2 Kings 15:22

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And Menahem {H4505} slept {H7901} with his fathers {H1}; and Pekahiah {H6494} his son {H1121} reigned {H4427} in his stead.

Complete Jewish Bible

Menachem slept with his ancestors, and P'kachyah his son took his place as king.

Berean Standard Bible

And Menahem rested with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah reigned in his place.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
The verse 2 Kings 15:22 marks a brief but significant transition in the tumultuous history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, concluding the ten-year reign of Menahem and announcing the succession of his son, Pekahiah. This record of a seemingly peaceful transfer of power is a rare anomaly in a period characterized by rapid successions and frequent assassinations among Israel's kings, highlighting the transient nature of earthly authority and setting the stage for further instability and the ultimate decline of the Northern Kingdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** 2 Kings 15 is a relentless chronicle of political instability in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, starkly contrasted with the relatively more stable reigns in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The chapter opens with the long and prosperous reign of Azariah (Uzziah) in Judah, then abruptly shifts to a rapid succession of six kings in Israel: Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea. Most of these kings met violent ends, often through assassination by their successors. Verse 22 specifically closes the account of Menahem's ten-year reign, which began with extreme brutality (2 Kings 15:16) and included the significant act of paying tribute to Assyria (2 Kings 15:19-20). The immediate verses following 2 Kings 15:22 detail Pekahiah's short, two-year reign and his subsequent assassination by Pekah (2 Kings 15:23-25), underscoring the pervasive instability that this verse momentarily interrupts with a seemingly peaceful transition.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The mid-8th century BCE was a period of immense geopolitical upheaval in the Ancient Near East, dominated by the rising power of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Assyria, under kings like Tiglath-Pileser III (referred to as Pul in 2 Kings 15:19), was aggressively expanding its control, demanding tribute and subjugating smaller nations. Israel, weakened by internal strife, idolatry, and a succession of ungodly kings, was particularly vulnerable. Menahem's decision to pay tribute to Assyria, though a pragmatic move to secure his throne, marked a significant step towards Israel's eventual vassalage and ultimate destruction by Assyria. Culturally, the phrase "slept with his fathers" was a common and respectful euphemism for death, indicating a natural passing and joining one's ancestors, rather than a violent end. This was a stark contrast to the fate of many of Israel's kings during this period.

* **Key Themes:** This verse, though brief, powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in 2 Kings and the broader Deuteronomistic History. Firstly, it highlights the **transience and fragility of earthly power**, especially in the Northern Kingdom, where dynastic continuity was rare and often violently interrupted. Menahem's relatively peaceful succession is an anomaly that quickly gives way to further bloodshed, illustrating the futility of human efforts to secure power apart from God's blessing. Secondly, it underscores the **consequences of covenant disobedience**; the political chaos and vulnerability to foreign powers are consistently presented as divine judgment for Israel's persistent idolatry and rejection of God's law, a theme echoed throughout [2 Kings](/2_kings/1 "The Book of 2 Kings - Decline and Exile"). Finally, the verse subtly points to **God's ultimate sovereignty** even amidst human chaos. Despite the tumultuous reigns and violent successions, the biblical narrative maintains that God remains in control, working His purposes through the rise and fall of nations and rulers, as seen in the broader historical sweep of [the kings of Israel and Judah](/2_kings/15 "2 Kings 15 - Kings of Israel and Judah").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Slept (Hebrew, _yashan'_):** While the literal meaning is "to sleep," in this context, it functions as a widely used biblical euphemism for death. It implies a peaceful or natural passing, contrasting sharply with the violent ends of many other kings in Israel. This idiom avoids the harshness of direct pronouncements of death, reflecting a cultural sensitivity while clearly communicating the end of a reign.
* **Fathers (Hebrew, _ʾavotayv'_):** Refers to one's ancestors or predecessors. The phrase "slept with his fathers" signifies that the deceased king has joined the lineage of his forebears in death. It does not necessarily imply a specific burial place or a spiritual state, but rather marks the continuity of generations and the finality of an earthly life and reign.
* **Reigned (Hebrew, _malakh'_):** This verb signifies the act of assuming royal power and exercising kingship. Its immediate juxtaposition with "slept with his fathers" emphasizes the seamless, albeit often short-lived, transition of authority from one monarch to the next. In the context of 2 Kings 15, the frequent use of this word highlights the rapid turnover of kings in Israel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Menahem slept with his fathers;":** This clause formally marks the end of Menahem's ten-year reign over Israel. The idiom "slept with his fathers" indicates that he died a natural death, a rare occurrence for an Israelite king during this tumultuous period, particularly given his violent rise to power (2 Kings 15:16). It signifies the conclusion of his earthly authority and his passing into the realm of his ancestors.
* **"and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.":** This second clause announces the immediate succession of Menahem's son, Pekahiah, to the throne. This seemingly peaceful and legitimate transfer of power from father to son contrasts sharply with the assassinations that preceded and followed this reign within the chapter (e.g., Zechariah, Shallum, Pekahiah himself). It establishes a brief moment of dynastic continuity for the Northern Kingdom, though as the subsequent verses reveal (2 Kings 15:25), this continuity would be short-lived and end violently.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Euphemism** through the phrase "slept with his fathers," a common biblical idiom for death. This gentle phrasing serves to soften the abruptness of death, particularly for a king, while clearly signaling the end of his reign. It contrasts with the direct accounts of assassination prevalent in 2 Kings 15, highlighting Menahem's unusual "natural" passing. The structure also utilizes **Juxtaposition**, placing the death of Menahem directly alongside the succession of Pekahiah. This rapid transition underscores the continuous cycle of power shifts in the Northern Kingdom. Furthermore, the recurring formulaic language ("slept with his fathers," "reigned in his stead") throughout the books of Kings creates a sense of **Formulaic Repetition**, providing a consistent narrative rhythm and reinforcing the theme of successive reigns, often highlighting the brevity and instability of human rule.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The brief statement of Menahem's death and Pekahiah's succession, while seemingly a mere historical record, carries profound theological weight. It serves as a poignant reminder of the universal truth of human mortality and the transient nature of all earthly power and authority. Even kings, who wield immense influence, are subject to the same finite existence as all humanity. This constant cycle of rise and fall, particularly evident in the tumultuous history of Israel's kings, underscores God's ultimate sovereignty over human affairs. No human ruler, however powerful, can escape the divine decree that life is a vapor, and true stability rests not in human strength or dynastic continuity, but in faithfulness to the eternal God.

* [1 Kings 11:43](/1_kings/11-43 "Rehoboam Sleeps with His Fathers")
* [Psalm 90:10](/psalms/90-10 "The Brevity of Life")
* [Proverbs 21:30](/proverbs/21-30 "No Wisdom, No Understanding, No Counsel Can Avail Against the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The concise declaration of Menahem's death and Pekahiah's ascension in 2 Kings 15:22, though a historical note, offers timeless spiritual lessons for believers today. It starkly reminds us that all earthly power, influence, and even life itself are temporary. Kings rise and fall, empires crumble, and human endeavors, no matter how grand, are ultimately fleeting. This impermanence should compel us to re-evaluate where we place our ultimate hope and trust. Are we investing our lives in that which is temporal and perishable, or in the eternal kingdom of God? The instability of Israel's monarchy, a direct consequence of their spiritual rebellion, serves as a powerful cautionary tale: true security and lasting legacy are found not in political maneuvering or worldly achievements, but in faithful obedience to God and a life lived in alignment with His purposes. Our ultimate legacy is not what we accumulate or how long we reign, but how faithfully we walk with the Lord and how we impact others for His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the impermanence of earthly power, as illustrated in this verse, shape your perspective on ambition and success?**
* **In what ways might you be tempted to place your trust in temporary human structures or achievements rather than in God's eternal sovereignty?**
* **What kind of legacy are you building, and how does it align with the enduring truths of God's Word?**

### FAQ

**What does "slept with his fathers" mean in the Bible?**

Answer: "Slept with his fathers" is a common biblical idiom or euphemism used to denote the death of a person, particularly a king or patriarch. It implies a natural or peaceful passing, as opposed to a violent death, and signifies that the individual has joined their ancestors in death. This phrase does not convey information about the person's spiritual state in the afterlife or their specific burial location. It is a consistent literary device employed throughout the historical books, such as [1 Kings](/1_kings/1 "The Book of 1 Kings") and [2 Kings](/2_kings/1 "The Book of 2 Kings"), to mark the end of one's earthly life and reign and the transition to a successor. For example, both righteous kings like David ([1 Kings 2:10](/1_kings/2-10 "David Sleeps with His Fathers")) and unrighteous ones like Jeroboam ([1 Kings 14:20](/1_kings/14-20 "Jeroboam Sleeps with His Fathers")) are described as "sleeping with their fathers."

**Why was Menahem's succession to Pekahiah significant in the context of Israel's kings?**

Answer: Menahem's succession to Pekahiah, as recorded in 2 Kings 15:22, was significant precisely because it was a rare instance of a son succeeding his father to the throne in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during this tumultuous period. Unlike the stable Davidic dynasty in Judah, Israel's monarchy was plagued by frequent assassinations and coups. Menahem himself came to power through violence ([2 Kings 15:16](/2_kings/15-16 "Menahem's Brutality")). While his reign was marked by brutality and the controversial payment of tribute to Assyria ([2 Kings 15:19-20](/2_kings/15-19 "Menahem Pays Tribute to Assyria")), his ability to pass the throne to his son represented a momentary, albeit short-lived, period of dynastic continuity. This brief stability contrasts sharply with the rapid succession of violent deaths of other kings in [2 Kings 15](/2_kings/15 "2 Kings 15 - Kings of Israel and Judah"), including Pekahiah's own assassination just two years later ([2 Kings 15:25](/2_kings/15-25 "Pekahiah Assassinated")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Kings 15:22 details a seemingly mundane historical transition in a turbulent earthly kingdom, it subtly points to the profound and enduring reign of Jesus Christ. The constant cycle of kings rising and falling, often violently, in the Northern Kingdom of Israel starkly contrasts with the eternal and unshakable kingdom established by God through His Son. Earthly kings like Menahem "slept with their fathers," their reigns ending in death and their legacies often marred by sin and instability, illustrating the ultimate futility of human power. In stark contrast, Jesus, the true King, did not merely "sleep with His fathers" in death; He conquered death itself, rising victoriously from the grave ([Romans 6:9](/romans/6-9 "Romans 6:9 - Christ's Resurrection")). His succession is not from a fallible human father but from the eternal Father, establishing a reign that is "of His kingdom there will be no end" ([Luke 1:33](/luke/1-33 "Luke 1:33 - The Eternal Kingdom of Christ")). The fleeting nature of Pekahiah's reign, soon to be cut short by assassination, highlights the fragility of human attempts at establishing lasting dominion. Jesus, however, is the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who reigns forever, His authority unbroken and His kingdom eternal, offering true peace and stability that no earthly power can provide or take away ([Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - An Unshakable Kingdom")). He is the true and faithful King whose reign brings salvation, not just temporary political stability.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.