seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
2 Kings 15:13 Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned in Samaria one month. 14 Then Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated him and succeeded him as king.
15 The other events of Shallum’s reign, and the conspiracy he led, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.
16 At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.
17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years. 18 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. During his entire reign he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
19 Then Pul[f] king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents[g] of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom. 20 Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy person had to contribute fifty shekels[h] of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and stayed in the land no longer.
21 As for the other events of Menahem’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 22 Menahem rested with his ancestors. And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king.
15 The other events of Shallum’s reign, and the conspiracy he led, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.
16 At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.
17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years. 18 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. During his entire reign he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
19 Then Pul[f] king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents[g] of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom. 20 Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy person had to contribute fifty shekels[h] of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and stayed in the land no longer.
21 As for the other events of Menahem’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 22 Menahem rested with his ancestors. And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king.
f. 2 Kings 15:19 Also called Tiglath-Pileser
g. 2 Kings 15:19 That is, about 38 tons or about 34 metric tons
h. 2 Kings 15:20 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds or about 575 grams
Wow did you see that.... this guy was only king for one month!!!! AND the next king that came up... he ripped open all the pregnant women. How horrible....
This is from Bibletrack.org.
How much can you say about a guy who just reigns one month? Of course he was evil - killed Zachariah, then a month later, Menahem killed him. One king does not a dynasty make...and especially with only a one-month rule before his assassination.
How do you become King of Israel these days? Murder, murder, murder! This one is particularly gruesome, though. When Tiphsah (a lost city) declined to throw open their gates to let him come in and take over, he demonstrated his ruthlessness - cut open all their pregnant women after he conquered them. That's not all he did. He had only interests in remaining King of Israel - at any cost. He assessed a tax on the Israelites to pay off the King of Assyria in order to be allowed to stay on the throne - which he did for 10 years. The King of Assyria is named as "Pul" in verse 19. That was the nickname of Tiglathpileser, seen down in verse 29.
Incidentally, the kingship of Israel at this point is now in the hands of the sixth family. We'll call this the fifth dynasty since (unlike his predecessor, Shallum) Menahem did have a son (Pekahiah) who took over the throne after his death.
How do you become King of Israel these days? Murder, murder, murder! This one is particularly gruesome, though. When Tiphsah (a lost city) declined to throw open their gates to let him come in and take over, he demonstrated his ruthlessness - cut open all their pregnant women after he conquered them. That's not all he did. He had only interests in remaining King of Israel - at any cost. He assessed a tax on the Israelites to pay off the King of Assyria in order to be allowed to stay on the throne - which he did for 10 years. The King of Assyria is named as "Pul" in verse 19. That was the nickname of Tiglathpileser, seen down in verse 29.
Incidentally, the kingship of Israel at this point is now in the hands of the sixth family. We'll call this the fifth dynasty since (unlike his predecessor, Shallum) Menahem did have a son (Pekahiah) who took over the throne after his death.
Now that's rude. I wonder how it would go over now. How do you think the people today would react if they knew their taxes were going to pay off the enemy so the enemy would leave them alone? Wait.... what???? No one would ever do that... right????
