Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 13:1 to 2 Kings 17:6. The remainder of the history of Israel to the fall of Samaria, with the contemporary annals of Judah, is of the nature of chronicle rather than history. There are few interesting narratives like those in the earlier parts of the book. The exceptions are: (a) the death of Elisha (2 Kings 13:14 ff.); (b) the war between Israel and Judah (2 Kings 14:8-16); (c) the repairs of the Temple at Jerusalem by Ahaz (2 Kings 16:10-16). The main sources are: (a) the records of the kings of Israel and Judah; (b) the biography of Elisha; (c) Deuteronomic notes of reigns, etc.; (d) later additions.

2 Kings 15:1-7. Reign of Azariah (Uzziah).—The long reign of this king passes almost unnoticed in this book. He is called Uzziah elsewhere in Chronicles and Isaiah, except 1 Chronicles 3:12.

2 Kings 15:5. Yahweh smote the king with leprosy. The isolation of men thus afflicted was enforced (2 Kings 7:3; see Leviticus 13:46, Numbers 5:3). It is uncertain what is meant by a several house. The Heb. word means "free." Azariah reigned but did not rule during his latter years. If most of the sixteen years of Jotham's reign fell within his father's lifetime, the discrepancy of the totals of the regnal years of Israel and Judah, reckoned from Jehu to the fall of Samaria, is sensibly diminished.

2 Kings 15:8-38. Last Kings of Israel.—Zechariah, the son of Jeroboam, reigned but six months (2 Kings 15:8), and was killed by Shallum, probably, as LXX (L) reads, "in Ibleam," instead of the Heb., which is doubtfully rendered "before the people" (2 Kings 15:10). After a month 2 Kings 15:8 reign Shallum was killed by Menahem (2 Kings 15:14-22).

2 Kings 15:19. Pul, the king of Assyria, has been identified with Tiglath-pileser III (58f., 70f.), who ravaged Northern Israel (2 Kings 15:29). This is the first direct mention of an Assyrian king by name in the Bible. Menahem's name occurs in an Assyrian inscription 738 B.C.

2 Kings 15:20. The tribute was exacted from the wealthy men (AV renders "mighty men of valour," the last word, both in Heb. and English, having the twofold meaning of "bravery" and "property").

2 Kings 15:23. Menahem's son, Pekahiah, after a short reign was murdered by Pekah, who is also mentioned in Tiglath-pileser's annals under 733 B.C.

2 Kings 15:29. The district ravaged by the Assyrians (p. 29) corresponds with that attacked by Ben-hadad of Syria (1 Kings 15:20). Pekah had made an alliance with Rezin of Syria against Judah (2 Kings 16:5, Isaiah 7 and Isaiah 9:1).