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.

Azariah (Uzziah) Reigns in Judah

1
It was in the twenty-seventh year of Yarov'am king of Isra'el that 'Azaryah the son of Amatzyah, king of Y'hudah, began his reign. ​
2
He was sixteen years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for fifty-two years in Yerushalayim. His mother's name was Y'kholyahu, from Yerushalayim.
3
He did what was right from ADONAI's perspective, following the example of everything his father Amatzyah had done. ​
4
However, the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and offered on the high places. ​
5
ADONAI struck the king, so that he had tzara'at until his dying day, so that he lived in a separate house, while Yotam the king's son ran the king's household and was regent over the people of the land. ​
6
Other activities of 'Azaryah and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah.
7
So 'Azaryah slept with his ancestors the kings of Isra'el, and they buried him with his ancestors in the City of David. Then Yotam his son took his place as king.

Zachariah of Israel Assassinated

8
It was in the thirty-eighth year of 'Azaryah king of Y'hudah that Z'kharyah the son of Yarov'am began his reign over Isra'el in Shomron; he ruled for six months. ​
9
He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, just as his ancestors had done; he did not turn from all the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, who made Isra'el sin.
10
Shalum the son of Yavesh formed a conspiracy against him. He struck him in the presence of the people and killed him; then he took his place as king. ​
11
Other activities of Z'kharyah are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.
12
The word of ADONAI which he had spoken to Yehu was, "Your descendants down to the fourth generation will sit on the throne of Isra'el"; and that is exactly what happened. ​

Shallum's Brief Reign

13
Shalum the son of Yavesh began his reign in the thirty-ninth year of 'Uziyah king of Y'hudah; he ruled in Shomron for only a month. ​
14
Menachem the son of Gadi went up from Tirtzah, came to Shomron, struck Shalum the son of Yavesh in Shomron and killed him. Then he took his place as king.
15
Other activities of Shalum and the conspiracy he formed are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el
16
From Tirtzah Menachem attacked Tifsach, all the people in it and its territory, because they had not opened their gates to him. So he sacked the city and ripped apart all its pregnant women. ​

Menahem Pays Tribute to Assyria

17
It was in the thirty-ninth year of 'Azaryah king of Y'hudah that Menachem the son of Gadi began his reign over Isra'el; he ruled ten years in Shomron. ​
18
He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective; throughout his life he did not turn from the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, who made Isra'el sin.
19
Pul the king of Ashur invaded the land. Menachem gave Pul thirty-three tons of silver, so that he would confirm Menachem's hold on the kingdom. ​
20
He did this by taxing the wealthy men in Isra'el; from each he required one-and-a-quarter pounds of silver to give to the king of Ashur. Then the king of Ashur turned around and left the land. ​
21
Other activities of Menachem and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.
22
Menachem slept with his ancestors, and P'kachyah his son took his place as king.

Pekahiah Rules Israel

23
It was in the fiftieth year of 'Azaryah king of Y'hudah that P'kachyah the son of Menachem began his reign over Isra'el in Shomron; he ruled for two years. ​
24
He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective; he did not turn from the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, who made Isra'el sin.
25
Pekach the son of Remalyahu, one of his commanders, conspired against him. With Argov, Aryeh and fifty men from Gil'ad, he assassinated him in the palace stronghold in Shomron. After killing him, he took his place as king. ​
26
Other activities of P'kachyah and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.

Pekah's Reign and Assyrian Invasion

27
It was in the fifty-second year of 'Azaryah king of Y'hudah that Pekach the son of Remalyah began to reign over Isra'el in Shomron; his reign lasted twenty years. ​
28
He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective; he did not turn from the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, who made Isra'el sin.
29
During the time of Pekach king of Isra'el, Tiglat-Pil'eser king of Ashur came and conquered 'Iyon, Avel-Beit-Ma'akhah, Yanoach, Kedesh, Hatzor, Gil'ad, and the Galil - all the land of Naftali - and took them captive to Ashur. ​
30
Hoshea the son of Elah conspired against Pekach the son of Remalyah, struck him, killed him and took his place as king in the twentieth year of Yotam the son of 'Uziyah. ​
31
Other activities of Pekach and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.

Jotham Reigns in Judah

32
It was in the second year of Pekach the son of Remalyah, king of Isra'el, that Yotam the son of 'Uziyah king of Y'hudah began his reign. ​
33
He was twenty-five years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for sixteen years in Yerushalayim. His mother's name was Yerusha the daughter of Tzadok.
34
He did what was right from ADONAI's perspective, following the example of everything his father 'Uziyah had done. ​
35
However, the high places were not taken away; and the people still sacrificed and offered on the high places. He built the Upper Gate of the house of ADONAI. ​
36
Other activities of Yotam and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah.
37
It was during this period that ADONAI began sending against Y'hudah Retzin the king of Aram and Pekach the son of Remalyah. ​
38
Yotam slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David his ancestor. Then Achaz his son took his place as king.

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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