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Menahem rules Israel

16 Menahem then moved from Tirzah and attacked Tiphsah, all its citizens, and its neighboring areas. Because they wouldn’t surrender, he attacked and ripped open all its pregnant women. 17 Menahem, Gadi’s son, became king of Israel in the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Azariah. He ruled for ten years in Samaria. 18 He did what was evil in the Lord’s eyes. Throughout his life, he didn’t deviate from the sins that Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, had caused Israel to commit. 19 When Assyria’s King Tiglath-pileser[a] marched against the land, Menahem gave Tiglath-pileser one thousand silver kikkars in order to become his ally and to strengthen his hold on the kingdom. 20 Menahem taxed Israel for this money. All the wealthy people had to give fifty silver shekels each to Assyria’s king. So Assyria’s king went home and didn’t stay there in the land. 21 The rest of Menahem’s deeds and all that he accomplished, aren’t they written in the official records of Israel’s kings? 22 Menahem lay down with his ancestors. His son Pekahiah succeeded him as king.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 15:19 Heb Pul

16 At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah(A) and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open(B) their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.

Menahem King of Israel

17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years. 18 He did evil(C) in the eyes of the Lord. During his entire reign he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.

19 Then Pul[a](D) king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents[b] of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom. 20 Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy person had to contribute fifty shekels[c] of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew(E) and stayed in the land no longer.

21 As for the other events of Menahem’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 22 Menahem rested with his ancestors. And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 15:19 Also called Tiglath-Pileser
  2. 2 Kings 15:19 That is, about 38 tons or about 34 metric tons
  3. 2 Kings 15:20 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds or about 575 grams