14.11 Beth-shemesh, about sixteen miles southwest of Jerusalem.
14.13 The Ephraim Gate was in Jerusalem’s northern wall facing Ephraim. The Corner Gate was in the northwest corner of the city. A cubit is about 18 inches, so Jehoash tore down about 600 feet of the wall.
14.14 The hostages may have been taken in exchange for the captured Judean king, who was allowed to remain on the throne.
14.15–16 A duplicate of 13.12–13.
14.19 Lachish, about thirty miles southwest of Jerusalem.
14.22 Elath lies on the northern coast of the Gulf of Aqaba and is closely associated with Ezion-geber, one of Solomon’s seaports (1 Kings 9.26). The reference to rebuilding Elath implies that Azariah had regained control of Edom.
14.23–29 Although Jeroboam II was in fact one of Israel’s most powerful and successful kings, the narrator says little about the significance of his achievements and concentrates instead on the familiar theme of the king’s sins.
14.23 Jeroboam reigned ca. 786–746 BCE.
14.24 On the sins of Jeroboam, the first king of Israel, see 1 Kings 12.26–32.
14.25 Lebo-hamath marked the northern border of Solomon’s empire; see note on 1 Kings 8.65. Sea of the Arabah, identical with the Salt Sea or the Dead Sea (Josh 3.16; 12.3). Jeroboam thus reconstituted the northern part of the old Solomonic empire. The text implies that this expansion occurred to fulfill an oracle from Jonah the son of Amittai, who is otherwise known as the subject of the book of Jonah. Jonah’s oracle, however, has not been preserved. Gath-hepher, about two miles east of Sepphoris.
14.26–27 On the motif of God sending deliverers to Israel in time of distress, see 13.3–5. This is an uncharacteristically positive view of God’s relationship to the Northern Kingdom.
14.28 Damascus, the capital of Aram (Syria). Hamath lies on the Orontes River in Syria between Damascus and Aleppo. This recovery of Aramean territory was possible largely because the Assyrians, the newly dominant power in Mesopotamia, had broken the power of Aram.
2 KINGS 15
Azariah Reigns over Judah
1In the twenty-seventh year of King Jeroboam of Israel King Azariah son of Amaziah 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 what was right in the sight of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. 4Nevertheless the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 5The LORD struck the king, so that he was leprousa to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. Jotham the king’s son was in charge of the palace, governing the people of the land. 6Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah? 7Azariah slept with his ancestors; they buried him with his ancestors in the city of David; his son Jotham succeeded him.
Zechariah Reigns over Israel
8In the thirty-eighth year of King Azariah of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. 9He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his ancestors had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin. 10Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him down in public and killed him, and reigned in place of him. 11Now the rest of the deeds of Zechariah are written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 12This was the promise of the LORD that he gave to Jehu, “Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” And so it happened.
Shallum Reigns over Israel
13Shallum son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah of Judah; he reigned one month in Samaria. 14Then Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzah and came to Samaria; he struck down Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him; he reigned in place of him. 15Now the rest of the deeds of Shallum, including the conspiracy that he made, are written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 16At that time Menahem sacked Tiphsah, all who were in it and its territory from Tirzah on; because they did not open it to him, he sacked it. He ripped open all the pregnant women in it.
Menahem Reigns over Israel
17In the thirty-ninth year of King Azariah of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi began to reign over Israel; he reigned ten years in Samaria. 18He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart all his days from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin. 19King Pul of Assyria came against the land; Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, so that he might help him confirm his hold on the royal power. 20Menahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy, fifty shekels of silver from each one, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in the land. 21Now the rest of the deeds of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel? 22Menahem slept with his ancestors, and his son Pekahiah succeeded him.
Pekahiah Reigns over Israel
23In the fiftieth year of King Azariah of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned two years. 24He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin. 25Pekah son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him with fifty of the Gileadites, and attacked him in Samaria, in the citadel of the palace along with Argob and Arieh; he killed him, and reigned in place of him. 26Now the rest of the deeds of Pekahiah, and all that he did, are written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel.
Pekah Reigns over Israel
27In the fifty-second year of King Azariah of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned twenty years. 28He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin.
29In the days of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried the people captive to Assyria. 30Then Hoshea son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah, attacked him, and killed him; he reigned in place of him, in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah. 31Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, are written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel.
Jotham Reigns over Judah
32In the second year of King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel, King Jotham son of Uzziah of Judah began to reign. 33He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. 34He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. 35Nevertheless the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD. 36Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah? 37In those days the LORD began to send King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah. 38Jotham slept with his ancestors, and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, his ancestor; his son Ahaz succeeded him.
next chapter
* * *
a A term for several skin diseases; precise meaning uncertain
15.1–7 In spite of Azariah’s long reign, the narrator gives no details of his activities and records only the fact of his leprosy. No explanation is given here for his disease, although 2 Chr 26.16–20 interprets the affliction as punishment for violating ritual regulations.
15.1 Azariah is also called Uzziah (vv. 13, 30, 32, 34; 2 Chr 26–27; Isa 1.1; 6.1). He reigned ca. 783–742 BCE.
15.4 High places. See note on 1 Kings 3.2.
15.5 Leprous. See note on 5.1. Azariah’s son Jotham served as overseer of all royal estates and buildings and was probably coregent during the latter part of his father’s reign.
15.8–12 Zechariah’s brief rei
gn receives a typically negative evaluation from the narrator. The king’s assassination marks the end of the Jehu dynasty and the beginning of a period of internal political upheaval, complicated by Assyria’s increasing involvement in Israel’s political affairs.
15.8 Zechariah ruled Israel ca. 746–745 BCE.
15.12 For God’s dynastic promise to Jehu, see 10.30.
15.13–16 Shallum’s reign is so brief that the narrator does not even mention his sins.
15.13 Shallum ruled in 745 BCE.
15.14 Tirzah. See note on 1 Kings 14.17.
15.16 Tiphsah. Location uncertain. Ripping open pregnant women was considered a barbarous practice and is elsewhere associated only with foreign armies (8.12; Hos 13.16; Am 1.13).
15.17–22 Menahem’s reign is marked by a resurgence in Assyrian military activity that eventually leads to the fall of the Northern Kingdom.
15.17 Menahem reigned ca. 745–737 BCE.
15.19 King Pul, Tiglath-pileser III, who was king of Assyria 745–727 BCE. Menahem in effect becomes an Assyrian vassal.
15.19–20 Talents, shekels. See notes on 1 Kings 9.14; 10.16.
15.23–26 The reign of Pekahiah receives the usual negative evaluation from the narrator, who mentions only the assassination that ended the king’s rule.
15.23 Pekahiah ruled ca. 737–736 BCE.
15.25 Gileadites. For Gilead, see note on 1 Kings 17.1. The interpretation of Argob and Arieh is disputed. The names are variously interpreted as warriors, cities, and even features of palace architecture.
15.27–31 The official account of Pekah’s reign notes only the loss of Israelite territory to Assyria. His extensive involvement in Judean affairs is covered in ch. 16.
15.27 Scholars agree that Pekah could not have ruled for the twenty years assigned to him here. He may have ruled ca. 736–732 BCE.
15.29 These overlapping references to the towns of Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor and to the regions of Gilead, Galilee, and Naphtali indicate that Tiglath-pileser took significant portions of north-central Israel and parts of Transjordan.
15.30 Hoshea’s coup may have had support from the Assyrians.
15.32–38 The narrator gives no details about Jotham’s reign except to note the beginning of attempts to force Judah into an anti-Assyrian coalition.
15.32 Jotham ruled ca. 742–735 BCE.
15.35 High places. See note on 1 Kings 3.2. Upper gate of the temple. Location unknown.
15.37 The kings of Aram (Syria) and Israel were trying to force Judah into a coalition against Assyria (cf. ch. 16; Isa 7.1–8.10).
Behind the events narrated in 2 Kings 15–23 are Assyria’s expansion in the eighth century BCE and its collision with Egypt’s sphere of influence.
2 KINGS 16
Ahaz Reigns over Judah
1In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, King Ahaz son of Jotham of Judah began to reign. 2Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD his God, as his ancestor David had done, 3but he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even made his son pass through fire, according to the abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. 4He sacrificed and made offerings on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.
5Then King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel came up to wage war on Jerusalem; they besieged Ahaz but could not conquer him. 6At that time the king of Edoma recovered Elath for Edom,b and drove the Judeans from Elath; and the Edomites came to Elath, where they live to this day. 7Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up, and rescue me from the hand of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” 8Ahaz also took the silver and gold found in the house of the LORD and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent a present to the king of Assyria. 9The king of Assyria listened to him; the king of Assyria marched up against Damascus, and took it, carrying its people captive to Kir; then he killed Rezin.
10When King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, he saw the altar that was at Damascus. King Ahaz sent to the priest Uriah a model of the altar, and its pattern, exact in all its details. 11The priest Uriah built the altar; in accordance with all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, just so did the priest Uriah build it, before King Ahaz arrived from Damascus. 12When the king came from Damascus, the king viewed the altar. Then the king drew near to the altar, went up on it, 13and offered his burnt offering and his grain offering, poured his drink offering, and dashed the blood of his offerings of well-being against the altar. 14The bronze altar that was before the LORD he removed from the front of the house, from the place between his altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of his altar. 15King Ahaz commanded the priest Uriah, saying, “Upon the great altar offer the morning burnt offering, and the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering, and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, their grain offering, and their drink offering; then dash against it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice; but the bronze altar shall be for me to inquire by.” 16The priest Uriah did everything that King Ahaz commanded.
17Then King Ahaz cut off the frames of the stands, and removed the laver from them; he removed the sea from the bronze oxen that were under it, and put it on a pediment of stone. 18The covered portal for use on the sabbath that had been built inside the palace, and the outer entrance for the king he removed fromc the house of the LORD. He did this because of the king of Assyria. 19Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah? 20Ahaz slept with his ancestors, and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David; his son Hezekiah succeeded him.
next chapter
* * *
a Cn: Heb King Rezin of Aram
b Cn: Heb Aram
c Cn: Heb lacks from
16.1–20 Ahaz is one of the few Judean kings to receive a negative evaluation from the historian. Part of the reason for this assessment may lie in the king’s heterodox religious practices, but the narrator may have also been upset by Ahaz’s willingness to make an alliance with Assyria, thus becoming an Assyrian vassal.
16.1 Ahaz ruled ca. 735–715 BCE.
16.3 Made his son pass through fire, probably a rite carried out as part of the worship of the god Molech, whose cult was practiced just outside of Jerusalem in the Valley of Hinnom. Many scholars, although not all, think that as part of the ritual, children were sacrificed by fire to the god, who was probably an underworld deity. The cult, which may have involved parents sacrificing firstborn children in order to ensure future births, must have had royal patronage. The worship of Molech was banned by Deuteronomy, which associated it with the abominations of the Canaanites (Deut 18.9–14), and later biblical writers condemned it as well (Lev 18.21; 20.2–5; Jer 7.31; 19.5; 32.35).
16.4 Ahaz is the first Judean king since Solomon who is said to have personally worshiped at the high places. On the significance of these cultic installations, see note on 1 Kings 3.2.
16.5 The kings of Aram and Israel apparently wanted to overthrow Ahaz in order to force Judah into an anti-Assyrian coalition. For a different perspective on the same incident, see Isa 7.1–8.10.
16.6 On Judah’s rebuilding of Elath, see 14.22 and note.
16.7 Ignoring Isaiah’s counsel to trust in the Lord and to avoid foreign entanglements (Isa 7.1–9), Ahaz buys protection from Assyria.
16.9 Kir, said to have been the original home of the Arameans (Am 9.7), so it is appropriate that Tiglath-pileser relocates them there. The precise location of Kir is unknown.
16.10 The text does not indicate why Ahaz was attracted to the altar he saw in Damascus. There is nothing to indicate that it was anything other than an Aramean cult object, although it might have been a
particularly large or grand one (v. 15). Uriah the priest appears in Isa 8.2 as one of the prophet’s supporters.
16.12–13 As did his predecessors Solomon and Jeroboam (1 Kings 8.63; 12.32), Ahaz dedicates the altar by offering his own sacrifices.
16.17–18 Ahaz apparently takes some of the temple furnishings and uses them as part of his bribe to the king of Assyria.
16.17 Stands. See 1 Kings 7.27–37. Sea, bronze oxen. See 1 Kings 7.23–26.
16.18 The meaning of the covered portal for use on the sabbath continues to be the subject of scholarly debate.
2 KINGS 17
Hoshea Reigns over Israel
1In the twelfth year of King Ahaz of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel; he reigned nine years. 2He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, yet not like the kings of Israel who were before him. 3King Shalmaneser of Assyria came up against him; Hoshea became his vassal, and paid him tribute. 4But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to King So of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; therefore the king of Assyria confined him and imprisoned him.
Israel Carried Captive to Assyria
5Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria; for three years he besieged it. 6In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria captured Samaria; he carried the Israelites away to Assyria. He placed them in Halah, on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
7This occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods 8and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had introduced.a 9The people of Israel secretly did things that were not right against the LORD their God. They built for themselves high places at all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city; 10they set up for themselves pillars and sacred polesb on every high hill and under every green tree; 11there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the LORD carried away before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger; 12they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, “You shall not do this.” 13Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the law that I commanded your ancestors and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” 14They would not listen but were stubborn, as their ancestors had been, who did not believe in the LORD their God. 15They despised his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their ancestors, and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false; they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they should not do as they did. 16They rejected all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves cast images of two calves; they made a sacred pole,c worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 17They made their sons and their daughters pass through fire; they used divination and augury; and they sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger. 18Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight; none was left but the tribe of Judah alone.
HarperCollins Study Bible Page 155