15:1Uzziah was also known as Azariah. His story is given in greater detail in 2 Chronicles 26. He is mentioned in Isaiah 1:1 and 6:1. Before the beginning of Uzziah’s reign, Israel broke down 600 feet of Jerusalem's walls after defeating Judah and carrying off their king, Amaziah (14:13; 2 Chronicles 25:23, 24). But during Uzziah’s 52-year reign, Judah rebuilt the wall, refortified the city with anti-siege weapons, and gained independence from Israel. Uzziah’s devotion to God helped Judah enjoy peace and prosperity such as it had not experienced since the days of Solomon.
Life Application Study Bible2 KingsChapter 15
2 Kings 15
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 592, 593, 594
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152 Kings 15
Uzziah Rules in Judah
1Uzziah* son of Amaziah began to rule over Judah in the twenty-seventh year of the 346, 44:01; reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel. 2He was sixteen years old when he became king, 15:13,17 I and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem. 3He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done. *But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. 5The LORD struck the king with leprosy,* which lasted until the day he died. He 15:5 lived in isolation in a separate house. The king's son Jotham was put in charge of the royal Lev 13:46 palace, and he governed the people of the land. 6The rest of the events in Uzziah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. 7When Uzziah died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. And his son Jotham became the next king.
Zechariah Rules in Israel
88Zechariah son of Jeroboam II began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Uz- 3'kqs 14:29 ziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria six months. 9Zechariah did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, as his ancestors had done. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. 10Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechari- Aros 7-9 ah, assassinated him in public,* and became the next king. 11The rest of the events in Zechariah’s reign are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. 12So the LORD’s message to Jehu came true: “ Your descendants will be kings 2 Kos 10:30 of Israel down to the fourth generation.”
Shalium Rules in Israel
1313Shallum son of Jabesh began to rule over Israel in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. Shallum reigned in Samaria only one month. Then Menahem son of Gadi went to Samaria from Tirzah and assassinated him, and he became the next king. 15The rest of the events in Shallum’s reign, including his conspiracy, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
Menahem Rules in Israel
1616At that time Menahem destroyed the town of Tappuah* and all the surrounding countryside as far as Tirzah, because its citizens refused to surrender the town. He killed the entire population and ripped open the pregnant women. 14:28 Or fo Yaudi. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. 14:29 As in some Greek manuscripts; Hebrew omits in Samaria. 15:1 Hebrew Azariah, a variant spelling of Uzziah; also in 15:6, 7, 8, 17, 23, 27. 15:5 Or with a contagious skin disease. The Hebrew word used here and throughout this passage can describe various skin diseases. 15:10 Or at ibieam. 15:16 As in some Greek manuscripts; other Greek manuscripts read at ibleam. Hebrew reads Tiphsah. Uzziah. A father and son would rule together for any of the following reasons: (1) The father was very old and needed help; (2) the father wanted to train his son in leading the nation; (3) the father was sick or exiled. Many co-regents ruled during the period of the kings—Asa/Jehoshaphat; Jehoshaphat/Jehoram,; Azariah/Jotham, Jehoash/Jeroboam II; Hezekiah/Manasseh. 17Menahem son of Gadi began to rule over Israel in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria ten years. ‘8But Menahem did what was evil in the LORD’s sight. During his entire reign, he refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. 18Then King Tiglath-pileser* of Assyria invaded the land. But Menahem paid him thirty-seven tons* of silver to gain his support in tightening his grip on royal power. 20Menahem extorted the money from the rich of Israel, demanding that each of them pay fifty pieces* of silver to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned from attacking Israel and did not stay in the land. 21The rest of the events in Menahem’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. 22When Menahem died, his son Pekahiah became the next king.
Pekahiah Rules in Israel
2323Pekahiah son of Menahem began to rule over Israel in the fiftieth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria two years. 24But Pekahiah did what was evil in the LORD’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. 25Then Pekah son of Remaliah, the commander of Pekahiah’s army, conspired against him. With fifty men from Gilead, Pekah assassinated the king, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the palace at Samaria. And Pekah reigned in his place. 26The rest of the events in Pekahiah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
Pekah Rules in Israel
2727Pekah son of Remaliah began to rule over Israel in the fifty-second year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty years. 28But Pekah did what was evil in the LORD’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. 29During Pekah’s reign, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria attacked Israel again, and he captured the towns of Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor. He also conquered the regions of Gilead, Galilee, and all of Naphtali, and he took the people to Assyria as captives. 30Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah and assassinated him. He began to rule over Israel in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah. 31The rest of the events in Pekah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
Jotham Rules in Judah
3232Jotham son of Uzziah began to rule over Judah in the second year of King Pekah’s reign in Israel. 33He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. 34Jotham did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done. 35But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. He rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the LORD.
Ahaz Rules in Judah
Ahaz son of Jotham began to rule over Judah in the seventeenth year of King Pekah’s 16:1-20
Textual footnotes
- to sin by worshiping idols. Sin in our fives is serious. But it is
- even more serious to encourage others to disobey God. We are
- responsible for the way we influence others. Beware of double
- sins: ones that not only hurt us but also hurt others by encourag-
- ing them to sin.
- impending death and the subsequent end of Jeroboam’s dynasty
- (Amos 7:9).
- commander in chief of Jeroboam’s army (see 14:23-29 for an
- account of Jeroboam I!’s reign). After Jeroboam’s son was assas-
- sinated (15:8-10), Menahem probably saw himself, and not Shal-
- ium, as the rightful successor to Israel's throne.
- 15:8 Zechariah was an evil king because he encouraged Israel
- 15:10 Zechariah was warned by the prophet Amos of his
- 15:14 Ancient historical documents say that Menahem was the
- 15:19a Hebrew Pu/, another name for Tiglath-pileser.
- 15:19b Hebrew 1,000 talents [34 metric tons].
- 15:20 Hebrew 50 shekels [20 ounces, or 570 grams).
Life Application Notes 8 notes
15:4Although Uzziah accomplished a great deal, he failed to destroy the pagan shrines in Judah just as his father, Amaziah, and grandfather Joash had failed to do. Uzziah imitated the kings he had heard stories about and had watched while growing up. Although Uzziah’s father and grandfather were basically good kings, they were poor models in some important areas. To rise above the influence of poor models, we must seek better ones. Christ provides a perfect model. No matter how you were raised or who has influenced your life. you can move beyond those limitations by taking Christ as your example and consciously trying to tive as he did.
15:5For 10 years Jotham was the co-ruler with his father,
15:18Menahem, like the kings before him, led his people into sin: He “did what was evil in the LORD’s sight.” What a horrible epitaph for a leader! Leaders profoundly affect the people they Serve. They can either encourage or discourage devotion to God both by their example and by the structure they give their organi- Zation. Good leaders put up no obstacles to faith in God or to right living.
15:19,20When King Tiglath-pileser took the throne of Assyria, the Assyrian Empire was becoming a world power, and the Nations of Aram, Israel, and Judah were in decline. This is the first mention of Assyria in 2 Kings. Tiglath-pileser’s invasion occurred in 743 B.C. Assyria made Israel a vassal state, and Menahem was forced to pay tribute to Assyria. This was the first of three Assyrian invasions (15:29 and 17:6 tell of the other ones}.
15:30Hoshea was Israel's last king.
15:32A year after Pekah became king, Uzziah (also called Azariah) of Judah died, and Isaiah the prophet had a vision of God's holiness and Israel’s future destruction. See Isaiah 6 for more details on what Isaiah saw.
15:34,35Much good can be said of Jotham and his reign as king of Judah, but he failed in a most important area: He didn’t destroy the pagan shrines, although leaving them clearly violated the first commandment (Exodus 20:3). Like Jotham, we may live basically good lives and yet miss doing what is most important. A lifetime of doing good is not enough if we make the crucial mistake of not fallowing God with all our hearts. A true follower of God puts him first in all areas of life. All dates are B.C Solid section of the timeline indicates co-regency. For all the kings of Israel and Judah, see the chart at the end of Assyria’s vassal state, Anaz was eager to please the Assyrian king. Sadly, Ahaz allowed the king of Assyria to replace God as Judah’s leader. No one, no matter how attractive or powerful, should replace God's leadership in our lives.
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2 KINGS 16 oy4 36The rest of the events in Jotham’s reign and everything he did are recordedinTheBook 15:36 = of the History of the Kings of Judah. $7 In those days the LORD began to send King Rezin of 3990 °° '*" Aram and King Pekah of Israel to attack Judah. ®When Jotham died, he was buried with his 15:37 ancestors in the City of David. And his son Ahaz became the next king, Ras 85
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