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Commentary on 2 Kings 15 verses 8–31
The best days of the kingdom of Israel were while the government was in Jehu's family. In his reign, and the next three reigns, though there were many abominable corruptions and miserable grievances in Israel, yet the crown went in succession, the kings died in their beds, and some care was taken of public affairs; but, now that those days are at an end, the history which we have in these verses of about thirty-three years represents the affairs of that kingdom in the utmost confusion imaginable. Woe to those that were with child (Kg2 15:16) and to those that gave suck in those days, for then must needs be great tribulations, when, for the transgression of the land, many were the princes thereof.
I. Let us observe something, in general, concerning these unhappy revolutions and the calamities which must needs attend them - these bad times, as they may truly be called. 1. God had tried the people of Israel both with judgments and mercies, explained and enforced by his servants the prophets, and yet they continued impenitent and unreformed, and therefore God justly brought these miseries upon them, as Moses had warned them. If you will yet walk contrary to me, I will punish you yet seven times more, Lev 26:21, etc. 2. God made good his promise to Jehu, that his sons to the fourth generation after him should sit upon the throne of Israel, which was a greater favour than was shown to any of the royal families either before or after his. God had said it should be so (Kg2 10:30) and we are told in this chapter (Kg2 15:12) that so it came to pass. See how punctual God is to his promises. These calamities God long designed for Israel, and they deserved them, yet they were not inflicted till that word had taken effect to the full. Thus God rewarded Jehu for his zeal in destroying the worship of Baal and the house of Ahab; and yet, when the measure of the sins of the house of Jehu was full, God avenged upon it the blood then shed, called the blood of Jezreel, Hos 1:4. 3. All these kings did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, for they walked in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Though at variance with one another, yet in this they agreed, to keep up idolatry, and the people loved to have it so; though they were emptied from vessel to vessel, that taste remained in them, and that scent was not changed. It was sad indeed when their government was so often altered, yet never for the better - that among all those contending interests none of them should think it as much their interest to destroy the calves as others had done to support them. 4. Each of these (except one) conspired against his predecessor, and slew him - Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, and Hoshea, all traitors and murderers, and yet all kings awhile, one of them ten, another twenty, and another nine years; for God may suffer wickedness to prosper and to carry away the wealth and honours awhile, but, sooner or later, blood shall have blood, and he that dealt treacherously shalt be dealt treacherously with. One wicked man is often made a scourge to another, and every wicked man, at length, a ruin to himself. 5. The ambition of the great men made the nation miserable. Here is Tiphsah, a city of Israel, barbarously destroyed, with all the coasts thereof, by one of these pretenders (Kg2 15:16), and no doubt it was through blood that each of them waded to the throne, nor could any of these kings perish alone. No land can have greater pests, nor Israel worse troubles, than such men as care not how much the welfare and repose of their country are sacrificed to their revenge and affectation of dominion. 6. While the nation was thus shattered by divisions at home the kings of Assyria, first one (Kg2 15:19) and then another (Kg2 15:29), came against it and did what they pleased. Nothing does more towards the making of a nation an easy prey to a common enemy than intestine broils and contests for the sovereignty. Happy the land where that is settled. 7. This was the condition of Israel just before they were quite ruined and carried away captive, for that was in the ninth year of Hoshea, the last of these usurpers. If they had, in these days of confusion and perplexity, humbled themselves before God and sought his face, that final destruction might have been prevented; but when God judgeth he will overcome. These factions, the fruit of an evil spirit sent among them, hastened that captivity, for a kingdom thus divided against itself will soon come to desolation.
II. Let us take a short view of the particular reigns.
1.Zachariah, the son of Jeroboam, began to reign in the thirty-eighth year of Azariah, or Uzziah, king of Judah, Kg2 15:8. Some of the most critical chronologers reckon that between Jeroboam and his son Zachariah the throne was vacant twenty-two years, others eleven years, through the disturbances and dissensions that were in the kingdom; and then it was not strange that Zachariah was deposed before he was well seated on the throne: he reigned but six months, and then Shallum slew him before the people, perhaps as Caesar was slain in the senate, or he put him to death publicly as a criminal, with the approbation of the people, to whom he had, some way or other, made himself odious; so ended the line of Jehu.
2.But had Shallum peace, who slew his master? No, he had not (Kg2 15:13), one month of days measured his reign and then he was cut off; perhaps to this the prophet, who then lived, refers (Hos 5:7), Now shall a month devour them with their portions. That dominion seldom lasts long which is founded in blood and falsehood. Menahem, either provoked by his crime or animated by his example, soon served him as he had served his master - slew him and reigned in his stead, Kg2 15:14. Probably he was general in the army, which then lay encamped at Tirzah, and, hearing of Shallum's treason and usurpation, hastened to punish it, as Omri did that of Zimri in a like case, Kg1 16:17.
3.Menahem held the kingdom ten years, Kg2 15:17. But, whereas we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel were merciful kings (Kg1 20:31), this Menahem (the scandal of his country) was so prodigiously cruel to those of his own nation who hesitated a little at submitting to him that he not only ruined a city, and the coasts thereof, but, forgetting that he himself was born of a woman, ripped up all the women with child, Kg2 15:16. We may well wonder that ever it should enter into the heart of any man to be so barbarous, and to be so perfectly lost to humanity itself. By these cruel methods he hoped to strengthen himself and to frighten all others into his interests; but it seems he did not gain his point, for when the king of Assyria came against him, (1.) So little confidence had he in his people that he durst not meet him as an enemy, but was obliged, at a vast expense, to purchase a peace with him. (2.) Such need had he of help to confirm the kingdom in his hand that he made it part of his bargain with him (a bargain which, no doubt, the king of Assyria knew how to make a good hand of another time) that he should assist him against his own subjects that were disaffected to him. The money wherewith he purchased his friendship was a vast sum, no less than 1000 talents of silver (Kg2 15:19), which Menahem exacted, it is probable, by military execution, of all the mighty men of wealth, very considerately sparing the poor, and laying the burden (as was fit) on those that were best able to bear it; being raised, it was given to the king of Assyria, as pay for his army, fifty shekels of silver for each man in it. Thus he got clear of the king of Assyria for this time; he staid not to quarter in the land (Kg2 15:20), but his army now got so rich a booty with so little trouble that it encouraged them to come again, not long after, when they laid all waste. Thus was he the betrayer of his country that should have been the protector of it.
4.Pekahiah, the son of Menahem, succeeded his father, but reigned only two years, and then was treacherously slain by Pekah, falling under the load both of his own and of his father's wickedness. It is repeated concerning him as before that he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam. Still this is mentioned, to show that God was righteous in bringing that destruction upon them which came not long after, because they hated to be reformed, Kg2 15:24. Pekah, it seems, had some persons of figure in his interest, two of whom are here named (Kg2 15:25), and with their help he compassed his design.
5.Pekah, though he got the kingdom by treason, kept it twenty years (Kg2 15:27), so long it was before his violent dealing returned upon his own head, but it returned at last. This Pekah, son of Remaliah, (1.) Made himself more considerable abroad than any of these usurpers, for he was, even in the latter end of his time (in the reign of Ahaz, which began in his seventeenth year), a great terror to the kingdom of Judah, as we find, Isa 7:1, etc. (2.) He lost a great part of his kingdom to the king of Assyria. Several cities are here named (Kg2 15:29) which were taken from him, all the land of Gilead on the other side Jordan, and Galilee in the north containing the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulon, were seized, and the inhabitants carried captive into Assyria. By this judgment God punished him for his attempt upon Judah and Jerusalem. It was then foretold that within two or three years after he made that attempt, before a child, then born, should be able to cry My father and my mother, the riches of Samaria should be taken away before the king of Assyria (Isa 8:4), and here we have the accomplishment of that prediction. (3.) Soon after this he forfeited his life to the resentments of his countrymen, who, it is probable, were disgusted at him for leaving them exposed to a foreign enemy, while he was invading Judah, of which Hoshea took advantage and, to gain his crown, seized his life, slew him, and reigned in his stead. Surely he was fond of a crown indeed who, at this time, would run such a hazard as a traitor did; for the crown of Israel, now that it had lost the choicest of its flowers and jewels, was lined more than ever with thorns, had of late been fatal to all the heads that had worn it, was forfeited to divine justice, and now ready to be laid in the dust - a crown which a wise man would not have taken up in the street, yet Hoshea not only ventured upon it but ventured for it, and it cost him dear.
In the twentieth year of Joatham: That is, in the twentieth year, from the beginning of Joatham's reign. The sacred writer chooses rather to follow here this date than to speak of the years of Achaz, who had not yet been mentioned.
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SUMMARY
Second Kings 15:30 records a climactic and violent event in the tumultuous history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, detailing the successful conspiracy of Hoshea, son of Elah, against King Pekah, son of Remaliah. This regicide culminated in Pekah's assassination and Hoshea's subsequent usurpation of the throne, marking the final violent transfer of power before Israel's ultimate demise. The precise chronological synchronism, "in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah," underscores the era's pervasive instability and the stark contrast between the chaotic succession in Israel and the more stable (though not perfect) Davidic line in Judah, highlighting God's sovereign hand even amidst human rebellion and political chaos.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs Synchronism, a common and vital literary device in the books of Kings, by precisely dating the event in Israel ("twentieth year of Jotham") relative to the reign of a Judahite king. This serves to interweave the histories of the two kingdoms, providing a robust chronological framework and emphasizing their interconnected destinies despite their political separation. Furthermore, the verse, within the broader narrative context, exemplifies Irony, as Pekah himself had seized power through regicide (2 Kings 15:25), only to fall victim to the very same violent means. This cyclical nature of violence and usurpation also suggests a form of Foreshadowing, as Hoshea's reign, initiated by bloodshed and continuing Israel's pattern of rebellion, would ultimately lead to the final destruction and exile of the Northern Kingdom, fulfilling the prophetic warnings against Israel's persistent unfaithfulness.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The violent transition of power in 2 Kings 15:30, like many before it in the Northern Kingdom, serves as a stark testament to the devastating consequences of a nation's persistent rejection of divine covenant and moral order. While the text does not explicitly state God's direct command for Hoshea's conspiracy, the relentless cycle of regicide, internal instability, and external pressures is consistently presented throughout the books of Kings as the outworking of God's righteous judgment against Israel's pervasive idolatry and unfaithfulness. This chaotic political landscape underscores the profound theological truth that true stability, lasting peace, and divine blessing come only from humble adherence to God's righteous ways, contrasting sharply with the self-destructive path chosen by the Northern Kingdom. The inherent instability of human kingship, particularly when divorced from divine authority and moral integrity, ultimately leads to ruin and national collapse.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Hoshea's conspiracy and Pekah's assassination in 2 Kings 15:30 offers profound and timeless lessons for all generations, extending beyond ancient political dynamics to contemporary life. It powerfully illustrates the destructive nature of unchecked ambition, the inherent instability of power seized through illegitimate means, and the inevitable consequences when a society or its leadership abandons divine principles and moral integrity. When the foundation of a nation is not righteousness, it often descends into a chaotic cycle of violence, treachery, and self-destruction. This passage reminds us that true peace, justice, and lasting prosperity are not built on human cunning, brute force, or political expediency, but on humility, integrity, and a commitment to God's established order. For believers, it serves as a solemn call to pray for and uphold righteous leadership, understanding that the character of those in authority profoundly impacts the well-being of a nation. More deeply, it encourages us to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness above all else, recognizing that only His perfect and eternal rule brings ultimate stability, true justice, and enduring hope in a world often marked by chaos.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the significance of the "twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah" in this verse?
Answer: This chronological detail is a crucial synchronism, a common and important feature in the books of Kings. It serves to precisely date the event of Pekah's assassination and Hoshea's ascension in the Northern Kingdom of Israel by correlating it with the reign of a king in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Jotham was a righteous king of Judah (as noted in 2 Kings 15:34), and this synchronism helps biblical chronologists align the parallel histories of both kingdoms, providing a clearer understanding of the broader historical context of the ancient Near East and the unfolding of God's sovereign plan for His people.
How does Hoshea's conspiracy fit into the broader narrative of the Northern Kingdom's decline?
Answer: Hoshea's conspiracy marks the final act of regicide in the Northern Kingdom of Israel before its ultimate destruction and exile. This event is a culmination of a long period of political instability, moral decay, and spiritual apostasy that had plagued Israel since its division from Judah. The frequent coups and assassinations, like that of Pekah, were symptoms of a kingdom that had consistently rejected God's covenant and embraced idolatry. Hoshea's reign, though beginning with violence, would ironically be the last, ending with the Assyrian conquest of Samaria and the deportation of the Israelite population, as prophesied and recorded in 2 Kings 17:6. This final act of internal violence underscores the complete breakdown of order that preceded the kingdom's external demise.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The relentless cycle of violence, instability, and illegitimate kingship evident in 2 Kings 15:30 and throughout the tragic history of the Northern Kingdom profoundly underscores humanity's desperate need for a true, righteous, and eternal King. The earthly kings of Israel, even those who began with good intentions, ultimately failed to bring lasting peace, justice, or stability, often succumbing to the very corruption and violence they sought to overthrow. This chaotic backdrop points forward with profound theological urgency to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is the only legitimate King, not by human conspiracy or violent overthrow, but by divine appointment and eternal decree. Unlike Hoshea, who seized power through bloodshed, Jesus established His kingdom through self-sacrifice on the cross, becoming the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His reign is characterized by perfect peace, unwavering righteousness, and an unbreakable covenant, fulfilling the prophecies of an everlasting Davidic King (e.g., Isaiah 9:6-7). The instability and ultimate collapse of human kingdoms, as seen in Pekah's demise and Israel's exile, serve as a powerful contrast to the unshakable and eternal kingdom of Christ, into which all believers are invited to enter (e.g., Colossians 1:13). He is the King who truly reigns in righteousness, bringing ultimate stability, salvation, and eternal hope, a stark and glorious contrast to the fleeting and bloody reigns of earthly monarchs.