2 Kings 15
OGCCHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
THE GREAT ASSYRIAN CONQUEROR
The history of Israel and Judah was radically affected by the rise of the imperialistic Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria. Heretofore the Assyrian military thrusts into Syria-Palestine were merely tribute-gathering raids. But a new policy was inaugurated by Tiglath-pileser. This monarch was determined to build an empire. It was he who introduced the policy of massive population deportation. By removing the upper classes of a conquered nation and resettling them in some remote portion of his empire, Tiglath-pileser was able to reduce the threat of local rebellions throughout his domain.
In 2 Kings 15:8 to 2 Kings 17:41 the author describes (1) how Israel (2 Kings 15:16-31) and then Judah (2 Kings 15:32 to 2 Kings 16:20) submitted to Tiglath-pileser. The author then discusses the Assyrian conquest of Samaria and deportation often tribes (2 Kings 17:1-41).
REVIEW OF CHAPTER TWENTY- TWO
I. FACTS TO MASTER
A. Know one fact about each of the following:
*Kings
Foreign Kings
Non-Kings
Gods*
Zechariah
Pul
Argob
Succoth-benoth
Shallum
Tiglath-pileser
Arieh
Nergal
Menahem
Rezin
Urijah
Ashima
Pekahiah
Shalmaneser
Nibhaz
Pekah
So
Tartak
Hoshea
Adrammelech
Jotham
Anammelech
Ahaz
B. Places mentioned in this chapter:
-
Samaria
-
Ijon, Abel-bethmaachah, Janoah,
-
Tirzah
Kadesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee,
- Tiphsah
Naphtali
-
Elath
-
Halah, Habor, Gozan
-
Damascus
-
Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath,
-
Kir
Sepharvaini
- Bethel
II. QUESTIONS TO PONDER
What promise had God made to Jehu back in 841 B.C.? How was that promise fulfilled?
How many different dynasties ruled in Israel after the fall of the Jehu dynasty? How can you account for such turmoil?
What surprising shifts in political alliance took place in Israel during the last days of that kingdom?
What was the Syro-Ephraimitic war? What great prophecy has its background in this war? What additional details about this war are found in Chronicles?
Explain the chronological problem relating to the Reign of Pekah.
To whom did Ahaz turn for aid when pressed by the armies of Israel and Aram? Why?
What terrible acts of apostasy are said to have taken place during the reign of Ahaz?
Explain what is meant by the phrase made his son to pass through the fire.
What textual alteration may have taken place in 2 Kings 16:6? In what other passages did a similar alteration likely take place? (See 2 Kings 3:26; 2 Samuel 8:13).
In what way did Assyrian foreign policy change under Tiglath-pileser? Why is this king called Pul in the Bible?
What motivated Ahaz to order a foreign altar to replace the Solomonic bronze altar as the center of Temple worship?
How many different heathen customs are alluded to in 2 Kings 17:7-23? How many different words for false gods or symbols of worship can you find in these verses?
How can you explain the lion plague which came against the Samaritans? How was this problem solved?
In what way is much modern day religion like that of the Samaritans?
SYNOPSIS OF PART THREE - THE SURVIVING KINGDOM
2 Kings 18-25
722-587 B.C.
136 YEARS
JUDAH INDEPENDENT
ASSYRIAN DOMINATION
JUDAH INDEPENDENT
EGYPTIAN DOMINATION
BABYLONIAN DOMINATION
722-686 B.C.
686-640 B.C.
640-609 B.C.
609-605 B.C.
605-587 B.C.
Hezekiah
Manasseh Amon
Josiah
Jehoahaz Jehoiakim
Jehoiakim Jehoiachin Zedekiah
2 Kings 18-20
Chapter Twenty-three The Struggle for Independence
Chapter Twenty-four The Last Great Reformation
Chapter Twenty-five The Dying Days of Judah
2 Kings 15:1-7
B. THE REIGN OF AZARIAH (UZZIAH) IN JUDAH 15:1-7
**TRANSLATION
(1) In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. (2) He was sixteen years old when he began to reign and fifty-two years he reigned in Jerusalem; and the name of his mother was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. (3) And he did that which was upright in the eyes of the LORD according to all which Amaziah his father had done. (4) Only he did not remove the high places. (5) But the LORD smote the king and he became a leper until the day of his death, and lived in the house of separation; and Jotham the son of the king was over the house, judging the people of the land. (6) And the rest of the acts of Azariah and all which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? (7) And Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David; and Jotham his son reigned in his place.
COMMENTS**
Azariah’s reign, which in Kings occupies only seven verses, in Chronicles fills an entire chapter of twenty-three verses (2 Chronicles 26). Uzziah began his independent reign over Judah in the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam of Israel, i.e., 767 B.C. (2 Kings 15:1). He had reigned as coregent with his father from the time he was sixteen years old and had already served in this capacity for some twenty-three years before the death of his father. The total length of his reign was fifty-two years, and thus Azariah (Uzziah) died in 739 B.C. at the age of sixty-eight (2 Kings 15:2). The author of Kings rates Azariah as a good king (v, 3) with the one exception that he failed to confine the worship of Yahweh to the place which the Lord had designated (2 Kings 15:4). The Chronicler (2 Chronicles 26:5) mentions the positive influence of a prophet by the name of Zechariah upon his life.
Eighth King of Judah UZZIAH (AZARIAII) 767-739 B.C.*
2 Kings 15:1-7; 2 Chronicles 26
Synchronism Uzziah 1 = Jeroboam 27 Contemporary Prophets
Zechariah (2 Chronicles 26:5);
Isaiah; Hosea; Amos
Mother: Jecholiah
Appraisal: Good
He (the LORD) shall cut off the spirit of princes: He is terrible to kings of the earth. Psalms 76:12
*coregent from 790 B.C.
The Chronicler provides the details which explain why the Lord smote King Azariah (Uzziah). The marvelous prosperity which this king enjoyed caused him to be filled with pride. Azariah (Uzziah) attempted to usurp the position and prerogatives of the priesthood. He took a censer, entered into the Temple, and proceeded to burn incense on the golden altar before the veil (2 Chronicles 26:16-18). A number of priests tried to persuade the king to turn back, but he persisted in this proud act of defiance of the Law of Moses. It was then that God smote him with leprosy. Due to this dread disease, the king was forced to spend the final years of his reign in a house of separation isolated and alone. Probably this house was built especially for the king out in the open country apart from other houses. His son Jotham then assumed the royal functions of administrating the affairs of the palace and judging the people (2 Kings 15:5). According to the best authorities, Azariah’s sin and the beginning of Jotham’s coregency took place in 750 B.C.
With these brief notices the author of Kings closes his account of the mighty King Uzziah. The Chronicler relates further information about him: that he recovered Elath from the Edomites (2 Chronicles 26:2); that he waged successful war with the Philistines and took from them Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod and dismantled them (2 Chronicles 26:6); that he defeated the Arabians and the Maonites (2 Chronicles 26:7); that he forced the Ammonites to pay him tribute and caused his power to be known and feared far and wide (2 Chronicles 26:8); that he had a standing army which numbered 307,500 men and which was well-trained and well-armed (2 Chronicles 26:12-14). Upon his death, Azariah (Uzziah) was buried with his fathers, i.e., in the same sepulchre (2 Chronicles 26:23). No doubt it was because of his leprosy that he was buried apart from the other kings. Naturally Jotham, who had for about eleven years been serving as coregent, succeeded his father as king of Judah (2 Kings 15:7).
2 Kings 15:8-12
I. ISRAEL SUBMITS TO ASSYRIA 15:16-31
The heyday period for Israel ended abruptly with the death of Jeroboam II. In the period from 753-722 B.C. Israel had six kings representing five dynasties. In 2 Kings 15:8-31 five of these kings are discussed: (1) Zechariah (2 Kings 15:8-12); (2) Shallum (2 Kings 15:13-15); (3) Menahem (2 Kings 15:16-22); (4) Pekahiah (2 Kings 15:23-26); and (5) Pekah(2 Kings 15:27-31).
A. THE SIX-MONTH REIGN OF Zechariah 15:8-12
**TRANSLATION
(8) In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. (9) And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD just as his fathers had done; he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who caused Israel to sin. (10) And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people; and he slew him, and reigned in his place. (11) Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. (12) This was the word of the LORD which he had spoken unto Jehu, saying, Sons to the fourth generation shall sit for you upon the throne of Israel. And so it came to pass.**
Fourteenth King of Israel ZECHARIAH BEN JEROBOAM 753 B.C. (Yahweh has remembered)
Synchronism Zechariah = Uzziah 38 Contemporary Prophet Hosea
Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way but wickedness over-throweth the sinners. Proverbs 13:6
COMMENTS
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah (Uzziah), i.e., 753 B.C., Zechariah, the last king of the Jehu dynasty began to reign in the North (2 Kings 15:8). Because he failed to remove the calf cult from his kingdom, he is labeled as a king who did what was evil (2 Kings 15:9). After a reign of but six months Zechariah was openly and publicly slain by Shallum the son of Jabesh (2 Kings 15:10). The fact that Zechariah succeeded to the throne at all was a fulfillment of promises made to the founder of that dynasty, Jehu. To that king God had given assurance that his sons would hold the throne of Israel to the fourth generation. Jehu was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz who in turn was followed by Jehoash, Jeroboam II and finally Zechariah. In more recent years the doom of the Jehu dynasty had been pronounced by Hosea (Hosea 1:4) and Amos (Amos 7:9).
2 Kings 15:13-15
B. THE ONE MONTH REIGN OF SHALLUM 15:13-15
TRANSLATION
(13) Shallum the son of Jabesh ruled in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria. (14) And 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 place. (15) And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy which he made behold they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
COMMENTS
The thirty-day reign of Shallum receives, as might be expected, scant attention from the author of Kings. Hearing of his conspiracy, Menahem, the general as Josephus calls him, marched from Tirzah to Samaria, got Shallum into his power, and put him to death (2 Kings 15:14). The account of Shallum then concludes with the usual formula (2 Kings 15:15).
Fifteenth King of Israel SHALLUM BEN JABESH 752 B.C. (Requital)
Synchronism Shallum = Uzziah 39 Contemporary Prophet Hosea
An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. Proverbs 17:11
2 Kings 15:16-22
C. MENAHEM SUBMITS TO ASSYRIA 15:16-22
**TRANSLATION
(16) Then Menahem smote Tiphsah and all who were in it and its borders from Tirzah; because they did not open unto him therefore he smote it; and all the pregnant women he ripped open. (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 evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not turn all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin. (19) And Pul king of Assyria came against the land; and Menahem gave to Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to strengthen the kingdom in his hand, (20) And Menahem secured the money from Israel, from all the wealthy land owners, to give the king of Assyria, fifty shekels of silver for each man. And the king of Assyria returned, and did not remain there in the land. (21) And the rest of the acts of Menahem and all which 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 ruled in his place.**
Sixteenth King of Israel MENAHEM BEN GADI 752-742 B.C. (Comforter)
Synchronism Menehem 1 = Uzziah 39 Contemporary Prophet Hosea
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. Proverbs 11:11
COMMENTS
The only town known to history or geography as Tiphsah is the famous city on the Euphrates river (cf. 1 Kings 4:24). It would appear that Zechariah had intended to continue the expansionist policies of his father. At the very time Zechariah was assassinated, the armies under Menahem were garrisoned at Tirzah awaiting orders to march northward. After rather easily disposing of Shallum the assassin, Menahem immediately launched the expedition which had previously been planned. In the early days of Menahem, Assyria was weak and unable to resist these incursions. All the territory from Tirzah in Israel to Tiphsah fell temporarily under the control of Menahem. When the city of Tiphsah refused to surrender, Menahem treated it in a most cruel way. Even pregnant women were ripped open and their unborn children bandied about on the swords of his soldiers![580]
[580] On this cruel practice of ancient warfare see 2 Kings 8:12; Isaiah 13:8; Hosea 10:14; Hosea 13:16; Amos 1:13.
Menahem’s conquests in the north were short-lived. In 745 B.C. the mighty Tiglath-pileser, known in Babylonia as King Pul, came to the throne of Assyria. In one of his early campaigns Tiglath-pileser invaded Israel and forced Menahem to pay an enormous tribute of a thousand talents of silver (about $2,000,000).[581] This payment in effect made Menahem a vassal of Tiglath-pileser and placed his throne under the protection of the Assyrian monarch (2 Kings 15:19). To secure this tribute money, Menahem taxed the wealthy land owners fifty shekels each.[582] The tax would have to be levied on a thousand men. Content for the moment with his take, Tiglathpileser returned to Assyria (2 Kings 15:20).
[581] The figure of $2,000,000 is based on the Berkeley Version. An inscription of Tiglathpileser mentions the tribute of Menahem. See ANET, pp. 282ff. [582] Fifty shekels of silver ($2,000) was about the price of a slave in this period. See D.J. Wiseman, Iraq XV, (1953), p. 135.
Nothing more is known of the life and reign of Menahem. He appears to have died a natural death. Menahem was succeeded by his son Pekahiah (2 Kings 15:21-22).
2 Kings 15:23-26
C. THE TWO-YEAR REIGN OF PEKAHIAH 15:23-26
**TRANSLATION
(23) In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel; and he reigned in Samaria two years. (24) And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin. (25) And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired and smote him in Samaria in the tower of the king’s house along with Argob and Arieh; and with him fifty men of the Gileadites; and he slew him and reigned in his place. (26) Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah and all which he did, behold they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.**
Seventeenth King of Israel PEKAHIAH BEN MENAHEM 742-740 B.C. (Yahweh has observed)
Synchronism Pekahiah 1 = Uzziah 50 Contemporary Prophet Hosea
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. Proverbs 11:5
COMMENTS
The short reign of Pekahiah was wholly uneventful. He held the throne for parts of two years and performed no action that the historian thought worthy of record. One of his captains, Pekah the son of Remaliah, conspired against him and slew him in the tower (i.e., loftiest part) of the royal house. Along with the king two other prominent personagesArgob and Ariehdied. Joining Pekah in this conspiracy were fifty Gileadites who may have been part of the royal bodyguard at this time (2 Kings 15:25).
2 Kings 15:27-31
D. PEKAH, THE GREAT NATIONALIST 15:27-31
**TRANSLATION
(27) In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel; he reigned in Samaria twenty years. (28) And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who caused Israel to sin. (29) In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel-bethmaachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galileeall the land of Naphtali and carried them captive to Assyria. (30) And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. (31) And the rest of the acts of Pekah and all which he did, behold they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.**
Eighteenth King of Israel PEKAH BEN REMALIAH 740-732 B.C.* (Watch)
Synchronism Pekah 1 = Uzziah 52 Contemporary Prophet Hosea
Righteousness tendeth toward life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. Proverbs 11:19
*Ruled in Transjordan from 752 B.C.
COMMENTS
The assassination of Pekahiah took place in the last year of the long reign of Uzziah of Judah. The twenty years attributed to Pekah must be counted from 752 B.C., the first year of Menahem (2 Kings 15:27). No other way of fitting this twenty years into the chronological framework appears possible. This means, in effect, that throughout the reigns of Menahem and his son Pekahiah, Pekah maintained a rival dynasty, perhaps in Transjordan. Gray refers to this as partisan dating.
Pekah appears to have been radically anti-Assyrian in his foreign policy. He joined with Rezin of Damascus in forming a coalition of western states which hopefully would be able to withstand further Assyrian incursions. Fearful of reprisals at the hands of the ruthless Assyrians, Ahaz of Judah refused to join the coalition. Pekah and his ally Rezin then attacked Judah with the purpose of deposing Ahaz and putting someone more sympathetic to the anti-Assyrian cause on the throne (Isaiah 7:2-6). Ahaz summoned Tiglath-pileser to his aid. The great Assyrian monarch attacked the Northern Kingdom in 734 B.C., annexing much territory and deporting many captives. In 732 B.C. he attacked and destroyed Damascus. He probably would have destroyed Israel as well had it not been for the fact that Pekah was assassinated by Hoshea who was willing to pledge allegiance to Tiglath-pileser. Nonetheless, the Great King did take away captive great masses from the northern parts of Israel. Ijon and Abel-bethmaachah were towns near the waters of Merom (Lake Huleh) as were also Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. It is disputed whether Gilead was the entire region east of Jordan or a small district near the waters of Merom.[583] Galilee was the region which later gave its name to the lake located there (2 Kings 15:29).
[583] The deportation of Transjordan alluded to in 1 Chronicles 5:26 is likely the same as mentioned here. This campaign is mentioned in three different Assyrian texts. See Gray, OTL, p.626.
2 Kings 15:32-38
II. JUDAH SUBMITS TO ASSYRIA 15:32-16:20
Under military pressure to join an anti-Assyrian coalition, Judah appealed to Tiglath-pileser for assistance. This brought the Southern Kingdom under the domination of Assyria. The events leading to this submission began during the reign of Jotham (2 Kings 15:32-38), and culminated in the reign of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:1-20).
A. THE REIGN OF JOTHAM 15:32-38
TRANSLATION
(32) In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign. (33) He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and twenty-six years he ruled in Jerusalem; and the name of his mother was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. (34) And he did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD according to all which Uzziah his father had done. (35) Only the high places he did not remove; yet the people were sacrificing and offering incense in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD. (36) Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all which he did; are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? (37) In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Aram and Pekah the son of Remaliah. (38) And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Ahaz his son ruled in his place.
Tenth King of Judah JOTHAM BEN AZARIAH 739-732 B.C.* (Yahweb-perfect)
2 Kings 15:32-38; 2 Chronicles 27:1-4
Synchronism Jotham 1 = Pekah 2 Contemporary Prophets Isaiah; Micah
Mother: Jerusha
Appraisal: Good
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
*coregent from 750 B.C. emeritus king from 735 B.C.
COMMENTS
The chronology of Jotham’s reign is problematic. He is said to have commenced to reign in the second year of Pekah of Israel. This probably refers to the absolute or sole reign of both kings. Pekah began his sole reign over Israel in 740 and Jotham in 739 B.C. (2 Kings 15:32). Jotham is said to have reigned sixteen years (2 Kings 15:33), which are probably counted from the time Jotham was appointed regent in 750 B.C. Jotham actually lived four more years and in some sense continued to reign as is indicated in 2 Kings 15:30.
Jotham is evaluated as a good king. He is said to have done according to all that his father did (2 Kings 15:34) except that he did not repeat the tragic mistake of attempting to enter the Temple (2 Chronicles 27:2). Yet Jotham made no effort to destroy the high places which were so offensive to the Lord. He did, however, build the high gate of the Temple which probably was on the north side of that structure. This gate was probably intended to serve as further fortification against possible attack from the north. The Chronicler relates that Jotham also restored other fortifications (2 Chronicles 27:3) and built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
The author of Kings passes over in silence the principal event of Jotham’s reign, his war with Ammon. The Chronicler relates: He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver and ten thousand measures of wheat and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year and the third (2 Chronicles 27:5).
The account of Jotham here ends with the note that the pressure of the Pekah-Rezin coalition began to exert itself during those days (2 Kings 15:37). When Rezin and Pekah launched their invasion of Judah in 733 B.C., Jotham was still alive, but Ahaz seems to have been handling the affairs of state. The conspiracy against Pekah is said to have taken place in the twentieth year of Jotham of Judah. However 2 Kings 15:33 declares that Jotham reigned but sixteen years. Both the twenty and the sixteen years are to be counted from the time when Jotham assumed the reins of government from his leprous father. This would appear to be in the year 750 B.C. However during the last four years of Jotham’s reign he seems to have virtually relinquished control of the government to his son Ahaz. Thus the total length of Jotham’s reign was twenty-one years; but the effective period of his ruling power was but sixteen.