2 Kings 15:16–22

ISRAEL’S KING MENAHEM

¹⁶At that time, starting from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah,^ao all who were in it, and its territory because they wouldn’t surrender.^ap He ripped open all the pregnant women.^aq

¹⁷In the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria. ¹⁸He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. Throughout his reign, he did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^a

¹⁹King Pul^Cb of Assyria invaded the land, so Menahem gave Pul seventy-five thousand pounds^D of silver so that Pul would support him to strengthen his grasp on the kingdom.^{c 20}Then Menahem exacted twenty ounces^E of silver from each of the prominent men of Israel to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not stay there in the land.^d

²¹The rest of the events of Menahem’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. ²²Menahem rested with his ancestors, and his son Pekahiah became king in his place.^e