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

1
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah became king of Judah. ​
2
He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem.
3
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. ​
4
Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there. ​
5
And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land. ​
6
As for the rest of the acts of Azariah, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
7
And Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in the City of David. And his son Jotham reigned in his place.

Zachariah of Israel Assassinated

8
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria six months. ​
9
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
10
Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, struck him down and killed him in front of the people, and reigned in his place. ​
11
As for the rest of the acts of Zechariah, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
12
So the word of the LORD spoken to Jehu was fulfilled: “Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.” ​

Shallum's Brief Reign

13
In the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah’s reign over Judah, Shallum son of Jabesh became king, and he reigned in Samaria one full month. ​
14
Then Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria, struck down and killed Shallum son of Jabesh, and reigned in his place.
15
As for the rest of the acts of Shallum, along with the conspiracy he led, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
16
At that time Menahem, starting from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in its vicinity, because they would not open their gates. So he attacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women. ​

Menahem Pays Tribute to Assyria

17
In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years. ​
18
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and throughout his reign he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
19
Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver in order to gain his support and strengthen his own grip on the kingdom. ​
20
Menahem exacted this money from each of the wealthy men of Israel—fifty shekels of silver from each man—to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not remain in the land. ​
21
As for the rest of the acts of Menahem, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
22
And Menahem rested with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah reigned in his place.

Pekahiah Rules Israel

23
In the fiftieth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel and reigned in Samaria two years. ​
24
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
25
Then his officer, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him along with Argob, Arieh, and fifty men of Gilead. And at the citadel of the king’s palace in Samaria, Pekah struck down and killed Pekahiah and reigned in his place. ​
26
As for the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, along with all his accomplishments, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Pekah's Reign and Assyrian Invasion

27
In the fifty-second year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty years. ​
28
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
29
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria. ​
30
Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. In the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah, Hoshea attacked Pekah, killed him, and reigned in his place. ​
31
As for the rest of the acts of Pekah, along with all his accomplishments, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Jotham Reigns in Judah

32
In the second year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah over Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah. ​
33
He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.
34
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. ​
35
Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD. ​
36
As for the rest of the acts of Jotham, along with his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
37
(In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.) ​
38
And Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David his father. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place.

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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