What is the meaning of 2 Kings 15:31? As for the rest of the acts of Pekah – This opening phrase signals that the biblical writer has given only a condensed account of Pekah’s reign. – Cross references such as 1 Kings 14:19 and 2 Kings 15:26, 31 follow the same pattern, inviting readers to trust that God has preserved exactly what we need while acknowledging that more details once existed. – In context (2 Kings 15:27-29) we already know Pekah ruled twenty years, aligned with Rezin of Aram, attacked Judah (2 Chron 28:5-6), and lost territory to Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria. Those actions show the northern kingdom’s moral decline climaxing in God’s judgment. Along with all his accomplishments – Scripture treats accomplishments broadly—political, military, economic—yet the narrative measures them by covenant faithfulness, not human acclaim. • Military exploits (2 Kings 15:29) could look impressive, but Pekah’s idolatry canceled any eternal value (Deuteronomy 7:4). • Isaiah 7:1-9 reveals that his coalition war against Judah ultimately failed because the LORD had decreed it. – The verse reminds us that achievements apart from obedience are fleeting (Psalm 127:1). They are indeed written – The word “indeed” underscores certainty. God’s Word affirms that historical records existed and were accessible to the first readers. – This pattern of documentation appears throughout Scripture: Exodus 17:14; Deuteronomy 31:24-26; Joshua 24:26 attest that God commands His acts be recorded. – The statement also counters any thought that biblical history is myth; it is rooted in verifiable events (Luke 1:1-4). In the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel – This now-lost royal archive is cited nearly thirty times (e.g., 1 Kings 14:19; 15:31; 16:20). Its repeated mention reinforces that the biblical account aligns with the official state record. – While that chronicle no longer survives, the Holy Spirit ensured that all necessary truth is preserved in Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17). – The citation quietly warns later generations: even kings fade into dusty archives, but “the word of the LORD stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25). summary 2 Kings 15:31 closes Pekah’s story by reminding us that, although more could be told, God has given us exactly what we need: a snapshot of a king whose outward successes were overshadowed by covenant unfaithfulness. The verse upholds the reliability of Scripture, points to additional historical documentation, and subtly teaches that every human accomplishment is measured by obedience to the LORD, whose Word endures when earthly records vanish. |