Azariah Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 26:3–23)

1In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Azariaha son of Amaziah became king of Judah. 2He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.

4Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.

5And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosyb until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

6As for the rest of the acts of Azariah, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

7And Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near themc in the City of David. And his son Jotham reigned in his place.

Zechariah Reigns in Israel

8In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria six months. 9And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

10Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, struck him down and killed him in front of the people,d and reigned in his place.

11As for the rest of the acts of Zechariah, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 12So the word of the LORD spoken to Jehu was fulfilled: “Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”

Shallum Reigns in Israel

13In the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah’se reign over Judah, Shallum son of Jabesh became king, and he reigned in Samaria one full month.

14Then Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria, struck down and killed Shallum son of Jabesh, and reigned in his place.

15As for the rest of the acts of Shallum, along with the conspiracy he led, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

16At that time Menahem, starting from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in its vicinity, because they would not open their gates. So he attacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.

Menahem Reigns in Israel

17In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years. 18And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and throughout his reign he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

19Then Pulf king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silverg in order to gain his support and strengthen his own grip on the kingdom. 20Menahem exacted this money from each of the wealthy men of Israel—fifty shekels of silverh from each man—to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not remain in the land.

21As for the rest of the acts of Menahem, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

22And Menahem rested with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah reigned in his place.

Pekahiah Reigns in Israel

23In the fiftieth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel and reigned in Samaria two years. 24And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

25Then his officer, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him along with Argob, Arieh, and fifty men of Gilead. And at the citadel of the king’s palace in Samaria, Pekah struck down and killed Pekahiah and reigned in his place.

26As for the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, along with all his accomplishments, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Pekah Reigns in Israel

27In the fifty-second year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty years. 28And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.

30Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. In the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah, Hoshea attacked Pekah, killed him, and reigned in his place.

31As for the rest of the acts of Pekah, along with all his accomplishments, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Jotham Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 27:1–9)

32In the second year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah over Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah. 33He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerushai daughter of Zadok. 34And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done.

35Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.

Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD.

36As for the rest of the acts of Jotham, along with his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

37(In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.)

38And Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David his father. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place.

1. The Importance of Righteous Leadership
In 2 Kings 15, we see a series of kings who ruled over Israel and Judah, each with varying degrees of faithfulness to God. The chapter reminds us that righteous leadership is crucial for the well-being of a nation. As Proverbs 29:2 says, "When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan." Leaders who seek God's guidance and adhere to His commandments can lead their people toward prosperity and peace.

2. The Consequences of Sin
The reigns of the kings in this chapter illustrate the consequences of turning away from God. Many of these kings did evil in the sight of the Lord, leading to instability and turmoil. As Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Sin has real consequences, but turning to God offers redemption and hope.

3. The Power of God's Patience
Despite the repeated disobedience of the kings, God showed remarkable patience. He allowed time for repentance and change, demonstrating His long-suffering nature. As 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us, "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

4. The Role of Prophets
Prophets played a significant role in guiding the kings and the people back to God. They were the voice of truth in times of moral decline. This reminds us of the importance of listening to those who speak God's truth into our lives. As 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness."

5. The Impact of Legacy
The chapter highlights how the actions of one generation affect the next. The kings' legacies influenced their successors, for better or worse. This serves as a reminder that our actions today can have lasting impacts on future generations. As Proverbs 13:22 states, "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children."

6. The Need for Personal Accountability
Each king was held accountable for his actions, regardless of his predecessors' deeds. This underscores the importance of personal responsibility in our walk with God. As Galatians 6:5 says, "For each one should carry his own load." We are each responsible for our relationship with God and our actions.

7. The Dangers of Complacency
Some kings started well but became complacent, leading to their downfall. This warns us against becoming spiritually complacent. As 1 Corinthians 10:12 advises, "So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall." We must remain vigilant in our faith journey.

8. The Call to Repentance
Despite their failures, the kings had opportunities to repent and turn back to God. This highlights God's desire for us to return to Him, no matter how far we've strayed. As Acts 3:19 encourages, "Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away."

9. The Sovereignty of God
Throughout the chapter, God's sovereignty is evident. He is in control, even when human leaders fail. This reassures us that God is always at work, orchestrating His divine plan. As Romans 8:28 promises, "And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose."

10. The Hope of Redemption
Ultimately, 2 Kings 15 points us to the hope of redemption through Jesus Christ. Despite the failures of earthly kings, God provided a perfect King in Jesus, who offers salvation to all who believe. As John 3:16 declares, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This is the ultimate lesson and promise we can hold onto.

Ask God to reveal and help you remove any high places or areas of compromise.

Pray for leaders in your church and community to be guided by God's wisdom and righteousness.

Thank God for His sovereignty and ask for trust in His plans, even when they are not immediately clear.

2. 2 Kings 15:5 states God struck Azariah with leprosy with little explanation—why is the cause, detailed in 2 Chronicles 26, absent here?

3. 2 Kings 15:16 records Menahem’s brutal attack on Tiphsah—does any historical or archaeological evidence corroborate such violence?

4. 2 Kings 15:19 speaks of Menahem paying tribute to Pul, king of Assyria—do extrabiblical sources confirm this tribute or Pul’s identity?

5. 2 Kings 15:12 references a prophecy fulfilled through Jehu’s dynasty—how do we address claims that the text was written or edited post-event to appear prophetic?

1. Compare and contrast the reigns of the kings in Judah and Israel. What were the key differences in their leadership styles and outcomes?

2. How does the constant change in leadership impact Israel and Judah, both politically and spiritually?

3. What can we learn from the failure of many kings to remove high places in their lands?

4. Discuss the role of divine judgment in the political turmoil experienced by Israel and Judah.

5. How does 2 Kings 15 relate to today's political and spiritual landscape?

6. How does the cycle of violence, demonstrated by the assassination of kings, reflect the state of Israel's society during this period?

7. How could different outcomes have been achieved by the various kings mentioned if they remained faithful to God’s commandments?

8. Discuss the significance of Menahem's tribute to the Assyrian king. What does this indicate about Israel's relationship with Assyria and its political standing at the time?

9. How would you handle a leadership transition in your life or community, informed by the examples in 2 Kings 15?

10. How does this chapter inform our understanding of God's sovereignty amidst political instability?

11. What can we learn about God’s character from His responses to idolatry in Israel and Judah?

12. How can the principles from 2 Kings 15 guide your response to today's societal sins?

13. How does the prophecy fulfilled through Jehu’s dynasty (2 Kings 10:30) relate to God's faithfulness and sovereignty?

14. What lessons can modern leaders learn from the kings' frequently failing to uphold righteousness?

15. How might the reign of these kings have been different if they had sought counsel from God?

16. What are some ways you can promote faithfulness and obedience to God within your sphere of influence?

17. How does the political turmoil and violence in 2 Kings 15 inform your perspective on current global conflicts?

18. What can the church today learn from the ongoing idolatry and disobedience in ancient Israel and Judah?

19. In what ways does the punishment of God in these kingdoms encourage you to evaluate your personal faithfulness to God?

20. Given the repetitious cycle of sin seen in the kings, how can we break similar cycles in our lives and societies today?