2 Kings 15: Azariah and Jotham in Judah, and five kings of Israel
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What happens?
Azariah son of Amaziah reigns fifty-two years in Jerusalem and does what is right in Yahweh's eyes, though the high places stay; Yahweh strikes him, and he is a leper to the day of his death and lives in a separate house, while his son Jotham judges the people. In Israel the kings follow one another quickly: Zechariah son of Jeroboam reigns six months and is killed by Shallum, which fulfills Yahweh's word to Jehu that his sons would sit on the throne to the fourth generation. Shallum reigns a month and is killed by Menahem, who attacks Tiphsah and rips open its pregnant women, and pays Pul king of Assyria a thousand talents of silver; Menahem's son Pekahiah reigns two years and is killed by his officer Pekah. In Pekah's days Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria takes cities, Gilead, Galilee and all the land of Naphtali, and carries the people captive to Assyria, and Hoshea kills Pekah. In Judah, Jotham reigns sixteen years and builds the upper gate of Yahweh's house, and in those days Yahweh begins to send Rezin of Syria and Pekah against Judah.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the whole chapter. God's own words are in 1 of the 38 verses: in verse 12 the narrator gives the word Yahweh spoke to Jehu, "Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel". No one else speaks in this chapter. Verses 5 and 37, that Yahweh struck the king and began to send Rezin and Pekah against Judah, are the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign.
In plain English: In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah king of Judah became king.
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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.
In plain English: He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
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3He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
In plain English: He did what was right in Yahweh's eyes, in everything as his father Amaziah had done.
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4However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.
In plain English: But the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.
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5Yahweh 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.
In plain English: Yahweh struck the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and he lived in a separate house (or: a house of sickness; see the note). Jotham, the king's son, was over the household (literally: the house), judging the people of the land.
The Hebrew word: "A leper" is from tsara, which the dictionary gives as "to scourge, i.e. ... to be stricken with leprosy". This Bible says "leper", "lepers", "leprous" or "leprosy" in all 18 verses that use it. For the illness itself, see the note on tsara'at at : it is not certain that it is the illness called leprosy today. Leviticus says the one with the mark is to "dwell alone" ().
The Hebrew word: "Separate" is chophshuth, which the dictionary gives as "prostration by sickness". It is in only 2 verses of the Bible: here and the same story in . The STEPBible meaning for this verse gives "separateness".
Good to know: This verse does not say why Yahweh struck the king. to tells the same story of the king, there named Uzziah: he went into Yahweh's temple to burn incense, and "the leprosy broke out on his forehead" ().
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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?
In plain English: The rest of what Azariah did, and all his deeds, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
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7Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in David’s city; and Jotham his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: Azariah slept with his fathers (or: ancestors), and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. His son Jotham became king in his place.
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8In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months.
In plain English: In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria for six months.
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9He did that which was evil in Yahweh’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.
In plain English: He did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the sins he made Israel commit.
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10Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people and killed him, and reigned in his place.
In plain English: Shallum the son of Jabesh plotted against him. He struck him down in front of the people, killed him, and became king in his place.
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11Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
In plain English: The rest of what Zechariah did, look, it is written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
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12This was Yahweh’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.God speaks
In plain English: This was the word of Yahweh that he spoke to Jehu: "Your sons to the fourth generation will sit on the throne of Israel." And so it happened.
Good to know: Here the narrator gives the word Yahweh spoke to Jehu, so it is in gold. Yahweh's words to Jehu are in : "your descendants shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation". The text says only, "So it came to pass."
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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.
In plain English: Shallum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned one month (literally: a month of days) in Samaria.
Good to know: Here the king of Judah is called Uzziah, as in verses 30, 32 and 34. In and in verses 1, 6 to 8, 17, 23 and 27 he is called Azariah. tells the same as 14:21 with the name Uzziah. The text does not explain the two names.
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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.
In plain English: Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah and came to Samaria. He struck down Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, killed him, and became king in his place.
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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.
In plain English: The rest of what Shallum did, and the plot he made, look, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
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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.
In plain English: Then Menahem attacked Tiphsah, everyone in it and the land around it, from Tirzah. He attacked it because they did not open their gates to him (literally: because it did not open), and he ripped open all its pregnant women.
Good to know: The text says plainly what Menahem did. The same words are in , where Elisha weeps and tells Hazael that he will "rip up their pregnant women".
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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.
In plain English: In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria.
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18He did that which was evil in Yahweh’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.
In plain English: He did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes. All his days he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the sins he made Israel commit.
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19Pul 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.
In plain English: Pul king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, so that Pul would help him (literally: so that his hands would be with him) and make the kingdom firm in his hand.
Good to know: This is the first verse in 2 Kings that names Assyria. Verse 19 names Pul king of Assyria, and verse 29 Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria. The dictionary gives Pul as "the name of an Assyrian king". names both, "Pul king of Assyria, and ... Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria", and then says "he carried away" the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
What changes: Read as two kings, Pul came in Menahem's days and Tiglath-pileser later, in Pekah's days. Read as two names for one king, the same king of Assyria came both times. The text does not say which.
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20Menahem exacted the money from Israel, even from all the mighty men of wealth, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and didn’t stay there in the land.
In plain English: Menahem took the money from Israel, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels of silver from each man, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land.
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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?
In plain English: The rest of what Menahem did, and all his deeds, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
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22Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: Menahem slept with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah became king in his place.
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23In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria for two years.
In plain English: In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years.
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24He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
In plain English: He did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the sins he made Israel commit.
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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.
In plain English: Pekah the son of Remaliah, his officer (this Bible: captain), plotted against him and struck him down in Samaria, in the citadel (this Bible: fortress) of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh (see the note). With him were fifty men of the Gileadites. He killed him and became king in his place.
Good to know: Word for word the Hebrew says Pekah struck him "with Argob and with Arieh". Read one way, Argob and Arieh were struck down together with Pekahiah. Read the other way, they were with Pekah, like the fifty Gileadites. The text does not say more about them. The dictionary gives Argob as "a district of Palestine", the name of a region in , and Arieh as "an Israelite".
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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.
In plain English: The rest of what Pekahiah did, and all his deeds, look, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
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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.
In plain English: In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years.
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28He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
In plain English: He did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the sins he made Israel commit.
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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.
In plain English: In 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. He carried the people captive to Assyria.
Good to know: This is the first verse in 2 Kings that tells of people of Israel being carried captive to Assyria. Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah and the land of Naphtali are also named in , where Ben Hadad struck them. spells the king's name "Tilgath Pilneser".
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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.
In plain English: Hoshea the son of Elah made a plot against Pekah the son of Remaliah. He struck him down, killed him, and became king in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers. This verse dates Hoshea by "the twentieth year of Jotham", and verse 33 says Jotham reigned sixteen years. The text gives both and does not explain how they fit together.
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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.
In plain English: The rest of what Pekah did, and all his deeds, look, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
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32In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign.
In plain English: In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah became king.
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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.
In plain English: He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.
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34He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes. He did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
In plain English: He did what was right in Yahweh's eyes. He did everything his father Uzziah had done.
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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 Yahweh’s house.
In plain English: But the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. He built the upper gate of Yahweh's house.
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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?
In plain English: The rest of what Jotham did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
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37In those days, Yahweh began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.
In plain English: In those days Yahweh began to send Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.
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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.
In plain English: Jotham slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father (or: ancestor) David. His son Ahaz became king in his place.
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