2 Kings 15 29

2 Kings 15:29 kjv

In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

2 Kings 15:29 nkjv

In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.

2 Kings 15:29 niv

In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and deported the people to Assyria.

2 Kings 15:29 esv

In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he carried the people captive to Assyria.

2 Kings 15:29 nlt

During Pekah's reign, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria attacked Israel again, and he captured the towns of Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor. He also conquered the regions of Gilead, Galilee, and all of Naphtali, and he took the people to Assyria as captives.

2 Kings 15 verses

2 Kings 15 29 Meaning

This verse describes a significant event during the reign of Pekah, king of Israel (the Northern Kingdom), wherein Tiglath-Pileser III, the formidable king of Assyria, launched a devastating invasion. The Assyrian forces captured numerous key cities and regions, including Ijon, Abel-Beth-Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and particularly "all the land of Naphtali," which encompasses Galilee. Following the conquest, Tiglath-Pileser carried out a widespread deportation of the inhabitants of these areas, forcibly exiling them to Assyria. This act represented a partial fulfillment of divine judgment against Israel for its persistent idolatry and disobedience.

2 Kings 15 29 Context

2 Kings 15:29 occurs during a period of deep instability and rapid decline for the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Pekah's reign (c. 752-732 BCE) was one of violent upheaval, marked by his assassination of a previous king and his involvement in the Syro-Ephraimite War alongside Rezin of Aram against Judah. This alliance directly provoked the rising power of Assyria under Tiglath-Pileser III. The Assyrian empire had become the dominant force in the Near East, systematically conquering and annexing territories, often employing forced deportation to neutralize resistance and break national identities. This specific invasion by Tiglath-Pileser was a punitive expedition, likely a response to Pekah's anti-Assyrian policies, and served as a severe warning and the beginning of the end for the Northern Kingdom. It directly set the stage for Israel's final demise under Shalmaneser V and Sargon II, as narrated in 2 Kings 17. From a theological perspective, these events are presented as God's just judgment on Israel for centuries of covenant unfaithfulness, idolatry, and rebellion against His laws and prophets.

2 Kings 15 29 Word analysis

• In the days of Pekah king of Israel:
  • Pekah (פֶּקַח - Pequch): An Israelite king, 18th in succession in the Northern Kingdom, who came to power through assassination. His reign was characterized by instability and his alliance against Judah.
  • King of Israel: Specifies the Northern Kingdom, continually plagued by ungodly kings and idolatry since the division from Judah, leading to its eventual downfall.
• Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria:
  • Tiglath-Pileser (תִּגְלַת פְּלֶאֶסֶר - Tiglat Pəlaesər): Tiglath-Pileser III (reigned 745–727 BCE). A powerful and ruthless Assyrian emperor known for his military reforms, systematic annexations, and policy of mass deportations, often referred to as "Pul" in 2 Ki 15:19. He was God's chosen instrument of judgment against Israel.
  • King of Assyria: Identifies Assyria as the major geopolitical power and the primary external threat and agent of God's judgment against disobedient Israel.
• came and captured (וַיִּלְכֹּד - vayyilkod):
  • Came: Indicates military advance and invasion.
  • Captured (לָכַד - lakhad): To take by force, seize, or conquer. It highlights the swift and decisive nature of the Assyrian military operation.
• Ijon, Abel-Beth-Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee:
  • This is a detailed list of significant towns and regions. These were primarily in the northernmost parts of Israel, particularly the tribal territories of Naphtali, Asher, and Dan, and the Transjordanian region of Gilead.
  • Ijon: A city in the extreme north, captured earlier by Ben-Hadad (1 Ki 15:20).
  • Abel-Beth-Maachah: A fortified city of significant strategic value, located in the northern area.
  • Janoah, Kedesh: Cities likely within or near Naphtali, with Kedesh being a significant city of refuge.
  • Hazor: A very ancient and prominent city in northern Israel, historically conquered by Joshua (Jos 11). Its fall symbolizes a deep wound to Israel.
  • Gilead (גִּלְעָד - Gilʿad): A major region east of the Jordan River, associated with the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh, underscoring the broad geographical scope of the conquest.
  • Galilee (הַגָּלִיל - HaGalil): Literally "the circuit" or "district," specifically referring to northern Israel, heavily populated by Gentiles even at this time. Its inclusion is profoundly significant, as Isaiah 9:1-2 and Matthew 4:15-16 prophetically connect this humbled region to the future ministry of the Messiah.
• all the land of Naphtali:
  • Naphtali (נַפְתָּלִי - Naftali): Refers to the tribal territory in northern Israel. This phrase emphasizes that the conquest was not merely a series of city captures but the systematic seizure of an entire region.
• and carried them captive to Assyria (וַיַּגְלֵם אַשּׁוּרָה - vayyagleim Assyurah):
  • Carried them captive (גָלָה - galah, Hiphil, "caused to go into exile, deported"): Describes the Assyrian policy of forced deportation. This practice aimed to break the identity and prevent revolts among conquered peoples. This was a severe form of judgment prophesied in the Mosaic Covenant for disobedience.
  • To Assyria (אַשּׁוּרָה - Ashurah): The destination, highlighting the foreign land of exile and the loss of the Promised Land. This initiated the dispersal of the "lost tribes" of Israel.

Words-group Analysis

• "In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria...": This powerful juxtaposition immediately sets the stage, contrasting the politically unstable, idolatrous Northern Kingdom under Pekah with the formidable, divinely instruments of Assyria and its powerful monarch. It establishes a clear cause-and-effect narrative of divine judgment through a foreign power.
• "...came and captured... and carried them captive to Assyria.": This progression outlines the full scope of Assyrian conquest and its aftermath. It reflects a systematic process of invasion, subjugation, and population control, which involved mass deportation—a signature policy of Assyria designed to crush resistance and absorb populations. This action aligns perfectly with the covenant curses pronounced upon Israel for unfaithfulness.
• "Ijon, Abel-Beth-Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali": The detailed enumeration of conquered cities and regions emphasizes the geographical extent of this devastating invasion. The specificity demonstrates a comprehensive assault on the northern and eastern frontiers of Israel. The inclusion of "Galilee" is especially notable for its prophetic significance, pointing to a future spiritual re-illumination of this very humbled region.

2 Kings 15 29 Bonus section

The policy of deportation was revolutionary for its time and highly effective for the Assyrians in maintaining control over their vast empire. It served multiple purposes: eliminating potential rebellions by removing populations from their homelands, providing slave labor, and contributing to "ethnic cleansing" in border regions to create a more docile, intermixed populace. The severity of this judgment also serves as a stark warning to all who abandon the covenant and principles of God for worldly alliances and idolatry. Although many believe these "lost tribes" completely vanished, remnants would have remained and intermingled with subsequent resettled peoples, contributing to the later mixed population of Samaritans mentioned in the New Testament. The account subtly highlights that divine warnings often come in stages, as this partial conquest and deportation in 2 Kings 15 precede the full and final collapse of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom documented in 2 Kings 17.

2 Kings 15 29 Commentary

2 Kings 15:29 documents a catastrophic turning point for the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Under King Pekah's unstable and disobedient reign, Assyrian power, embodied by Tiglath-Pileser III, exacted a severe penalty. This was not merely a border skirmish, but a deep territorial invasion resulting in the annexation of strategically vital areas in Israel's north and east, including the tribal inheritance of Naphtali and the region of Gilead. The critical outcome, and a defining characteristic of Assyrian policy, was the mass deportation of the inhabitants. This forcible relocation broke family ties, destroyed communal identity, and ensured that these populations could no longer pose a united threat.

From a biblical perspective, this event represents a direct fulfillment of the curses and warnings against disobedience articulated in the Mosaic Covenant (Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28). Israel's long history of idolatry, injustice, and disregard for God's commands had accumulated to a point where divine judgment manifested through this foreign empire. Assyria, though driven by its own imperial ambitions, functioned as "the rod of God's anger" (Isa 10:5), a tool in the hands of the sovereign Lord to chastise His people.

The specific mention of "Galilee" in connection with the deportations holds profound prophetic weight. While initially marking a region of suffering and spiritual darkness, later prophetic texts (like Isaiah 9:1-2) would speak of this very "Galilee of the Gentiles" becoming the place where a great light would dawn, anticipating the ministry of Jesus Christ. Thus, what began as a moment of deep judgment eventually pointed towards the dawn of redemptive hope. This passage underscores God's justice, His use of historical events to accomplish His purposes, and the eventual triumph of His light in previously darkened places.