2 Kings Chapter 15 — The Succession of Kings
This chapter recounts the long reign of Azariah in Judah and a series of short, unstable reigns in Israel marked by assassinations and Assyrian interference.
1In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign.
2He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
3He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
4However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.
5The LORD struck the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. Jotham, the king’s son, was over the household, judging the people of the land.
6Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
7Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in David’s city; and Jotham his son reigned in his place.
8In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months.
9He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, as his fathers had done. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
10Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people and killed him, and reigned in his place.
11Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
12This was the LORD’s word which he spoke to Jehu, saying, “Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” So it came to pass.
13Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned for a month in Samaria.
14Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, killed him, and reigned in his place.
15Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
16Then Menahem attacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its border areas, from Tirzah. He attacked it because they didn’t open their gates to him, and he ripped up all their women who were with child.
17In the thirty ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel for ten years in Samaria.
18He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
19Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents*A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds, so 1000 talents is about 30 metric tons of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
20Menahem exacted the money from Israel, even from all the mighty men of wealth, from each man fifty shekels†A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces, so 50 shekels was about 0.5 kilograms or 1.1 pounds. of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and didn’t stay there in the land.
21Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
22Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.
23In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria for two years.
24He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
25Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him and attacked him in Samaria, in the fortress of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of the Gileadites. He killed him, and reigned in his place.
26Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
27In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria for twenty years.
28He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.
30Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, attacked him, killed him, and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
31Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
32In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign.
33He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.
34He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes. He did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
35However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built the upper gate of the LORD’s house.
36Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
37In those days, the LORD began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.
38Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David’s city; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
2 Kings 15:5
“The LORD struck the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. Jotham, the king’s son, was over the household, judging the people of the land.”
This verse explains the transition of power in Judah during Azariah's long reign due to his physical affliction.
2 Kings 15:12
“This was the LORD’s word which he spoke to Jehu, saying, “Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” So it came to pass.”
It confirms the fulfillment of God's specific promise regarding the duration of Jehu's dynasty.
2 Kings 15:19
“Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.”
This marks a pivotal moment where Israel becomes a tributary to the rising Assyrian Empire.
Chapter Summary
2 Kings 15 chronicles a period of transition and instability for both Judah and Israel. Azariah (also known as Uzziah) begins a long fifty-two-year reign in Judah, doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord, though he is later struck with leprosy and his son Jotham acts as regent. Meanwhile, the northern kingdom of Israel faces extreme political turmoil. The dynasty of Jehu ends with the assassination of Zechariah by Shallum. Shallum is quickly overthrown by Menahem, whose reign is noted for its brutality and the payment of heavy tribute to the Assyrian king Pul to maintain power. This is followed by the brief reign of Pekahiah, who is killed by Pekah. During Pekah's reign, the Assyrians under Tiglath-Pileser begin capturing Israelite territory and deporting inhabitants. The chapter concludes with the reign of Jotham in Judah, who maintains his father's religious policies while facing new threats from Syria and Israel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Azariah, also referred to as Uzziah, was the king of Judah who reigned for fifty-two years. While he generally followed the Lord, he was struck with leprosy and lived in isolation, leaving the administration of the kingdom to his son Jotham.
The dynasty ended with the death of Zechariah, who was assassinated by Shallum. This fulfilled a prophecy from the Lord that Jehu's descendants would rule Israel only until the fourth generation.
The chapter mentions Pul, who is historically identified as Tiglath-Pileser III. He forced King Menahem of Israel to pay a massive tribute of silver and later captured significant portions of northern Israelite territory.
During Pekah's reign, the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser invaded and captured several regions including Gilead, Galilee, and Naphtali, carrying the inhabitants away as captives to Assyria.
Study Note
The frequent mentions of Assyrian kings and specific geographical conquests align with archaeological records of the Neo-Assyrian Empire's expansion into the Levant.
Related Chapters
2 Chronicles 26
This parallel passage provides more details on Azariah's military success and the reason he was struck with leprosy.
2 Kings 10
Records the original promise to Jehu that his line would last four generations.
Isaiah 6
The prophet Isaiah's vision occurs in the year that King Uzziah (Azariah) died.
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