2 Kings 15 21

2 Kings 15:21 kjv

And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

2 Kings 15:21 nkjv

Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

2 Kings 15:21 niv

As for the other events of Menahem's reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?

2 Kings 15:21 esv

Now the rest of the deeds of Menahem and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

2 Kings 15:21 nlt

The rest of the events in Menahem's reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

2 Kings 15 verses

2 Kings 15 21 Meaning

This verse serves as a narrative closure for the account of King Menahem of Israel. It concisely summarizes that further details regarding his reign and all his actions are extensively recorded in another historical document known as "The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel." This rhetorical question confirms the existence and authority of these external records, indicating that the biblical author selectively presented only the most theologically significant aspects of Menahem's rule within the Book of Kings.

2 Kings 15 21 Context

Chapter 15 of 2 Kings documents a tumultuous period for both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, marked by instability, violence, and accelerating decline, particularly for Israel. Following Jeroboam II's relatively stable reign, a series of assassinations and rapid successions plague the throne of Israel. Menahem came to power by force, murdering Shallum (who had murdered Zechariah, Jeroboam II's son). His reign (752-742 BC, often cited dates) was characterized by extreme brutality, most notably his attack on Tiphsah where he ripped open pregnant women (2 Kgs 15:16). His significant act, from the Deuteronomistic historian's perspective, was the payment of a massive tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III (referred to as Pul) of Assyria, essentially turning Israel into a vassal state. This tribute, exacted from wealthy men, signifies the burden placed upon the nation and their weakening sovereignty under external pressure. Verse 21 closes his narrative, directing readers to a comprehensive, yet unpreserved, historical record. This allows the author of Kings to focus on Menahem's moral and spiritual failings against the backdrop of constant idolatry in the Northern Kingdom.

2 Kings 15 21 Word analysis

• The rest of the acts:

  • Indicates that the account in 2 Kings is a condensed summary, not an exhaustive historical record. The Hebrew divrei (דִּבְרֵי) here means "affairs" or "deeds," rather than just "words."
  • Significance: Highlights the selective nature of biblical narrative, which focuses on theological and covenantal implications over comprehensive administrative or military details.

• of Menahem:

  • Refers to Menahem son of Gadi, the 16th king of Israel, who reigned for 10 years (2 Kgs 15:17).
  • Significance: His reign exemplifies the instability and spiritual degradation of the Northern Kingdom, marked by usurpation, violence, and submission to foreign powers (Assyria), a pattern seen by the Deuteronomistic author as divine judgment for idolatry.

• and all that he did:

  • Emphasizes the completeness of the external record, implying it contained more administrative, military, or civil information not deemed essential for the theological narrative of 2 Kings.
  • Significance: Reinforces that the omissions in 2 Kings are deliberate and serve a specific spiritual purpose, not a lack of information.

• are they not written:

  • A rhetorical question, asserting emphatically that the records are indeed written and exist. This common literary device in ancient Near Eastern historiography affirms the author's access to credible historical sources.
  • Significance: Lends authority and reliability to the account while subtly guiding the reader to understand that the canonical text prioritizes spiritual lessons over exhaustive history.

• in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

  • This refers to the official royal annals (Hebrew: Sēpher Divrey HaYamim LeMalkhei Yisra'el - סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לְמַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל), a secular state archive from ancient Israel. It is not the canonical Old Testament Book of Chronicles.
  • Significance:
    • Confirms the historical methodology of the author of Kings, who consulted existing historical records.
    • Demonstrates the distinct purpose of the biblical narrative: while secular chronicles focused on events from a purely historical/political perspective, the biblical author presented them from a theological perspective, judging kings against God's covenant.
    • This specific "book" is now lost to us, highlighting that God preserved only the inspired texts necessary for His people.

2 Kings 15 21 Bonus section

The consistent use of this concluding formula for most kings of both Israel and Judah (except those for whom Kings claims full coverage or no specific 'Chronicles' record for some Judahite kings which the canonical Books of Chronicles themselves elaborate upon) underscores the author's deliberate choice to distill historical facts through a spiritual filter. It implicitly argues that while earthly kingdoms record their own versions of history, God’s people need to understand events through God’s revelation. The "Chronicles of the Kings of Israel" and similar "Books of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" are non-canonical, lost works, underscoring that not all ancient writings are meant for inclusion in inspired Scripture. This choice demonstrates God’s sovereign hand in shaping the biblical canon, ensuring that His people receive only the information vital for their spiritual instruction, repentance, and understanding of His purposes throughout history.

2 Kings 15 21 Commentary

2 Kings 15:21 serves as a typical concluding formula for the reign of a king in the Books of Kings. Far from being a mere filler verse, it reveals much about the theological agenda and literary method of the biblical author. By stating that the "rest of the acts" of King Menahem are recorded elsewhere, the author signals that the present narrative is highly selective. The Book of Kings is not primarily a comprehensive secular history detailing every political maneuver, battle, or building project. Instead, it is a theological interpretation of Israel's and Judah's history through the lens of the Mosaic covenant, specifically from a Deuteronomistic perspective.

The inclusion of this formula highlights the theological priorities. For Menahem, the significant acts highlighted are his violent ascent to power, his atrocious brutality (2 Kgs 15:16), and his forced payment of tribute to Assyria (2 Kgs 15:19-20), an act of weakness and a sign of Israel's spiritual decline under divine judgment. The "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel" would have contained details of Menahem's other deeds – perhaps administrative details, construction projects, or less significant military encounters – which the biblical author chose to omit. These omissions are deliberate; they allow the inspired narrative to focus exclusively on those events and character traits that demonstrate covenant faithfulness or, more often in Israel's case, covenant disobedience, and the ensuing divine consequences. Thus, this verse implicitly distinguishes between common historical record-keeping and God's sovereign interpretation of history.