2 Kings 15:16-22 ESV

16 At that time Menahem sacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its territory from Tirzah on, because they did not open it to him. Therefore he sacked it, and he ripped open all the women in it who were pregnant.

17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria. 18 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 19 Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that he might help him to confirm his hold on the royal power. 20 Menahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels of silver from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land. 21 Now the rest of the deeds 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 place.

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16 Nang panahong iyon, ginapi ni Menahem si Tifsa at ang lahat ng naroroon, at ang mga nasasakupan nito mula sa Tirsa, sapagkat siya ay hindi nila pinagbuksan, kaya't sinakop niya ito; at biniyak niya ang tiyan ng lahat ng babaing buntis na naroroon.

17 Nang ikatatlumpu't siyam na taon ni Azarias na hari ng Juda, nagsimulang maghari sa Israel si Menahem na anak ni Gadi, at siya ay naghari ng sampung taon sa Samaria. 18 Kanyang ginawa ang masama sa paningin ng PANGINOON. Siya'y hindi humiwalay sa lahat niyang mga araw sa mga kasalanan ni Jeroboam na anak ni Nebat, na dito'y kanyang ibinunsod ang Israel sa pagkakasala. 19 Dumating laban sa lupain si Pul na hari ng Asiria; at binigyan ni Menahem si Pul ng isanlibong talentong pilak upang ang kanyang kamay ay mapasa kanya upang mapatatag ang kanyang kaharian sa ilalim ng kanyang pamumuno. 20 At pinapagbayad ni Menahem ng salapi ang Israel, samakatuwid ay ang lahat ng mga makapangyarihang lalaki na mayaman, limampung siklong pilak sa bawat tao upang ibigay sa hari ng Asiria. Kaya't ang hari ng Asiria ay umurong, at hindi tumigil doon sa lupain. 21 Ang iba sa mga gawa ni Menahem, at ang lahat niyang ginawa, di ba nakasulat ang mga iyon sa Aklat ng mga Kasaysayan ng mga Hari ng Israel? 22 At natulog si Menahem na kasama ng kanyang mga ninuno, at si Pekahia na kanyang anak ay nagharing kapalit niya.

AN ABUSE OF POWER.

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” is a cliché known to many. The problem lies not in having an authority per se. It’s the wicked person who abuses his authority or power . King Menahem was such a despot. He was governed by his selfish and vindictive impulse.
When the place of Tirzah opposed him, he “sacked it, and he ripped open all the women in it who were pregnant.” It must have been a horrible sight to have the place littered with dead pregnant women with fetuses at their sides.

Just to stay on his throne, Menahem gave Pul[Tiglath Pileser], the king of Assyria, a thousand talents of silver as a tribute. Like holding to the edge of the sword, he turned an enemy by burdening his subjects. Thus, he exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels of silver from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. Certainly, he did everything he could just to stay in power.

All earthly powers are delegated by God, directly or indirectly. As such, they are subjects to God. “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.” [Acts 17:24-26] In other words, God in His sovereignty may allow a wicked king to reign for His purpose. As Psa 76:10 declares, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.” An abusive authority may always think that he is in absolute control but the reality is that he is not. God is in absolute control. Thus, evil won’t be perpetual.

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