2 Kings 15

This chapter outlines the reigns of several kings of Israel and Judah, with a particular emphasis on their actions and the moral state of the kingdoms. Azariah (Uzziah) reigns in Judah, and various kings of Israel rise and fall, often violently. The chapter showcases the instability and decline in Israel’s monarchy, as well as Judah’s continued relationship with God, though not without its own shortcomings.

2 Kings 15:1-5 (NKJV)
1 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, became king.
2 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
3 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done,
4 except that the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
5 Then the Lord struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death; so he dwelt in an isolated house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the royal house, judging the people of the land.

Azariah (also known as Uzziah) became king of Judah at a young age and ruled for a long period of fifty-two years. He followed the righteous example of his father, but like many kings, he failed to remove the high places where people offered sacrifices to other gods. As a result of his failure to completely reform the worship in Judah, God struck him with leprosy. He was isolated, and his son Jotham effectively ruled in his place. This punishment shows the consequences of incomplete obedience, even for righteous kings.

2 Kings 15:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
7 So Azariah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.

Azariah’s reign was notable but not without its challenges. Although his reign was long, the chronicling of his deeds is brief in this account. He was buried in the City of David, honoring his royal lineage, and his son Jotham succeeded him, continuing the dynasty of Judah.

2 Kings 15:8-12 (NKJV)
8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months.
9 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
10 Then Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck and killed him in front of the people; and he reigned in his place.
11 Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
12 This was the word of the Lord which He spoke to Jehu, saying, “Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” And so it was.

Zechariah, the last king in Jehu’s dynasty, only reigned for six months before being assassinated by Shallum. Like many kings of Israel, he followed in the sinful footsteps of Jeroboam. His death marked the end of Jehu’s dynasty, fulfilling the prophecy that God had given to Jehu, allowing his descendants to rule only for four generations. This brief and violent reign illustrates the instability in Israel during this period.

2 Kings 15:13-16 (NKJV)
13 Shallum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.
14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him; and he reigned in his place.
15 Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy which he led, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
16 Then from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah, all who were there, and its territory. Because they did not surrender, therefore he attacked it. All the women there who were with child he ripped open.

Shallum’s reign was even shorter than Zechariah’s, lasting only a month before Menahem assassinated him and took the throne. Menahem, however, was ruthless in his rule. His attack on Tiphsah, a city that refused to surrender, was particularly brutal. His cruelty, especially toward pregnant women, shows the increasing violence and moral degradation in Israel during this period, as kings sought power at any cost.

2 Kings 15:17-22 (NKJV)
17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.
18 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
19 Pul king of Assyria came against the land; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to strengthen the kingdom under his control.
20 And Menahem exacted the money from Israel, from all the very wealthy, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in the land.
21 Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
22 So Menahem rested with his fathers. Then Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.

Menahem reigned for ten years, continuing in the idolatrous ways of Jeroboam. During his reign, Pul, king of Assyria, came against Israel, forcing Menahem to pay a large tribute to avoid destruction. He raised the money through heavy taxation of the wealthy, showing the oppressive nature of his rule. Though he secured his kingdom temporarily, his reign was marked by injustice and submission to foreign powers, foreshadowing Israel’s eventual downfall to Assyria.

2 Kings 15:23-26 (NKJV)
23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
24 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
25 Then Pekah the son of Remaliah, an officer of his, conspired against him and killed him in Samaria, in the citadel of the king’s house, along with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of Gilead. He killed him and reigned in his place.
26 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.

Pekahiah, Menahem’s son, followed in his father’s sinful ways and ruled for only two years before being assassinated by Pekah, one of his military officers. The political unrest and constant assassinations reflect the deep instability in Israel. Pekahiah’s short and tumultuous reign continues the downward spiral of Israel’s kings, who repeatedly fail to lead the people back to God.

2 Kings 15:27-31 (NKJV)
27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
28 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
29 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.
30 Then Hoshea the son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and struck and killed him; so he reigned in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
31 Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

Pekah reigned longer than most, but his time was marked by continued idolatry and the eventual invasion of Assyria. Under Tiglath-Pileser’s campaign, large portions of Israel’s territory were captured, and many people were taken into captivity. Pekah’s assassination by Hoshea continued the cycle of violence and instability that characterized Israel’s monarchy during this period. This foreshadows the final downfall of the kingdom, as external threats and internal corruption plagued the nation.

2 Kings 15:32-36 (NKJV)
32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign.
33 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.
34 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord; he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
35 However, the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. He built the Upper Gate of the house of the Lord.
36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

Jotham, son of Uzziah, took over the throne of Judah and reigned for sixteen years. He continued in the righteous ways of his father, Uzziah, doing what was pleasing in God's sight. However, like his predecessors, he did not remove the high places where unauthorized worship took place. Despite this shortcoming, Jotham strengthened the infrastructure of the kingdom by building the Upper Gate of the temple. His reign is generally portrayed as faithful, though imperfect, and his acts are further detailed in the Chronicles.

2 Kings 15:37-38 (NKJV)
37 In those days the Lord began to send Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.
38 So Jotham rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

Toward the end of Jotham's reign, God allowed external pressures to come upon Judah. Rezin, the king of Syria, and Pekah of Israel both posed threats to the kingdom. Despite these troubles, Jotham was honored with a burial in the City of David, reflecting his royal lineage. His son Ahaz succeeded him, setting the stage for the next phase of Judah's history. This passage signals the growing external threats that would later challenge the nation of Judah further.