2 Kings 15 14

2 Kings 15:14 kjv

For 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.

2 Kings 15:14 nkjv

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

2 Kings 15:14 niv

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.

2 Kings 15:14 esv

Then Menahem the son of Gadi came up from Tirzah and came to Samaria, and he struck down Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and put him to death and reigned in his place.

2 Kings 15:14 nlt

Then Menahem son of Gadi went to Samaria from Tirzah and assassinated him, and he became the next king.

2 Kings 15 verses

2 Kings 15 14 Meaning

Second Kings chapter 15, verse 14 details the violent overthrow of King Shallum of Israel by Menahem. Menahem, son of Gadi, initiated his revolt from Tirzah, the former capital, advancing to Samaria, the current capital. There, he engaged with Shallum son of Jabesh, striking him down and ultimately killing him. As a direct result of this act of regicide, Menahem seized the throne and began to reign in Shallum's place. This event marked another instance of severe political instability and a bloody transition of power within the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

2 Kings 15 14 Context

Second Kings chapter 15 vividly illustrates the rapid moral decay and political instability of the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BC. This period is marked by frequent changes in monarchy, often through violent coups, rather than through stable dynastic succession. The kings are consistently described as doing "what was evil in the sight of the LORD," perpetuating the sins of Jeroboam.

Specifically, verse 14 occurs during a particularly tumultuous sequence. It immediately follows the very brief reign of Shallum (verse 13), who himself gained power through assassination (verse 10), killing Zechariah, the last king of Jehu's dynasty. This rapid succession of four kings (Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah) within two years (approx. 753-752 BC, according to Albright's chronology) underscores the profound governmental chaos and the internal rot that was weakening Israel. Tirzah was the former capital of the Northern Kingdom, established by Jeroboam I, before Omri built Samaria and made it the new capital. Menahem's journey from Tirzah to Samaria thus represents a strategic move from a historically significant, perhaps politically resonant, base to the current center of power to execute his coup. This widespread violence and disregard for divinely sanctioned authority highlight the fulfillment of the curses of the covenant, foreshadowing the impending destruction of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria.

2 Kings 15 14 Word analysis

• For: Connective particle (Hebrew: kî כִּי) here, providing the reason or elaboration for the immediately preceding statement (Shallum's one-month reign and eventual death). It signals a causal or explanatory link.
• Menahem: (מְנַחֵם, Menachēm), meaning "comforter" or "consoler." Ironic given his violent rise to power. He established a cruel and tyrannical rule (2 Ki 15:16), making his name a stark contrast to his actions.
• son of Gadi: (בֶּן־גָּדִ֔י, ben Gādî). Identifies his father, establishing his individual lineage but without connecting him to any established royal or prominent tribal house. This underscores his "outsider" status in terms of conventional dynastic claims.
• went up: (עָלָה, ʿālāh). Literally, to ascend or go up. Tirzah (elevation c. 896m) to Samaria (elevation c. 430m, but city itself was on a prominent hill). The term can also imply a strategic military advance or rising to prominence. It denotes movement towards the center of power.
• from Tirzah: (תִּרְצָה, Tirtzah). Former capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Its mention might evoke its historical significance as a base for rebellion (e.g., Zimri's revolt against Elah, and Omri's subsequent establishment of Samaria as capital after besieging Zimri in Tirzah, 1 Ki 16). This could signal Menahem's attempt to draw on former claims or political currents.
• came to Samaria: (שֹׁמְרֹון, Shomron). The current capital of the Northern Kingdom, founded by Omri. This was the seat of power, hence the ultimate target of any aspiring ruler seeking to seize the throne.
• and struck: (וַיַּךְ, vayyakh from נָכָה, nakah). To strike, smite, beat down. This verb frequently appears in narratives of violent overthrow or execution in the Old Testament. It signifies a decisive and lethal physical assault.
• Shallum: (שַׁלּוּם, Shallūm), meaning "retribution," "recompense," or "peace" (ironic, given his violent end). His brief one-month reign is highlighted as the pinnacle of instability.
• son of Jabesh: (בֶּן־יָבֵשׁ, ben Yāvēsh). Similar to Menahem's lineage, it specifies his parentage but does not link him to royal or legitimate dynastic lines.
• in Samaria: Specifies the location of the fatal blow, at the very heart of the kingdom and political power. This act was likely public, solidifying the new claim to power.
• and killed him: (וַיַּהַרְגֵהוּ, vayyahargehu from הָרַג, harag). This verb definitively states the outcome of the striking action – Shallum's death. It confirms the regicide.
• and reigned in his place: (וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו, vayyimlok takhtāyw). This phrase clearly states the direct consequence and ultimate goal of Menahem's violent actions. It establishes the immediate transfer of power through force and confirms the usurpation.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Menahem son of Gadi...Shallum son of Jabesh": The emphasis on "son of X" for both the usurper and the usurped (who was himself a usurper) highlights their non-dynastic claims. Neither belonged to the traditional, albeit unfaithful, line of Jehu. This stresses the complete breakdown of any established, legitimate (or even God-appointed) line of succession in the Northern Kingdom. Power was seized by force, not inheritance or divine appointment.
• "went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria": This movement signifies a calculated military and political maneuver. Menahem started from a secondary power base, probably mustering support, before directly challenging the incumbent king in the capital. This strategic action underlines the methodical nature of the coup, beyond just an opportunistic assassination.
• "struck Shallum...and killed him": This tandem of verbs emphatically portrays the brutal violence employed to gain the throne. "Struck" denotes the act, and "killed him" confirms its lethal consequence. The text leaves no doubt about the violent and illicit nature of Menahem's ascent.
• "and reigned in his place": This phrase succinctly captures the modus operandi of these kings. Their violent acts were not mere personal vendettas but were solely driven by the ambition for political power and the throne. The phrase serves as the outcome and justification from Menahem's perspective.

2 Kings 15 14 Bonus section

The chronic instability of the Northern Kingdom, particularly as exemplified in 2 Kings 15, stands in stark contrast to God's covenant with David for a perpetual kingdom and an enduring line of kings (2 Sam 7). While the Southern Kingdom of Judah experienced its own periods of unfaithfulness and judgment, it generally maintained the Davidic dynasty until the Babylonian exile. In Israel, however, kings were regularly installed and removed by assassination, with new dynasties arising and quickly falling. This specific period leading up to the Assyrian conquest highlights a time of significant Assyrian influence and pressure, as kings like Menahem were forced to pay heavy tribute to maintain their precarious positions (2 Ki 15:19). The political chaos within was undoubtedly exacerbated by the external imperial threats. Prophetic voices, like Hosea, also directly addressed this internal political turmoil and its root in spiritual adultery, lamenting, "They make kings, but not through me" (Hos 8:4), capturing the essence of verses like 2 Kings 15:14.

2 Kings 15 14 Commentary

Second Kings 15:14 is a terse yet potent illustration of the extreme moral and political decline of the Northern Kingdom of Israel leading up to its eventual destruction. This single verse, following immediately Shallum’s own regicide (vs. 10) and his brief reign (vs. 13), showcases the relentless cycle of violence and instability that plagued Israel. Menahem, not part of any prior royal lineage, seized the throne by force, signifying a complete breakdown of legitimate succession and a disregard for any form of divine endorsement for leadership.

The phrase "struck Shallum... and killed him, and reigned in his place" distills the essence of Northern Kingdom's kingship during this period: power was grasped through bloodshed and held precariously by force, rather than by covenant fidelity or wise rule. Each new king, rather than leading the people back to the Lord, perpetuated the idolatry and wickedness of Jeroboam, accelerating the nation's fall. This passage, viewed through the lens of the Deuteronomistic history, serves as further evidence of Israel's persistent rebellion against God's law, bringing upon them the prophesied judgments of chaos and oppression (Deut 28). The lack of an enduring, divinely sanctioned dynasty, unlike the promise made to David in Judah, underscored the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness.