2 Kings — Chapter 15

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1In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah became king of Judah.

2He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem.

3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.

4Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.

5And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

6As for the rest of the acts of Azariah, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

7And Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in the City of David. And his son Jotham reigned in his place.

8In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria six months.

9And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

10Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, struck him down and killed him in front of the people, and reigned in his place.

11As for the rest of the acts of Zechariah, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

12So the word of the LORD spoken to Jehu was fulfilled: “Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”

13In the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah’s reign over Judah, Shallum son of Jabesh became king, and he reigned in Samaria one full month.

14Then Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria, struck down and killed Shallum son of Jabesh, and reigned in his place.

15As for the rest of the acts of Shallum, along with the conspiracy he led, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

16At that time Menahem, starting from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in its vicinity, because they would not open their gates. So he attacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.

17In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years.

18And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and throughout his reign he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

19Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver in order to gain his support and strengthen his own grip on the kingdom.

20Menahem exacted this money from each of the wealthy men of Israel—fifty shekels of silver from each man—to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not remain in the land.

21As for the rest of the acts of Menahem, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

22And Menahem rested with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah reigned in his place.

23In the fiftieth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel and reigned in Samaria two years.

24And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

25Then his officer, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him along with Argob, Arieh, and fifty men of Gilead. And at the citadel of the king’s palace in Samaria, Pekah struck down and killed Pekahiah and reigned in his place.

26As for the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, along with all his accomplishments, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

27In the fifty-second year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty years.

28And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.

30Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. In the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah, Hoshea attacked Pekah, killed him, and reigned in his place.

31As for the rest of the acts of Pekah, along with all his accomplishments, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

32In the second year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah over Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah.

33He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.

34And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done.

35Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD.

36As for the rest of the acts of Jotham, along with his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

37(In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.)

38And Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David his father. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place.

1In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.

2Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

3And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;

4Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

5And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the house, judging the people of the land.

6And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

7So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

8In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.

9And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

10And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

11And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

12This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.

13Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.

14For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

15And 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.

16Then Menahem smote 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.

17In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.

18And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

19And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

20And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.

21And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

22And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.

23In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.

24And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

25But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.

26And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

27In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.

28And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

29In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

30And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

31And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

32In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.

33Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

34And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

35Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.

36Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

37In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

38And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

1In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.

2Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

3And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

4Howbeit the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

5And Jehovah smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house. And Jotham the king`s son was over the household, judging the people of the land.

6Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

7And Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

8In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.

9And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.

10And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

11Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

12This was the word of Jehovah which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons to the fourth generation shall sit upon the throne of Israel. And so it came to pass.

13Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned the space of a month in Samaria.

14And Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

15Now 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.

16Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the borders 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.

17In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, [and reigned] ten years in Samaria.

18And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.

19There came against the land Pul the king of Assyria; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

20And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.

21Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

22And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.

23In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, [and reigned] two years.

24And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.

25And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the castle of the king`s house, with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of the Gileadites: and he slew him, and reigned in his stead.

26Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

27In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, [and reigned] twenty years.

28And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.

29In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maacah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.

30And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

31Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

32In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.

33Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.

34And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah; he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

35Howbeit the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of Jehovah.

36Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

37In those days Jehovah began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

38And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

1In the twenty-seventh year of King Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Amaziah’s son Azariah became king over Judah.

2He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah, who was from Jerusalem.

3He did what the Lord approved, just as his father Amaziah had done.

4But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

5The Lord afflicted the king with an illness; he suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, while his son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land.

6The rest of the events of Azariah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.

7Azariah passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Jotham replaced him as king.

8In the thirty-eighth year of King Azariah’s reign over Judah, Jeroboam’s son Zechariah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for six months.

9He did evil in the sight of the Lord, as his ancestors had done. He did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin.

10Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against him; he assassinated him in Ibleam and took his place as king.

11The rest of the events of Zechariah’s reign are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

12His assassination fulfilled the Lord’s message to Jehu, “Four generations of your descendants will rule on Israel’s throne.” And that is how it happened.

13Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah’s reign over Judah. He reigned for one month in Samaria.

14Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria and attacked Shallum son of Jabesh. He killed him and took his place as king.

15The rest of the events of Shallum’s reign, including the conspiracy he organized, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

16At that time Menahem came from Tirzah and attacked Tiphsah. He struck down all who lived in the city and the surrounding territory, because they would not surrender. He even ripped open the pregnant women.

17In the thirty-ninth year of King Azariah’s reign over Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel. He reigned for 10 years in Samaria.

18He did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who encouraged Israel to sin. During his reign,

19Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem paid him 1,000 talents of silver to gain his support and to solidify his control of the kingdom.

20Menahem got this silver by taxing all the wealthy men in Israel; he took 50 shekels of silver from each one of them and paid it to the king of Assyria. Then the king of Assyria left; he did not stay there in the land.

21The rest of the events of Menahem’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

22Menahem passed away and his son Pekahiah replaced him as king.

23In the fiftieth year of King Azariah’s reign over Judah, Menahem’s son Pekahiah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for two years.

24He did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin.

25His officer Pekah son of Remaliah conspired against him. He and 50 Gileadites assassinated Pekahiah, as well as Argob and Arieh, in Samaria in the fortress of the royal palace. Pekah then took his place as king.

26The rest of the events of Pekahiah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

27In the fifty-second year of King Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for twenty years.

28He did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin.

29During Pekah’s reign over Israel, King Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the territory of Naphtali. He deported the people to Assyria.

30Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He assassinated him and took his place as king, in the twentieth year of the reign of Jotham son of Uzziah.

31The rest of the events of Pekah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

32In the second year of the reign of Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah, Uzziah’s son Jotham became king over Judah.

33He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.

34He did what the Lord approved, just as his father Uzziah had done.

35But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places. He built the Upper Gate to the Lord’s temple.

36The rest of the events of Jotham’s reign, including his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.

37In those days the Lord prompted King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah to attack Judah.

38Jotham passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David. His son Ahaz replaced him as king.

1In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign.

2He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

3He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

4However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.

5Yahweh struck the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. Jotham, the king’s son was over the household, judging the people of the land.

6Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

7Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in David’s city: and Jotham his son reigned in his place.

8In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months.

9He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, as his fathers had done. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.

10Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people, and killed him, and reigned in his place.

11Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

12This was Yahweh’s word which he spoke to Jehu, saying, “Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” So it came to pass.

13Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned for a month in Samaria.

14Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, killed him, and reigned in his place.

15Now 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.

16Then Menahem attacked Tiphsah, and all who were in it, and its border areas, from Tirzah. He attacked it because they didn’t open their gates to him, and he ripped up all their women who were with child.

17In the thirty ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel for ten years in Samaria.

18He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. He didn’t depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.

19Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

20Menahem exacted the money from Israel, even from all the mighty men of wealth, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and didn’t stay there in the land.

21Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

22Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.

23In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria for two years.

24He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.

25Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him and attacked him in Samaria, in the fortress of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of the Gileadites. He killed him, and reigned in his place.

26Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

27In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria for twenty years.

28He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.

29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.

30Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, attacked him, killed him, and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

31Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

32In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign.

33He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.

34He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes. He did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

35However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built the upper gate of Yahweh’s house.

36Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

37In those days, Yahweh began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.

38Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David’s city, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

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Summary

Azariah (Uzziah) becomes king of Judah and reigns fifty-two years, doing what is right yet leaving the high places standing; the LORD strikes him with leprosy, forcing his son Jotham to govern the household and judge the land (vv. 1-7). In the north, Israel spirals into instability: Zechariah, the last of Jehu's dynasty, is assassinated by Shallum after only six months, fulfilling God's word to Jehu, and Shallum is himself killed within a month by Menahem, whose brutal reign includes paying tribute to Pul of Assyria (vv. 8-22). Pekahiah succeeds his father Menahem but is murdered by his own captain Pekah, who seizes the throne and later loses Israelite territory to Tiglath-pileser of Assyria (vv. 23-31). The chapter closes in Judah with Jotham's generally faithful reign, though the high places remain and the LORD begins sending Rezin of Aram and Pekah of Israel against Judah (vv. 32-38).

Authorship & Background

Author: Unknown, traditionally attributed to Jeremiah or a prophetic school. Originally one book with 1 Kings. Covers approximately 250 years (850-586 BC) from Elijah's translation through the Babylonian exile.
Historical Context: Chapter 15 spans approximately fifty years (c. 790-740 BC) and records one of the most turbulent periods in Israel's history. While Judah enjoys relative stability under the long reigns of Azariah/Uzziah (52 years) and Jotham (16 years), the northern kingdom descends into political chaos. Five kings reign in rapid succession — Zechariah (6 months), Shallum (1 month), Menahem (10 years), Pekahiah (2 years), and Pekah (20 years) — with four of the five transitions accomplished by assassination. This instability fulfills the pattern warned about since Jeroboam I: a kingdom built on rebellion against God's anointed will be consumed by rebellion from within.
The most significant geopolitical development is the emergence of Assyria as an aggressive imperial power. Tiglath-pileser III (called "Pul" in v.19) begins the systematic conquest of the region. His invasion during Menahem's reign marks the beginning of the end for Israel. Within a generation, the northern kingdom will cease to exist. The prophets Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah all ministered during this period, warning both kingdoms of the approaching judgment. The chapter reads like a countdown clock — each king bringing Israel closer to the catastrophe of 722 BC.
Classification: Historical Narrative
Key Themes: A long and mostly faithful reign remembered chiefly for a leprosy contracted the moment a king tried to burn incense that belonged only to the priests, four generations promised to Jehu's dynasty fulfilled exactly and no further, five kings in rapid succession and four of five transitions accomplished by assassination, a brutality that rips open pregnant women in a city that only refused to open its gates, and storm clouds already gathering over Jotham's otherwise stable and faithful Judah
Azariah/Uzziah of Judah (vv.1-7): Azariah (also called Uzziah) reigned fifty-two years — one of Judah's longest reigns. He "did that which was right in the sight of the LORD" (v.3), yet the high places remained. His most notable feature in this account is his leprosy: "the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death" (v.5). Second Chronicles 26:16-21 explains the cause — Uzziah entered the Temple to burn incense, usurping the priestly role, and was struck with leprosy on the spot. He lived in a "several house" (a separate/quarantined dwelling) while his son Jotham governed. Isaiah's prophetic call came "in the year that king Uzziah died" (Isaiah 6:1) — the earthly king's death revealed the heavenly King's glory. Uzziah's leprosy is a sobering reminder that even long, successful reigns can end in divine judgment when pride crosses sacred boundaries.
The Collapse of Israel's Monarchy (vv.8-31): The northern kingdom disintegrates in a cascade of violence. Zechariah, the last of Jehu's dynasty, reigns only six months before Shallum assassinates him — fulfilling God's promise to Jehu that his sons would sit on the throne "unto the fourth generation" (v.12; cf. 2 Kings 10:30). God's word is precise: four generations, no more. Shallum himself lasts only one month before Menahem kills him. Menahem's brutality is shocking — he rips open pregnant women at Tiphsah (v.16) because the city refused to open its gates. His reign is characterized by violence and vassalage: he pays Tiglath-pileser a thousand talents of silver (approximately 37 tons) to secure his throne, taxing Israel's wealthy fifty shekels each. Pekahiah inherits his father's compromised throne for two years before his own captain, Pekah, murders him. Under Pekah, Tiglath-pileser conquers the northern territories — Ijon, Abel-beth-maachah, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and all Naphtali (v.29). This is the first deportation of Israelites to Assyria. Finally, Hoshea assassinates Pekah — the last king of Israel, who will preside over the nation's final fall.
Jotham of Judah (vv.32-38): In stark contrast to Israel's chaos, Judah under Jotham is stable and faithful. He "did that which was right in the sight of the LORD" (v.34), built the upper gate of the Temple, and reigned sixteen years. Yet even Judah faces gathering threats: "In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah" (v.37). This is the beginning of the Syro-Ephraimite crisis that will dominate chapter 16 and Isaiah 7. The storm clouds are forming even over faithful Judah.

Map & Geography

Places on this map

  • SamariaSebastia, West BankOmri bought a bare hill and built a capital on it, which gave the northern kingdom a fortress with no prior claim on it, the same calculation David made with Jerusalem. It commands the pass west toward the coastal plain. The name later spread to the whole region between Galilee and Judea. Wikipedia
  • Assyrianorthern IraqThe upper Tigris heartland around Nineveh, Calah and Asshur. Its armies reached Israel by following the Fertile Crescent north-west and then south down the coast, so the threat always arrived from the north even though Assyria lay to the east. Wikipedia
  • JerusalemJerusalemA hill town about 2,500 feet up in the central spine of Judah, roughly 35 miles inland from the Mediterranean and 15 miles west of the Jordan. It sits on no trade route and has no river, which is why it mattered as a fortress and a sanctuary rather than as a market. Wikipedia
  • Babylonnear Hillah, IraqOn the Euphrates about 55 miles south of modern Baghdad. Judah's exiles were marched roughly 900 miles to get here, the long way round the Arabian desert, which is why the journey took months and the return was a genuine undertaking rather than a short trip home. Wikipedia
  • Jordan RiverIsrael / Jordan borderRuns about 65 miles as the crow flies from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, dropping from 700 to 1,400 feet below sea level. Narrow enough to wade at most fords, it was still the boundary that divided wilderness from inheritance. Wikipedia
  • DamascusDamascus, SyriaAn oasis city where the Barada river runs out of the Anti-Lebanon into the desert, about 135 miles north-east of Jerusalem. It sat astride the caravan roads to Mesopotamia and Arabia, which made Aram rich and made it Israel's most persistent northern rival. Wikipedia
  • NinevehMosul, IraqAssyria's last capital, on the east bank of the Tigris across from modern Mosul, about 500 miles north-east of Israel. Sennacherib walled in an enormous city here, which is the scale behind Jonah's three days' journey and its 120,000 who cannot tell right from left. Wikipedia
  • AramSyriaThe Syrian interior north-east of Israel, a set of city-states rather than one kingdom, with Damascus the strongest. Aramaic, its language, became the everyday speech of the whole region including Judea. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes the contrast between Judah's stability and Israel's chaos. He notes that the rapid succession of assassinated kings demonstrates what happens when a nation abandons God's order: human authority loses all legitimacy, and power becomes the only currency. Guzik also highlights that Uzziah's leprosy shows God takes holiness seriously even with otherwise faithful servants.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

2 Kings 14-17 | Israel Dies | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Safety In Fellowship With God - 2 Kings 15:32, 34-35
David Guzik

The Sad End Of A Good King - 2 Kings 15:5
David Guzik

Except The High Places - 2 Kings 15:3-4
David Guzik

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of 2 Kings -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Presuming on God's Space (v.5) — Despite a long, faithful reign, Azariah was struck with leprosy for stepping into ground reserved for the priesthood (2 Chronicles 26 explains why). Does years of experience with God ever tempt you to redraw His boundaries on your own terms?
  • God's Word Fulfilled to the Letter (v.12) — Zechariah's assassination fulfilled, exactly as promised generations earlier, that Jehu's line would rule only four generations. Do you trust that what God has spoken will come to pass precisely as He said, in His timing?
  • Violence Escalating Unchecked (v.16) — Menahem's brutal conquest of Tiphsah shows how quickly a nation without restraint descends into savagery. What happens in a life, a family, or a culture when there's no higher authority left to answer to?
  • Buying Peace Instead of Facing It (vv.19-20) — Menahem paid off Assyria to secure his throne, but the tribute only delayed a far bigger reckoning. Where are you purchasing short-term relief instead of dealing honestly with a problem?
  • Pressure Even on the Faithful (v.37) — Even under Jotham's obedient rule, God allowed enemies to begin pressing against Judah. When trouble rises despite your faithfulness, can you consider that God might be preparing you rather than punishing you?