2 Kings15

Second Kings chapter 15 details the reigns of several kings in both Judah and Israel, highlighting a period of significant instability in the northern kingdom. In Judah, Azariah (also known as Uzziah) reigns for 52 years, doing right in the sight of the LORD but failing to remove the high places, and is smitten with leprosy. His son Jotham reigns after him, also doing right but maintaining the high places. Conversely, Israel experiences a rapid succession of five kings—Zachariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah—all of whom do evil and are overthrown by conspiracy, fulfilling a prophecy concerning Jehu's house and demonstrating the kingdom's moral decay and vulnerability to external powers like Assyria.

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Azariah (Uzziah) Reigns in Judah

¶ In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.

Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;

Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.

And 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?

So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

Zachariah of Israel Assassinated

¶ In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.

Shallum's Brief Reign

Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.

For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.

Menahem Pays Tribute to Assyria

In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.

And 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?

And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.

Pekahiah Rules Israel

In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.

And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

Pekah's Reign and Assyrian Invasion

In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

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.

And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

Jotham Reigns in Judah

¶ In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.

Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.

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?

In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

Study Notes for 2 Kings 15

Verse 1

Azariah is the name used in Kings, while the contemporary prophet Isaiah (Isa 1:1) and the Chronicler (2 Chron 26) refer to him as Uzziah. His reign (52 years) was one of the longest in Judah's history.

Verse 3

To do 'that which was right' means adhering generally to the covenant law and worshipping the LORD, distinguishing him from the wicked kings of Israel.

Verse 4

The failure to remove the 'high places' (local shrines) is the standard critique of even the best kings of Judah, indicating the constant struggle against decentralized, syncretistic worship.

Verse 5

Azariah was struck with leprosy (2 Chron 26:16-21 attributes this to his arrogance in trying to offer incense in the Temple). Because a leper was ceremonially unclean, his son Jotham acted as regent, governing the kingdom.

Verse 8

Zachariah’s six-month reign marks the end of the Jehu dynasty, initiating a period of extreme political instability in Israel characterized by rapid coups.

Verse 10

The phrase 'before the people' suggests this was a public assassination or coup, not a secretive murder, cementing Shallum’s claim to the throne.

Verse 12

This verse confirms the fulfillment of God’s promise to Jehu (2 Kings 10:30), whose dynasty lasted exactly four generations: Jehu, Jehoahaz, Joash, Jeroboam II, and Zachariah.

Verse 13

Shallum's reign of a single month highlights the complete chaos and lack of legitimate succession in the Northern Kingdom following the end of Jehu’s line.

Verse 16

Menahem's brutality against Tiphsah for not supporting his coup, including the horrific practice of ripping up pregnant women, shows the violence and moral decay gripping Israel.

Verse 17

Menahem’s reign is defined by the growing threat of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, which would eventually destroy Israel.

Verse 19

Pul is the shortened name used for the powerful Assyrian King Tiglath-pileser III (745–727 BC). Menahem became a vassal king, paying tribute to buy Assyrian protection and confirm his precarious rule.

Verse 20

Menahem raised the required tribute (1,000 talents of silver) by imposing a heavy tax on the wealthy citizens, further alienating the powerful elites in Israel.

Verse 23

Pekahiah was the last king of Israel to inherit the throne peacefully from his father, Menahem, before the final wave of coups and the collapse of the kingdom.

Verse 25

Pekah, one of Pekahiah's own army captains, led the coup, underscoring the military nature of the political instability. The Gileadites were likely regional loyalists supporting Pekah.

Verse 27

Pekah reigned for twenty years, though this number is debated by chronologists; the length may include a co-regency or rival claim period.

Verse 29

Tiglath-pileser III systematically annexed Israelite territory, particularly the northern and eastern regions (Galilee and Gilead). This was the first major mass deportation of Israelites, fulfilling prophetic warnings of exile.

Verse 30

Hoshea’s conspiracy followed the defeat of Pekah by Assyria. Hoshea would become the final king of Israel before the destruction of Samaria (2 Kings 17).

Verse 32

Jotham had already served as regent during his father Azariah/Uzziah's illness (v. 5), ensuring a smooth transition and continued stability in Judah.

Verse 34

Jotham maintained a strong commitment to the Mosaic covenant, following his father's generally positive spiritual example.

Verse 35

Despite his righteousness, Jotham failed, like many predecessors, to eradicate the local high places. He is noted for strengthening the Temple complex by building the 'higher gate.'

Verse 37

This verse introduces the alliance between Rezin (Syria) and Pekah (Israel) that would soon launch the Syro-Ephraimite War against Judah (c. 735 BC), a major crisis detailed in the following chapters.

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2 Kings15

Azariah (Uzziah) Reigns in Judah

Zachariah of Israel Assassinated

Shallum's Brief Reign

Menahem Pays Tribute to Assyria

Pekahiah Rules Israel

Pekah's Reign and Assyrian Invasion

Jotham Reigns in Judah

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