Menahem’s Reign over Israel

15:17 In the thirty-ninth year of King Azariah’s reign over Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel. He reigned for twelve years in Samaria.22 15:18 He did evil in the sight of23 the Lord; he did not repudiate24 the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin.25

During his reign, 15:19 Pul26 king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem paid27 him28 a thousand talents29 of silver to gain his support30 and to solidify his control of the kingdom.31 15:20 Menahem got this silver by taxing all the wealthy men in Israel; he took fifty shekels of silver from each one of them and paid it to the king of Assyria.32 Then the king of Assyria left; he did not stay there in the land.

15:21 The rest of the events of Menahem’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.33 15:22 Menahem passed away34 and his son Pekahiah replaced him as king.