Topical Bible: Conspiracy: Pekah

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Pekah, son of Remaliah, emerges as a significant figure in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a tumultuous period marked by political intrigue and conspiracy. His rise to power is emblematic of the instability that plagued Israel in the 8th century BC, a time when the nation was grappling with external threats and internal discord.

Background and Rise to Power

Pekah was originally a captain in the army of King Pekahiah, the son of Menahem, who reigned over Israel. The biblical account of Pekah's conspiracy is found in 2 Kings 15:25: "Then Pekah son of Remaliah, one of his chief officers, conspired against him. Taking fifty men of Gilead with him, he assassinated Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the king’s palace at Samaria. So Pekah killed him and reigned in his place." This act of treachery underscores the volatile nature of Israel's monarchy, where power was often seized through violence and betrayal.

Reign and Political Alliances

Pekah's reign lasted for twenty years, during which he sought to strengthen his position through alliances and military campaigns. His most notable political maneuver was forming an alliance with Rezin, king of Aram (Syria), in opposition to the rising power of Assyria. This coalition aimed to resist Assyrian dominance and sought to coerce the Southern Kingdom of Judah into joining their cause. However, King Ahaz of Judah refused, opting instead to seek assistance from Tiglath-Pileser III, the king of Assyria.

The prophet Isaiah provides insight into this period, warning Judah against joining the alliance and urging trust in the Lord rather than foreign powers. Isaiah 7:1-2 states, "Now it came to pass in the days of Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to wage war against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it. When it was reported to the house of David, 'Aram has allied with Ephraim,' the hearts of Ahaz and his people trembled like trees in the forest shaken by the wind."

Downfall and Assassination

Pekah's alliance with Rezin ultimately proved disastrous. The Assyrian response was swift and decisive. Tiglath-Pileser III invaded the northern territories, capturing key cities and deporting large segments of the population. This weakened Pekah's rule and set the stage for his downfall. In 2 Kings 15:30 , it is recorded, "Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah, attacked and killed him, and reigned in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah."

Pekah's assassination by Hoshea marked the end of his tumultuous reign and highlighted the persistent theme of conspiracy and violence that characterized the leadership struggles in Israel. His death paved the way for Hoshea's rule, which would eventually lead to the fall of the Northern Kingdom to Assyria in 722 BC.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, Pekah's account serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of political alliances that disregard divine guidance. The prophets, particularly Isaiah, emphasized reliance on God rather than human schemes and foreign alliances. Pekah's failure to heed prophetic warnings and his reliance on military might and political conspiracies ultimately led to his demise and contributed to the downfall of the Northern Kingdom. His account is a reminder of the sovereignty of God over the affairs of nations and the futility of human conspiracies against His divine plan.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Kings 15:30
And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Antiquities of the Jews
... How Pekah Died By The Treachery Of Hoshea Who Was A Little After Subdued By ... 8. How
Ten Men Of The Citizens [Of Jerusalem] Made A Conspiracy Against Herod, For ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... She formed a conspiracy which was joined by all the nobles, but being betrayed ... reign,
of Hezekiah than to the years preceding the war against Pekah and Rezin. ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... Medes"Invasion of Urartu and end of its supremacy"Alliance of Pekah and Rezin ... the
part taken by Nathan in the conspiracy which raised Solomon to the throne ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm