2 Kings 15 26

2 Kings 15:26 kjv

And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

2 Kings 15:26 nkjv

Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

2 Kings 15:26 niv

The other events of Pekahiah's reign, and all he did, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.

2 Kings 15:26 esv

Now the rest of the deeds of Pekahiah and all that he did, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

2 Kings 15:26 nlt

The rest of the events in Pekahiah'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 26 Meaning

This verse serves as a concluding formula for the reign of King Pekahiah of Israel. It concisely states that his remaining deeds, actions, and demonstrations of strength were formally recorded in a national archive known as "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel." It signifies the conclusion of his historical account within the biblical narrative, pointing to a larger historical record.

2 Kings 15 26 Context

The verse appears in 2 Kings chapter 15, a chapter characterized by immense political instability and regicide in the northern kingdom of Israel. This period is often referred to as the "Age of Anarchy" due to frequent changes in rulers through assassination. Pekahiah himself came to power after his father Menahem, ruling for only two years before being assassinated by his own captain, Pekah. This formulaic conclusion underscores the rapid and violent end of his brief reign, directing the reader to a presumed comprehensive source for all his unmentioned "acts" and "might," while simultaneously hinting at the chronicling of such turbulent events by an overarching divine authority that guides the historical record within the biblical narrative. The instability and apostasy described throughout this period align with the Deuteronomistic assessment of Israel's departure from God's covenant.

2 Kings 15 26 Word analysis

• And the rest of the acts (וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי – və·yeṯer diḇrê):

  • וְיֶתֶר (və·yeṯer): "And the rest," "and the remainder." This highlights that the biblical account of Pekahiah's reign is a summary, not exhaustive. It acknowledges that there are other details and events from his time as king that are not included in the sacred narrative.
  • דִּבְרֵי (diḇrê): "acts," "words," "affairs," "events." Refers to all the things Pekahiah did or that happened during his rule, emphasizing his governmental, military, and administrative activities. It signifies the totality of his historical conduct as a king.

• of Pekahiah (פְּקַחְיָה – pə·qaḥ·yāh):

  • פְּקַחְיָה: His name means "Yah (the Lord) has opened (his eyes)" or "Yah has seen." Despite a name indicating divine watchfulness, he did evil in the sight of the Lord (stated in the preceding verse, 15:24), underscoring the contrast between his personal identity (divinely observed) and his moral actions (sinful).

• and all that he did (וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה – və·ḵol-’ăšer ‘āśāh):

  • וְכָל־ (və·ḵol): "and all." Adds emphasis to the completeness of the unrecorded material.
  • אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה (’ăšer ‘āśāh): "that he did," "what he performed." Reiterates the comprehensive nature of his actions. This phrase along with "rest of the acts" acts as a synecdoche, representing all aspects of his kingship.

• indeed, his might (וְגְב֣וּרָת֔וֹ – və·gəḇū·rā·ṯōw):

  • וְגְב֣וּרָת֔וֹ (və·gəḇū·rā·ṯōw): "and his might," "his strength," "his heroic deeds," "his prowess." This specific addition refers to his military achievements, defensive capabilities, or significant acts of strength and power. For ancient kings, "might" often implied success in warfare or notable constructions. It suggests accomplishments beyond daily administration.

• behold, they are written (הִנָּם כְּתוּבִים – hinnām kə·ṯū·ḇîm):

  • הִנָּם (hinnām): "behold them," "indeed they." A demonstrative particle that calls attention to the following statement, signifying an assured fact.
  • כְּתוּבִים (kə·ṯū·ḇîm): "written," "recorded." Emphasizes the permanence and accessibility of the historical account. This speaks to the established practice of official state record-keeping in ancient Near Eastern kingdoms.

• in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel (עַל־סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לְמַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל – ‘al-sē·p̄er diḇrê hay·yā·mîm lə·mal·ḵê yiś·rā·’êl):

  • עַל־סֵפֶר (‘al-sē·p̄er): "upon the book," "in the book." Denotes the specific archival document.
  • דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים (diḇrê hay·yā·mîm): "the acts of the days," "the words of the days," or simply "the chronicles" or "annals." This refers to official royal annals, state records, or court chronicles where important events of each reign were recorded sequentially. It was a common practice in the ancient Near East. These were official government documents, not necessarily inspired Scripture.
  • לְמַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (lə·mal·ḵê yiś·rā·’êl): "of the kings of Israel." Specifies the subject of the chronicles, clearly distinguishing them from the "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah." This distinction underlines the separate historical trajectories and theologically divergent paths of the northern and southern kingdoms following the division.

• Word-Group Analysis:

  • "And the rest of the acts... and all that he did, indeed, his might": This triple phrasing demonstrates thoroughness. It assures the reader that everything pertinent to Pekahiah's kingship – the routine, the significant, and the powerful – was captured in external historical records, making the biblical account selective yet trustworthy.
  • "behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles": This highlights the verifiable nature of history. It tells the biblical reader that the events presented are not isolated narratives but are corroborated by publicly available and reliable administrative archives. The Chronicler (the author of Kings, typically understood as a part of the Deuteronomistic Historian) points to these as their source material.

2 Kings 15 26 Bonus section

The recurrent use of this formulaic expression (mentioning "the Book of the Chronicles") throughout Kings demonstrates the Deuteronomistic Historian's reliance on and careful use of external source materials. This method lends historical weight and credibility to the biblical account, even when the detailed records themselves are no longer extant. It implies that the biblical text is not a fictional narrative but a theological interpretation of genuinely recorded historical events. The "chronicles" mentioned are not the canonical Old Testament book of 1 & 2 Chronicles, which also summarizes history, but rather governmental annals of the respective kingdoms. This distinction is crucial for understanding the historical methodology employed by the author of Kings. The emphasis on "written" records highlights the value of literacy and historical preservation in the ancient world, echoing the broader biblical theme that God's plan unfolds in recorded, tangible history.

2 Kings 15 26 Commentary

2 Kings 15:26 is a standard literary formula that marks the conclusion of a king's reign in the books of Kings. While succinct, its significance lies in several aspects. Firstly, it indicates the author's selective approach to presenting the reigns of the Israelite kings, assuring the audience that a more exhaustive record exists. This acknowledges the vastness of historical data and the biblical author's purposeful curation of narratives for theological ends. The phrase "his might" suggests that even positive achievements, military or otherwise, of kings like Pekahiah, though often evaluated negatively in the surrounding context, were still preserved in the official state records. This reflects the reality that while their spiritual standing might be condemned, their secular administrative or military activities were nonetheless recorded for historical purposes. The "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel" serves as an appeal to historical veracity, grounding the biblical narrative in external, contemporaneous records, much like a modern historian cites their sources. It also serves as an implicit polemic: despite the chaos and unfaithfulness of these kings, their existence and a summary of their acts are presented in a divinely guided narrative that ultimately judges their fidelity to the covenant. This recurrent formula reinforces the divine oversight of human history, even in periods of great sin and decline.