2 Kings 15:16–31

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

ISRAEL’S KING PEKAHIAH

²³In the fiftieth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. ²⁴He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^f

²⁵Then his officer, Pekah^g son of Remaliah, conspired against him^h and struck him down in Samaria at the citadel of the king’s palaceⁱ—with Argob and Arieh.^A There were fifty Gileadite men with Pekah. He killed Pekahiah and became king in his place.

²⁶As for the rest of the events of Pekahiah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

ISRAEL’S KING PEKAH

²⁷In the fifty-second year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. ²⁸He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

²⁹In the days of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser^j of Assyria came and captured Ijon,^k Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee—all the land of Naphtali^l—and deported the people to Assyria.^m

³⁰Then Hosheaⁿ son of Elah organized a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked him, killed him,^o and became king in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.

³¹As for the rest of the events of Pekah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.