◄ 2 Kings 15:23 ►
In the fiftieth year of Azariah's reign over Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel and reigned in Samaria two years.
Study Bible
In the fiftieth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah
Azariah, also known as Uzziah, was a king of Judah who reigned for 52 years. His reign is noted for prosperity and military success, as well as a tragic end due to leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). The reference to the fiftieth year of his reign provides a chronological anchor, situating Pekahiah's ascension in the broader timeline of the divided monarchy. This period was marked by political instability in Israel, contrasting with Judah's relative stability under Azariah.

Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel
Pekahiah was the son of Menahem, who had seized the throne of Israel through violence (2 Kings 15:14). Menahem's reign was characterized by brutality and heavy taxation to pay tribute to the Assyrian king Pul (2 Kings 15:19-20). Pekahiah's succession indicates a continuation of his father's dynasty, albeit briefly. His name, meaning "Yahweh has opened the eyes," contrasts with his short and troubled reign.

and reigned in Samaria
Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, established by Omri (1 Kings 16:24). It served as the political and religious center of Israel, often associated with idolatry and apostasy (1 Kings 16:31-33). The city's strategic location made it a focal point for conflict and conquest, particularly by the Assyrians. Samaria's significance is underscored by its frequent mention in prophetic literature, symbolizing Israel's unfaithfulness.

two years
Pekahiah's reign was notably brief, lasting only two years. This short duration reflects the ongoing political turmoil and frequent coups in the Northern Kingdom. His assassination by Pekah, one of his own officers (2 Kings 15:25), underscores the instability and violence that plagued Israel during this period. The brevity of his reign highlights the contrast with the longer, more stable reigns in Judah, such as that of Azariah.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Azariah (Uzziah)
King of Judah during whose reign Pekahiah became king of Israel. His reign is noted for both prosperity and eventual downfall due to pride.

2. Pekahiah
Son of Menahem, he became king of Israel and reigned for two years. His short reign was marked by instability and eventual assassination.

3. Menahem
Father of Pekahiah and former king of Israel, known for his violent rise to power and oppressive rule.

4. Samaria
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, where Pekahiah reigned. It was a center of political and religious activity.

5. Israel and Judah
The divided kingdoms of the Hebrew people, with Israel in the north and Judah in the south. This division often led to political and spiritual conflicts.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Political Instability
The brief and tumultuous reign of Pekahiah serves as a reminder of the dangers of political instability and the importance of righteous leadership.

The Impact of Legacy
Pekahiah's reign was influenced by his father Menahem's oppressive rule. This highlights the impact of a leader's legacy on their successors.

The Importance of Faithfulness to God
The Northern Kingdom's repeated failure to follow God led to its downfall. This underscores the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God in leadership.

The Role of Divine Providence
Despite human actions and political turmoil, God's providence is at work. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's ultimate plan.

Learning from History
The history of Israel and Judah serves as a lesson for modern believers to seek Godly wisdom and avoid the pitfalls of past leaders.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the political instability during Pekahiah's reign reflect the spiritual state of Israel at the time?

2. In what ways can the legacy of a leader impact future generations, both positively and negatively?

3. How can we apply the lessons of faithfulness and obedience from the reigns of Israel's kings to our personal lives today?

4. What role does divine providence play in the midst of political and personal turmoil, and how can we trust in God's plan?

5. How can studying the history of Israel and Judah help us make better decisions in our own leadership roles, whether in the church, community, or family?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 15:27-31
These verses describe the assassination of Pekahiah by Pekah, highlighting the political instability in Israel during this period.

2 Chronicles 26
Provides a detailed account of Azariah's (Uzziah's) reign in Judah, offering context to the political landscape during Pekahiah's rule.

Hosea 7:7
This verse speaks to the treachery and violence among Israel's leaders, reflecting the environment in which Pekahiah ruled.
Sermons
Some Lessons from the History of KingsD. Thomas 2 Kings 15:1-38
People
Abel, Ahaz, Amaziah, Amram, Aram, Argob, Arieh, Azaliah, Azariah, David, Elah, Gadi, Gileadites, Hoshea, Jabesh, Jecholiah, Jecoliah, Jehu, Jeroboam, Jerusha, Jotham, Maacah, Menahem, Naphtali, Nebat, Pekah, Pekahiah, Pul, Remaliah, Rezin, Shallum, Tappuah, Tiglathpileser, Tirzah, Uzziah, Zachariah, Zadok, Zechariah
Places
Abel-beth-maacah, Assyria, Damascus, Galilee, Gilead, Hazor, Ibleam, Ijon, Janoah, Jerusalem, Kedesh, Samaria, Syria, Tirzah
Topics
Azariah, Azari'ah, Fiftieth, Judah, Menahem, Men'ahem, Pekahiah, Pekahi'ah, Reign, Reigned, Ruling, Samaria, Sama'ria
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 15:1-38

     5366   king

2 Kings 15:23-25

     5817   conspiracies

Library
The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

A Living Book
[Illustration: (drop cap T) Symbol of "Asshur", the principal Assyrian idol.] There is only one Book that never grows old. For thousands of years men have been writing books. Most books are forgotten soon after they are written; a few of the best and wisest are remembered for a time. But all at last grow old; new discoveries are made; new ideas arise; the old books are out of date; their usefulness is at an end. Students are the only people who still care to read them. The nations to which the …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord
"If any one wishes to be rich, let him go north; if he wants to be wise, let him come south." Such was the saying, by which Rabbinical pride distinguished between the material wealth of Galilee and the supremacy in traditional lore claimed for the academies of Judaea proper. Alas, it was not long before Judaea lost even this doubtful distinction, and its colleges wandered northwards, ending at last by the Lake of Gennesaret, and in that very city of Tiberias which at one time had been reputed unclean! …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Prophet Micah.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Micah signifies: "Who is like Jehovah;" and by this name, the prophet is consecrated to the incomparable God, just as Hosea was to the helping God, and Nahum to the comforting God. He prophesied, according to the inscription, under Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We are not, however, entitled, on this account, to dissever his prophecies, and to assign particular discourses to the reign of each of these kings. On the contrary, the entire collection forms only one whole. At …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Hosea.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. That the kingdom of Israel was the object of the prophet's ministry is so evident, that upon this point all are, and cannot but be, agreed. But there is a difference of opinion as to whether the prophet was a fellow-countryman of those to whom he preached, or was called by God out of the kingdom of Judah. The latter has been asserted with great confidence by Maurer, among others, in his Observ. in Hos., in the Commentat. Theol. ii. i. p. 293. But the arguments …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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