2 Kings 15 20

2 Kings 15:20 kjv

And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.

2 Kings 15:20 nkjv

And Menahem exacted the money from Israel, from all the very wealthy, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in the land.

2 Kings 15:20 niv

Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy person had to contribute fifty shekels of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and stayed in the land no longer.

2 Kings 15:20 esv

Menahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels of silver from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land.

2 Kings 15:20 nlt

Menahem extorted the money from the rich of Israel, demanding that each of them pay fifty pieces of silver to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned from attacking Israel and did not stay in the land.

2 Kings 15 verses

2 Kings 15 20 Meaning

2 Kings 15:20 describes King Menahem of Israel raising a substantial sum of silver as tribute to King Pul of Assyria. To acquire this money, Menahem imposed a levy of fifty shekels of silver on each wealthy and powerful man in Israel. This payment successfully caused the Assyrian king to withdraw his forces, preventing an immediate occupation of the land by Assyria. The verse highlights Israel's dire political and financial vulnerability, showcasing Menahem's desperation to secure his throne by appeasing the mighty Assyrian empire.

2 Kings 15 20 Context

2 Kings 15 chronicles a period of deep political instability and rapid succession of kings in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Following the assassination of Zechariah (last of Jehu's dynasty) and then Shallum, Menahem usurped the throne. Menahem's reign (752-742 BC) was characterized by brutality and a lack of true submission to Yahweh, continuing Israel's pattern of idolatry established by Jeroboam I. Historically, this period marks the aggressive expansion of the Neo-Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III (referred to as Pul in the Bible). Assyria was increasingly asserting its dominance over the Syro-Palestinian region, demanding tribute from vassal states. Menahem's decision to pay a substantial tribute was a desperate act to legitimize his precarious rule and prevent a full-scale Assyrian invasion and occupation, a policy that effectively reduced Israel to a vassal state and placed an immense economic burden on its people, sowing the seeds for its eventual destruction by Assyria decades later.

2 Kings 15 20 Word analysis

• And Menahem (וַיֹּצֵא מְנַחֵם, wayyōṣēʾ menaḥēm): Menaḥem means "comforter." This is highly ironic given his bloody ascension to power and his oppressive taxation of his own people. He gained the throne through violence (2 Kgs 15:14) and held it through subservience to Assyria and burdening his own people.
• exacted / levied (וַיֹּצֵא, wayyōṣēʾ): A Hiphil verb from the root יָצָא (yatsa), meaning "to go out." In the Hiphil, it means "to bring out," "to cause to go forth," "to draw out." Here, it specifically denotes drawing out money by force or authority, to levy or impose a tax. It implies compulsion and a significant imposition.
• the money (אֶת־הַכֶּסֶף, ʾet-hakkesef): Refers to "silver." Silver was the standard medium of exchange and value in ancient Israel, weighed out rather than coined in Menahem's time. The absence of coins meant payment was often made in raw or worked silver, assessed by weight.
• from Israel (מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, mīyiśrāʾēl): This specifies the source of the levy – the people of the Northern Kingdom, not from the royal treasury directly. It places the burden directly upon the populace, revealing Menahem's need for external funds and his lack of personal wealth or ethical regard for his subjects.
• even from all the mighty men of wealth (מִכֹּל גִּבּוֹרֵי הַחַיִל, mikkōl gibbōrēy haḥayil): Gîbbōr typically means "mighty man," "hero," often implying strength in battle. Ḥayil (or chayil) can refer to strength, army, wealth, or virtue. Here, "men of wealth/substance/valor" refers to those who possess significant property, influence, and means. The tribute was collected specifically from the wealthy elite, implying it was a heavy tax requiring substantial personal resources, and that these were the only ones capable of contributing such a large sum. This also points to a highly centralized, coercive authority in Menahem.
• to give to the king of Assyria (לָתֵת לְמֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר, lātēth lemèlèḵ ʾaššûr): Aššûr refers to the powerful Mesopotamian empire of Assyria. This explicitly states the purpose and recipient of the money: to bribe Assyria, making Israel a vassal state rather than an independent kingdom trusting in God's protection.
• fifty shekels of silver for each man (חֲמִשִּׁים שֶׁקֶל כֶּסֶף עַל־הָאִישׁ אֶחָד, ḥamiššīm sheqel keseph ʿal-hāʾîš ʾeḥāḏ): Sheqel was a unit of weight, approximately 11.4 grams or 0.4 troy ounces of silver. Fifty shekels was a very significant amount for an individual. For perspective, a slave could be bought for 30 shekels of silver (Exod 21:32). This indicates an enormous financial drain imposed on the richest citizens, underscoring the severity of Menahem's predicament and the cost of his appeasement policy.
• So the king of Assyria turned back (וַיָּשָׁב מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר, wayyāšōv mèlèḵ ʾaššûr): The payment worked as intended, securing a temporary withdrawal. The verb yashav implies a definite departure.
• and did not stay there in the land (וְלֹא יָשַׁב שָׁם בָּאָרֶץ, wəlōʾ yāšaḇ shām bāʾāreṣ): This confirms that the payment averted an immediate occupation. It implies that Pul had initially come with the intention of remaining and conquering, but the tribute persuaded him to leave, thus granting Menahem a fragile reprieve.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Menahem exacted the money from Israel": This phrase directly points to the oppressive nature of Menahem's rule, placing a heavy financial burden on his own people. It shows the economic exploitation inherent in a monarchy without divine guidance.
• "from all the mighty men of wealth, fifty shekels of silver for each man": This quantifies the exact, substantial individual burden placed on the elite. It signifies the kingdom's weakness and the extraordinary measures taken, indicative of a regime resorting to heavy taxation on its most affluent members to avert foreign invasion. This also suggests the large scale of the required tribute to Pul.
• "to give to the king of Assyria": This highlights Israel's forced submission and new vassal status to Assyria. It marks a significant shift in geopolitical power, signifying the decline of Israel's independence and autonomy due to its covenant disobedience and subsequent vulnerability.
• "So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in the land": This indicates the immediate "success" of Menahem's desperate strategy but also signals a temporary measure that sets a precedent for future Assyrian interventions. The payment merely deferred, rather than removed, the Assyrian threat, which would eventually lead to Israel's downfall. This serves as a commentary on the futility of human strategies over reliance on the LORD.

2 Kings 15 20 Bonus section

The amount, one thousand talents of silver (2 Kgs 15:19), was an immense sum. If one talent equaled 3,000 shekels, then 1,000 talents amounted to 3,000,000 shekels of silver. If each wealthy man paid 50 shekels, then approximately 60,000 wealthy individuals had to contribute to meet this demand. This suggests a relatively large economic upper class or highlights the extremely severe strain placed on a select few. The Hebrew text for "mighty men of wealth" can be rendered "mighty men of valor" or "strong and powerful men." In this context, given the payment of keseph (silver), it specifically implies those possessing substantial financial assets, highlighting an economic rather than military contribution. This event sets the stage for God's impending judgment on the Northern Kingdom of Israel, demonstrating how its leaders continued to choose alliances with foreign powers rather than returning to Him, despite the heavy burden placed upon the people. The policy of paying tribute initiated by Menahem became a recurring theme for later kings of Israel until its final collapse.

2 Kings 15 20 Commentary

2 Kings 15:20 illustrates the dire consequences of Israel's sustained rebellion against God, resulting in political instability and foreign subjugation. Menahem's levy of fifty shekels from each man of wealth demonstrates a kingdom reduced to economic subservience, prioritizing worldly security over trust in the Divine covenant. This specific tribute to Pul (Tiglath-Pileser III) was a significant marker of Israel becoming an Assyrian vassal, a path that led to repeated interventions and eventually the kingdom's exile. The verse succinctly captures Menahem's lack of faith and cruel pragmatism, exploiting his own people's resources to maintain his illegitimate power, ultimately failing to secure lasting peace or divine favor for Israel.