Topical Bible: Kings: Who Reigned Over Israel: Pekahiah

◄ Kings: Who Reigned Over Israel: Pekahiah ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Pekahiah, son of Menahem, was a king of the northern kingdom of Israel. His reign is recorded in the biblical narrative found in 2 Kings 15:22-26. Pekahiah ascended to the throne following the death of his father, Menahem, and his rule is noted for its brevity and turmoil.

Reign and Historical Context

Pekahiah began his reign in the fiftieth year of Azariah (Uzziah), king of Judah, and he ruled over Israel for two years. His reign is situated during a period of significant instability and decline for the northern kingdom. The kingdom of Israel was plagued by internal strife, idolatry, and external threats, particularly from the expanding Assyrian Empire.

Biblical Account

The biblical account in 2 Kings 15:23-24 states: "In the fiftieth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria two years. And 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."

Pekahiah's reign continued the pattern of idolatry and disobedience to the covenant with Yahweh, as he perpetuated the sins of Jeroboam, the first king of the divided northern kingdom, who had established golden calves at Bethel and Dan to prevent the Israelites from worshiping in Jerusalem.

Assassination and Downfall

Pekahiah's rule came to an abrupt end through a conspiracy led by one of his own military officers, Pekah son of Remaliah. The biblical narrative in 2 Kings 15:25 describes the coup: "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 violent overthrow highlights the political instability and frequent power struggles that characterized the latter years of the northern kingdom. Pekahiah's assassination marked the continuation of a turbulent period in Israel's history, as Pekah assumed the throne and further complicated the kingdom's relationship with the surrounding nations.

Theological Implications

Pekahiah's reign, though brief, serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from the covenantal relationship with God. The narrative underscores the persistent theme of the Deuteronomistic history, which links the prosperity and stability of Israel's kings to their faithfulness to Yahweh. Pekahiah's failure to depart from the idolatrous practices of his predecessors ultimately contributed to the ongoing decline of the northern kingdom, setting the stage for its eventual conquest and exile by Assyria.

In summary, Pekahiah's reign is a testament to the challenges faced by the kings of Israel who failed to uphold the covenant with God, leading to political instability and divine judgment. His assassination by Pekah son of Remaliah reflects the broader narrative of Israel's decline during this tumultuous period.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 15:23-26
In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Wife Became More Wicked Than All The Kings That Had ... How Jotham, The Son Of Uzziah
Reigned Over The Tribe Of ... How Upon The Death Of Jotham, Ahaz Reigned In His ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

The Assyrian Captivity
... of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the ... to give to the
king of Assyria." 2 Kings 15:19 ... "In the days of Pekah," who reigned twenty years ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 23 the assyrian captivity.htm

The Old Testament and Archeology
... king of Assyria, claims a great victory over the Western ... according to the Old Testament,
Menahem reigned ten years ... In 2 Kings 156} 18.10 the statement is found ...
/.../the christian view of the old testament/chapter iv the old testament.htm

The Prophet Hosea.
... Menahem reigned ten years at Samaria. ... years (ver.27), and, by his alliance with the
kings of Syria ... gave a survey of what he had prophesied over Judah during ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet hosea.htm

Appendices
... the last king but one of the Kassite dynasty, and not rather one of the unknown
kings of the ... 2. My father reigned over Moab thirty years, and I reigned. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... the labours of the attacking force were not yet over. ... The petty kings who shared
with Assyria the possession ... Barzur, son of Panammu I., had reigned there since ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... A perpetual terror reigned wherever they were accustomed to ... bezek said, Threescore
and ten kings, having their ... very spot where they had triumphed over the sons ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm