2 Reis 15
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Reis 15
NJB (MT versing) Series of Kings: Amaziah (Uzziah) Over Judah Azariah Reigns in Judah The Reign of Azariah (Uzziah) in Judah King Uzziah of Judah The Reign of Uzziah in Judah (781-740) 15:1-7 15:1-5 15:1-7 15:1-5 15:1-4 15:5 15:6-7 15:6-7 15:6-7 Zechariah Over Israel Zechariah Reigns in Israel The Reign of Zechariah in Israel King Zechariah of Israel The Reign of Zechariah in Israel (743) 15:8-12 15:8-10 15:8-12 15:8-10 15:8-9a 15:9b-10 15:11-12 15:11 15:11-12 15:12 Shallum Reigns in Israel The Reign of Shallum in Israel King Shallum of Israel The Reign of Shallum in Israel (743) 15:13-16 15:13-14 15:13-16 15:13 15:13 15:14-16 15:14 15:15-16 15:15-16 Menahem Over Israel Menahem Reigns in Israel The Reign of Menahem in Israel King Menahem of Israel The Reign of Menahem in Israel (743-738) 15:17-18 15:17-20 15:17-22 15:17-20 15:17-18a 15:18b-20 15:19-22 15:21-22 15:21-22 15:21-22 Pekahiah Over Israel Pekahiah Reigns in Israel The Reign of Pekahiah in Israel King Pekahiah of Israel The Reign of Pekahiah in Israel (738-737) 15:23-26 15:23-25 15:23-26 15:23-25 15:23-24 15:25 15:26 15:26 15:26 Pekah Over Israel Pekah Reigns in Israel The Reign of Pekah in Israel King Pekah of Israel The Reign of Pekah in Israel (737-732) 15:27-28 15:27-30 15:27-28 15:27-28 15:27-28 15:29-31 15:29-31 15:29 15:29-30 15:30-31 15:31 15:31 Jotham Over Judah Jotham Reigns in Judah The Reign of Jotham in Judah King Jotham of Judah The Reign of Jotham in Judah (740-736) 15:32-38 15:32-35 15:32-35 15:32-35 15:32-35a 15:35b 15:36-38 15:36-38 15:36-38 15:36-38 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This chapter documents the violent succession of Israel's kings. The VERB "conspired" (BDB 905, KB 1153) Baasha kills Nadab ‒ 1 Kgs. 15:27 Zimri kills Elah ‒ 1 Kgs. 16:9,16,20 Jehu kills Joram ‒ 2 Kgs. 9:14 Shallum kills Zechariah ‒ 2 Kgs. 15:10,15 Pekahiah kills Pekah ‒ 2 Kgs. 15:25 Hoshea kills Pekah ‒ 2 Kgs. 15:30 The Tyndale OT Commentaries, p. 252, has a good summary of Israel's fate after the last of the Jehu dynasty. "In the last twenty years six rulers were to follow each other, but only one was to die naturally. Anarchy, rivalry and regicide led to terminal bloodshed which fulfilled Hosea's prophecies (1:4)" This chapter discusses several kings. Azariah of Judah (Uzziah) ‒ 2 Kgs. 15:1-7 Zechariah of Israel ‒ 2 Kgs. 15:8-12 Shallum of Israel ‒ 2 Kgs. 15:13 Menahem of Israel ‒ 2 Kgs. 15:14-22 Pekahiah of Israel ‒ 2 Kgs. 15:23-26 Pekah of Israel ‒ 2 Kgs. 15:27-31 Jotham of Judah ‒ 2 Kgs. 15:32-38
2 Reis 15:1-7
15:1 "Azariah" From verses 13,30,32,34 we realize that he was also called Uzziah. For a full and complete understanding of this good king in Judah, read 2 Chronicles 26. See NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 1270-1271. For a discussion about these two names, see full note at 2 Kgs. 14:21. 15:2 "reigned fifty-two years" Azariah/Uzziah had a long and successful reign. The only Judean king who reigned longer was Manasseh. The total number of years includes co-regencies. ▣ NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB, JPSOA "Jecoliah" "Jecholiah" "Chalia" "Jechoaniah" Josephus (Antiq. 9.11.2) "Jerusha" The MT has "Jecoliah" (BDB 408, cf. 2 Chr. 26:3), a FEMININE proper name which means "YHWH has been able." 15:3 This is a strange verse to me. Not because of the phrase "he did right in the sight of the Lord" (cf. 1 Kgs. 11:33,38; 14:8; 15:5,11; 22:43; 2 Kgs. 10:30; 12:3; 14:3; 15:3,34; 16:2; 18:3; 22:2) but the second phrase, "according to all that his father Amaziah had done" (cf. 2 Kgs. 14:3; 2 Chr. 25:2 and especially 2 Chr. 25:14-16). Josephus (Antiq. 9.10.3) says of him, "He was a good man, and by nature righteous and magnanimous, and very laborious in taking care of the affairs of his kingdom." Also note Antiq. 9.11.2. 15:4 "the high places" These were the local worship sites. They were originally used for the worship of Canaanite fertility deities, but after the conquest of Canaan by Israel, they became YHWHistic shrines. They were used quite extensively and condoned during the period of the Judges and used, even by Solomon (cf. 1 Kgs. 3:3-4), but at this period they had become amalgamated again with the fertility cults. SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE ▣ "were not taken away" This became a recurrent issue (cf. 1 Kgs. 15:14; 22:43; 2 Kgs. 12:3; 14:4; 15:4,35). 15:5 "The Lord struck the king" To fully understand the reason for this good king being struck with leprosy one must read 2 Chr. 26:16-23. ▣ "lived in a separate house" Uzziah, because he was a leper, was excommunicated from any social contact with the people, therefore, his son, Jotham, was co-regent during the last several years of his reign. The FEMININE NOUN (BDB 345) occurs only here and in the parallel in 2 Chr. 26:21. Its basic meaning is "freedom," but that does not fit this context. The meaning of "separate" is simply an assumption from the context and Lev. 13:46. Some (AB, p. 166) think "freedom" relates to Uzziah being freed from his regal responsibilities as royal judge (NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 238, 241). The NEB has "he lived confined to his room" Peshitta has "a house in seclusion." Josephus (Antiq. 9.10.4) says "so he abode out of the city for some time and lived a private life." ▣ "the people of the land" See full note at 2 Kings. 14:21. 15:7 In 2 Chr. 26:23 Uzziah is buried in a field or garden, not in the royal tombs. Josephus (Antiq. 9.10.4) says this was because he was a leper. Some suppose that this is the same garden in which Manasseh was also buried (cf. 2 Kgs. 21:18,26).
2 Reis 15:8-12
15:8 The Tyndale OT Commentary, p. 252, says "The apparent discrepancy with 14:23 and 15:1 can be explained if (1) a co-regency of Azariah with his father is allowed and (2) Zechariah's six months spanned two separate years (753-752 B.C.), cf 1 Kgs. 22:51)" However, Roland deVaux has a good caution about "co-regency" in Ancient Israel, p. 101. "Solomon was anointed king during the lifetime of his father (1 K 1:32-40), who did not die until some time later (1 K 2:1-10). Similarly Yotham assumed power when his father Ozias became a leper (2 K 15:5), but we are not told that he was at once anointed. These are the only two co-regencies mentioned in the Bible, though there may have been others not mentioned. Some modern historians list a whole series of them: Josaphat, Ozias and Manasseh in Judah, and Jeroboam II in Israel, are all said to have reigned at the sane time as their fathers. But these are only hypotheses whose main purpose is to harmonize the discordant date of Biblical chronology. In the two certain cases, Solomon and Yothem assumed power because their fathers were too old or too ill to rule; the term co-regency is therefore somewhat inaccurate, and the situation is not quite the same as in Egypt or Assyria." Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 55-60, discusses and lists the co-regencies, following Edwin R. Thiele, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings. 15:9 The Jeroboam of v. 8 is Jeroboam II, while the Jeroboam of v. 9 is Jeroboam I, who set up the two golden calves at Bethel and Dan as alternate worship sites for YHWH (i.e., 1 Kgs. 16:19,26; 22:52; 2 Kgs. 3:3; 9:9; 10:29,31; 13:2,6,11; 14:24; 15:9,18,24). However, they quickly became idolatrous, especially under the influence of Ahab and Jezebel. 15:10 "Shallum" See note at vv. 13-14. ▣ NASB, JPSOA, Peshitta "before the people1" "in front of the people" "in public" TEV, NJB, REB, NET, Lucian "at Ibleam" The MT has an Aramaic word which seems out of place (see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 862 and NET Bible, p. 615, #20). The UBS Text Project, p. 359, cannot decide which text is original. There is a place name "Ibleam" mentioned in 2 Kgs. 9:27. Ibleam was the place Jehu was assassinated (cf. 2 Kgs. 9:27). 15:12 "This is the word of the Lord which He spoke to Jehu" This refers to YHWH's promise, through a prophet, that Jehu's descendants would reign to the fourth generation (cf. 2 Kgs. 10:30).
2 Reis 15:13-16
15:13-14 "Shallum" This person reigned only one month and his general, Menahem, rebelled and took the throne. We learn that Menahem was his military general from Josephus (Antiq. 9.11.1). 15:14 "Tirzah" This was Jeroboam I's royal residence (cf. 1 Kgs. 14:17). It was made a second capital by Baasha. Omri built and made Samaria the main capital of Israel (cf. 1 Kgs. 16:23-24). 15:16 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA, Peshitta, Josephus "Tiphsah" TEV, REB, NJB, Lucian "Tappuah" (apple)" "Thersa" NEB, JB "Tappush" The MT has "Tipsah" (BDB 820). The UBS Text Project, p. 360, gives it a "C" rating (considerable doubt). Tiphsah was located on the Euphrates River, northeast of Hamath (cf. 1 Kgs. 4:24). However, most modern scholars reject Menahem's ability to attack as far north as the Euphrates. There was a city named "Tappuah," located about 4 miles northwest of Hebron, called "Beth-tappuah" (cf. Josh. 17:8). ▣ "they did not open to him" This was common practice in the ANE. If a city opened its gates it was spared and made a vassal but if not, it was repopulated. ▣ "he. . .ripped up all its women who were with child" This was also a common practice (cf. 2 Kgs. 8:12; Hos. 13:16; Amos 1:13). In a way, this shows how much Israel (YHWH's covenant people) had been influenced by the pagan military practices of the surrounding peoples. This terrible practice was first mentioned in a hymn to Tiglath-pileser I (1118-1078 B.C.). This is not an example of "holy war" (Joshua) but anger and personality on Menahem's part. Josephus (Antiq. 9.11.1) says "continued to reign with cruelty and barbarity for ten years."
2 Reis 15:17-18
15:18 This is a recurrent phrase describing YHWH's displeasure of the golden calf worship at Bethel and Dan. ▣ There is a Hebrew phrase, "all his days," at the end of v. 18 in the MT. It is uncertain if it should go with v. 18 or v. 19. v. 18, Menahem did evil all his days v. 19, NEB, "In his times, Pul King of Assyria invaded"
2 Reis 15:19-22
15:19 "Pul, king of Assyria" This is the ruler of the Assyrian empire also known as Tiglath-pileser III (cf. 1 Chr. 5:26; NIDOTTE, vo. 4, pp. 1250-1251). When he ascended the Babylonian throne by assassinating Ashur-nirari V, he took the name Pul or Pulu in 729 B.C.. For "Assyria" see NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 417-419. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF ASSYRIA ▣ "came against the land" In 743 B.C. Pul received tribute from Rezin of Damascus. In 739 he received tribute from Menahem, king of Israel. In 734 he moved even further south through the kingdoms of Phoenicia and Philistia. ▣ "talents" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES, II. A. 1. 15:20 "mighty men of wealth" This designation originally referred to brave and successful warriors but it came to be used of wealthy people (NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 810-811 and vol. 2, p. 119, #5). Roland deVaux used this verse to estimate the total population of Israel at this period as about 800,000 (Ancient Israel, pp. 65-66). ▣ "shekels" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES, II. A. 2. ▣ "to pay the king of Assyria" Israel became a vassal when Jehu paid tribute to Shalmaneser III in 841 B.C. Menahem paid tribute to Tiglath-pileser III in 738 B.C.
2 Reis 15:23-26
15:25 "Argob and Arieh" It is uncertain if these two names were part of the attackers part of the king's court (UBS Text Project, p. 360) names for gateway figures (i.e., eagle and lion) which would parallel "the castle of the king's house" (NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 518)
2 Reis 15:29-31
15:29 "Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria" He is called by his throne name "Pul" in v. 19. Notice all the place names mentioned are in northern Israel. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF ASSYRIA ▣ "he carried them captive to Assyria" This was the beginning of the northern kingdom's exile (NIDOTTE, vol. 4, "Exile," pp. 595-605)! The Bible speaks of two major deportations of Israel by Assyria. here by Tiglath-pileser III in 734 B.C. later at the fall of Samaria in 722 B.C. siege started by Shalmaneser V siege was victorious under Sargon II (cf. 2 Kgs. 17:1-6; 18:9-12) The cursings of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 had come to fruition (cf. 2 Kgs. 17:19-23)! For a good brief discussion see R. K. Harrison, Old Testament Times, "The Decline of Israel," pp. 228-229, and "The Last Days of Israel," pp. 229-231. 15:30 "Hoshea" We learn from the annals of Tiglath-pileser III that he helped/encouraged Hoshea assassinate Pekah. Hoshea was a pro-Assyrian king. ▣ "in the twentieth year of Jotham" There is some confusion between this date and v. 33. The best resource for me has been Edwin R. Thiele, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings.
2 Reis 15:32-38
15:32-34 "Jotham" He was one of Judah's good kings (cf. 2 Chronicles 27). He did not attempt to offer incense in the temple, as his father Uzziah had done (cf. 2 Chr. 26:16-21) which displeased YHWH. 15:35 "Only the high places were not taken away" See note at v. 4. ▣ "He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord" For a fuller list of Jotham's building projects see 2 Chr. 27:3. 15:37 This is the beginning of Syria and Israel trying to force Judah to join a military alliance to repulse the king of Assyria. This is later called the "Syro-Ephraimite Alliance" (NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 1244-1245). 15:38 "Ahaz" His full name was possibly Jeho-ahaz. This is what he is called in the Assyrian records.