2 Kings 15 17

2 Kings 15:17 kjv

In 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.

2 Kings 15:17 nkjv

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

2 Kings 15:17 niv

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.

2 Kings 15:17 esv

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.

2 Kings 15:17 nlt

Menahem son of Gadi began to rule over Israel in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria ten years.

2 Kings 15 verses

2 Kings 15 17 Meaning

This verse records the accession of Menahem, son of Gadi, to the throne of Israel, stating that he began his ten-year reign in Samaria during the thirty-ninth year of Azariah's (Uzziah's) kingship in Judah. It provides a crucial chronological synchronism between the northern and southern kingdoms, highlighting the tumultuous political state of Israel through its rapid succession of kings.

2 Kings 15 17 Context

2 Kings chapter 15 records a turbulent period in the history of the divided kingdom, particularly for the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It details the reigns of six different kings—Azariah/Uzziah (Judah), Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah (all Israel)—demonstrating the severe instability and moral decline that plagued Israel. This instability stands in stark contrast to the longer, though not unblemished, reign of Azariah/Uzziah in Judah, who despite his achievements, was struck with leprosy for sacrilege.

Menahem's accession, described in 2 Kings 15:17, follows a rapid succession of regicides. His predecessor, Shallum, had reigned for only one month after assassinating Zechariah (the last king of Jehu's dynasty, whose reign ended the promise made to Jehu in 2 Kings 10:30), thus ending the promised four-generation dynasty of Jehu. Menahem himself seized power through violence, launching a coup from Tirzah to Samaria, where he killed Shallum (2 Kgs 15:14). This chain of violence, disloyalty, and usurpation underscored the deep spiritual and political rot in Israel, which had long abandoned the Lord's covenant. This historical period also set the stage for increasing Assyrian influence and, ultimately, Israel's exile, with Menahem himself paying tribute to the Assyrian king Pul (Tiglath-Pileser III) to secure his throne.

2 Kings 15 17 Word analysis

• In the thirty-ninth year: This phrase provides a precise chronological marker. The Hebrew bishnat (בִּשְׁנַת) signifies "in the year of." The numerical sheloshim ve-tesha (שְׁלֹשִׁים וְתֵשַׁע) means "thirty and nine." These synchronisms with the Judean monarchy are a characteristic feature of the books of Kings, crucial for biblical chronology and aligning Israelite history with ancient Near Eastern timelines.

• of Azariah king of Judah: Identifies the reigning king of the Southern Kingdom, Azariah (עֲזַרְיָהוּ). He is also known as Uzziah (עֻזִּיָּהוּ) in 2 Kings 15:1, 13 and throughout 2 Chronicles 26. This interchangeability highlights a common biblical practice of kings having multiple names or variations thereof. His reign provided the anchor for Israel's chaotic succession.

• Menahem son of Gadi: Identifies the individual taking the throne. Menahem (מְנַחֵם) means "comforter." Ben (בֶּן), meaning "son of," establishes his lineage. Nothing specific is known about Gadi, only that he was Menahem's father, which signifies Menahem's non-royal, likely military, background. His name "comforter" stands in stark ironic contrast to his violent methods and the harsh rule that marked his reign (2 Kgs 15:16).

• became king over Israel: This verb malak (מָלַךְ) literally means "reigned" or "became king." In this context, it describes Menahem's usurpation and successful establishment of himself on the throne, following a pattern of coups in the Northern Kingdom. It denotes a transfer of power, often violent.

• and reigned ten years: Specifies the duration of Menahem's rule. Asar shanim (עֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים) means "ten years." This duration, while longer than his immediate predecessor Shallum's one-month reign, was still relatively short for the time period and was characterized by instability and foreign tribute.

• in Samaria: Names the capital city where Menahem ruled. B'Shomron (בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן) refers to Samaria, the primary capital of the Northern Kingdom, established by Omri (1 Kgs 16:24). Samaria had become a focal point of idolatry and corruption in Israel, drawing prophetic condemnations (e.g., Amos, Micah).

• "In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel": This phrase encapsulates the crucial chronological synchronism that defines the narrative of the divided kingdom. It emphasizes the simultaneous yet distinct histories of Judah, with its comparatively stable (though long) Azariah/Uzziah reign, and the turbulent, divinely disapproved line of succession in Israel, where kings were repeatedly installed through violent means rather than divine appointment. This chronological precision underlines the historicity of the biblical account, providing fixed points for understanding the ebb and flow of power and divine judgment.

• "reigned ten years in Samaria": This short statement details the length and seat of Menahem's rule. The relatively short duration signifies the continuing political fragility of the Northern Kingdom during this period of constant upheaval and foreign interference (especially from Assyria). Samaria, as the center of Israel's power, also served as the hub of its idolatry and political corruption, and its mention here ties Menahem's reign to the ongoing narrative of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness.

2 Kings 15 17 Bonus section

The constant detailed synchronization of reigns between the kings of Israel and Judah, as seen in this verse, is a hallmark of the books of Kings. It is often understood as serving several purposes: to confirm the accuracy and historical nature of the biblical record; to weave together the separate narratives of the two kingdoms into a cohesive historical tapestry; and implicitly, to highlight the theological distinction between the two, particularly the divine favor promised to the enduring Davidic line in Judah versus the repeatedly fractured, divinely unblessed successions in Israel, whose kings typically did evil in the Lord's eyes. Scholars like Edwin R. Thiele spent considerable effort using these synchronisms to construct a coherent biblical chronology, accounting for co-regencies and different calendar systems used in the ancient world, affirming the reliability of the biblical accounts despite their apparent complexities. Menahem's reign, therefore, is not merely a segment of history, but a profound illustration of Israel's self-inflicted spiritual and national decline, nearing its eventual downfall.

2 Kings 15 17 Commentary

2 Kings 15:17 is a concise historical marker that reveals much about the state of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. While seemingly just a factual report, it subtly highlights the severe moral and political decay characteristic of Israel in the mid-8th century BC. The specific synchronism with Azariah (Uzziah) king of Judah anchors Israel's chaos against Judah's relatively more stable Davidic dynasty, even as Judah faced its own challenges. Menahem's violent ascension, previously detailed in the chapter, is reinforced by his simple designation as "king" here, having successfully usurped the throne. His ten-year reign, based in Samaria, indicates a temporary halt to the immediate succession of coups, yet it was achieved through brutality and later maintained by paying tribute to the rising Assyrian Empire (mentioned just a few verses later in 2 Kings 15:19). This verse sets the stage for a period marked by both internal strife and external threat, demonstrating God's consistent allowance of rulers, even violent ones, to fulfill His broader purposes for Israel as part of the covenant curses against their sustained idolatry.