2 Kings 15 16

2 Kings 15:16 kjv

Then 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.

2 Kings 15:16 nkjv

Then from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah, all who were there, and its territory. Because they did not surrender, therefore he attacked it. All the women there who were with child he ripped open.

2 Kings 15:16 niv

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.

2 Kings 15:16 esv

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.

2 Kings 15:16 nlt

At that time Menahem destroyed the town of Tappuah and all the surrounding countryside as far as Tirzah, because its citizens refused to surrender the town. He killed the entire population and ripped open the pregnant women.

2 Kings 15 verses

2 Kings 15 16 Meaning

This verse describes a heinous act committed by Menahem, king of Israel. It records that Menahem struck the city of Tiphsah, and all its surrounding territories and inhabitants, beginning from Tirzah. The extreme violence, including the brutal killing of pregnant women by ripping them open, was carried out as a punitive measure because the city refused to surrender to him. This act serves as a chilling testament to Menahem's ruthlessness and the moral decay rampant in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during this period of political instability.

2 Kings 15 16 Context

This verse is situated in 2 Kings Chapter 15, a chapter that primarily details the reigns of several kings in both Judah (Azariah/Uzziah and Jotham) and Israel (Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea). The Northern Kingdom of Israel during this period was marked by extreme political instability, rapid successions, and widespread idolatry, contributing to its moral decline. Menahem came to power through a violent coup, assassinating Shallum who himself had reigned for only a month (2 Ki 15:14). His act of violence against Tiphsah is presented immediately after his ascension to the throne, underscoring the brutality and ruthlessness with which he consolidated his power. The events recorded here set the stage for Israel's eventual subjugation and exile by the Assyrians, whom Menahem would later pay tribute to (2 Ki 15:19-20), foreshadowing the nation's end due to its continued sin and rebellion against God.

2 Kings 15 16 Word analysis

• Then Menahem (מְנַחֵם - Menachem): Refers to the sixteenth king of Israel. His name means "comforter," a stark contrast to his brutal actions. He gained the throne by assassinating Shallum, marking a period of intense political instability and violence in the Northern Kingdom.
• smote (הִכָּה - hikka): This Hebrew verb signifies striking, attacking, or conquering, often with violent intent resulting in death or defeat. Here, it denotes Menahem's military action and conquest of Tiphsah.
• Tiphsah (תִּפְסַח - Tiphsach): The exact location of this city is debated among scholars. Some suggest it was the large, strategically important Thapsacus on the Euphrates, indicating Menahem's formidable military reach. Others believe it was a smaller, local town, perhaps in the Jordan Valley, symbolizing his need to assert authority over rebellious elements closer to home. Regardless, its defiance brought catastrophic consequences.
• and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof: This phrase emphasizes the totality of the conquest. Not just the city's inhabitants but also its surrounding areas (its "borders" or "territories") were brought under Menahem's destructive hand, demonstrating his complete dominance.
• from Tirzah (מִתִּרְצָה - mi-Tirtzah): Tirzah was the former capital of the Northern Kingdom, a place of historical significance for Israel's kings before Samaria. Its mention here indicates either Menahem initiated his campaign from Tirzah or consolidated his control over areas extending from Tirzah to Tiphsah, covering a significant portion of the kingdom to establish his reign.
• because they opened not to him (יַעַן לֹא פָתַח - ya'an lo patach): "Opened" here means to surrender, to open their gates and allow peaceful entry or submission. Their refusal signified rebellion and defiance against Menahem's newly established authority, provoking his severe response.
• therefore he smote it: Reiteration of the consequence for Tiphsah's defiance. Menahem's action was a direct, retaliatory strike to assert his absolute power and deter future resistance.
• and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up (וְאֵת כָּל־הֶהָרוֹתֶיהָ בִּקַּע - w'et kol-heharoteiha bikka'): This is the most brutal part of the verse.
  • ripped up (בִּקַּע - biqqa'): To cleave, split open, or tear apart. This verb describes an act of extreme barbarity and desecration. In warfare, such an act was not merely killing, but extinguishing a lineage, wiping out future generations, and instilling ultimate terror and submission.
  • that were with child (הֶהָרוֹתֶיהָ - heharoteiha): Referring to pregnant women. The specific targeting of unborn children within their mothers’ wombs underscores the unbridled cruelty and complete disregard for human life and the future of the city, portraying Menahem as a savage tyrant. This act, while historically documented in ancient warfare as a tactic of terror (e.g., by Assyrians, see Amos 1:13, Hos 13:16), is explicitly condemned in biblical prophecy when nations commit it.

2 Kings 15 16 Bonus section

This incident, while brief in its description, aligns with documented atrocities in ancient Near Eastern warfare, particularly by empires like Assyria. The historical record suggests that the "ripping up" of pregnant women or dashing of infants was a deliberate strategy used by conquerors to completely demoralize, eradicate future generations, and prevent any resurgence of a rebellious population. For the biblical narrator to include this detail serves to vividly illustrate Menahem's tyrannical character and the overall unrighteousness and chaotic state of the Northern Kingdom, thus underscoring the spiritual climate that necessitated God's eventual judgment through the Assyrian Empire. It is not an example of righteousness but a profound display of human fallenness and the severe consequences of defying ungodly human authority, which was nevertheless a part of God's wider, mysterious plan allowing nations to judge one another.

2 Kings 15 16 Commentary

This verse portrays one of the most gruesome acts recorded in Scripture, serving as a stark witness to the depths of human depravity when leadership lacks divine guidance and restraint. Menahem's brutal action against Tiphsah for its refusal to surrender highlights the violence and instability characteristic of Israel's kings after Jeroboam II. The ripping open of pregnant women was an act designed not merely to conquer, but to obliterate, to extinguish the very future of the city, and to send a terrifying message to any potential rebels. While the Bible records such events, it does not endorse them. Rather, it faithfully depicts the reality of human sinfulness and the brutal nature of ancient warfare. This cruelty further emphasizes the profound moral decay in Israel that eventually led to God's judgment and their ultimate exile. It is a record of human wickedness that stands in stark contrast to God's holiness and the sanctity of life.