnum between Jeroboam and Zachariah, which, however, is very improbable. read more

Donald C. Fleming

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

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