2 Kings 15
International Standard Version
Azariah Becomes King of Judah
15 Amaziah’s son Azariah began reigning during the twenty-seventh year of the reign of[a] Jeroboam, king of Israel. 2 He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was[b] from Jerusalem. 3 He did what the Lord considered to be right, just as his father Amaziah had done in everything, 4 except that the high places were never removed, and the people kept on sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.
5 The Lord struck the king so that he was afflicted with leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house while his son Jotham managed the household and ruled[c] the people who lived in the land. 6 Now the rest of Azariah’s activities, including everything he did, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 7 Later, Azariah died, as had[d] his ancestors, and they buried him with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Jotham then reigned in his place.
Zachariah’s Reign over Israel
8 During the thirty-eighth year of the reign of[e] Azariah, king of Judah, Jeroboam’s son Zachariah began a six-month reign in Samaria. 9 He did what the Lord considered to be evil, just as his ancestors had done. He never abandoned the sins of Nebat’s son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin. 10 So Jabesh’s son Shallum conspired against him and attacked him in full view of the people, killed him, and reigned in his place. 11 The rest of Zachariah’s activities are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
Shallum’s Reign over Israel
12 This is what the Lord told Jehu: “Your children will sit on Israel’s throne for the next four generations.”[f] And that is what happened:[g] 13 Jabesh’s son Shallum began his reign in the thirty-ninth year of the reign of Uzziah,[h] king of Judah. He reigned a full month[i] in Samaria, 14 then Gadi’s son Menahem approached Samaria from Tirzah and attacked Jabesh’s son Shallum, executed him, and reigned in his place. 15 The rest of Shallum’s activities, including the conspiracy that he carried out, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not?
Menahem’s Reign over Israel
16 At another time, Menahem attacked Tiphsah and all of its inhabitants, including its coastlands from Tirzah, because they would not open the city gate for him. After defeating them, he ripped open all of their pregnant women. 17 In the thirty-ninth year of the reign of[j] Azariah, king of Judah, Gadi’s son Menahem began a ten-year reign over Israel from Samaria. 18 He did what the Lord considered to be evil by never abandoning the sins of Nebat’s son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin, as long as he lived.
19 Later on, King Pul of Aram attacked the land, and Menahem paid Pul 1,000 silver talents[k] so Pul[l] would join forces with Menahem[m] to secure his hold on the kingdom. 20 Menahem exacted the money from all of Israel’s powerful and wealthy men, 50 shekels[n] from each, to pay the king of Aram. As a result, the king of Aram retreated and did not remain there in the land. 21 The rest of Menahem’s activities, including everything that he did, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 22 Then Menahem died, as did[o] his ancestors, and his son Pekahiah reigned in his place.
Pekahiah’s Reign over Israel
23 Menahem’s son Pekahiah became king over Israel for two years during the fiftieth year of the reign of[p] King Azariah of Judah. 24 He did what the Lord considered to be evil. Just as Nebat’s son Jeroboam had led Israel into sin, so also Pekahiah did not stop doing the same thing. 25 Then Remaliah’s son Pekah, Pekahiah’s[q] officer, conspired against him with Argob and Arieh. Accompanied by 50 Gileadite men, Pekah attacked Pekahiah inside the palace of the king’s compound[r] in Samaria, executed him, and reigned as king in his place. 26 The rest of Pekahiah’s activities, including everything he did, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
Pekah’s Reign over Israel
27 Remaliah’s son Pekah began a 20-year reign as Israel’s king during the fifty-second year of King Azariah of Judah. 28 He did what the Lord considered to be evil by never abandoning the sins of Nebat’s son Jeroboam, by which he caused Israel to sin. 29 During the lifetime of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria attacked. He captured the cities of Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor. He also captured Gilead, Galilee, and the entire territory of Naphtali, and carried its people off to Assyria. 30 So during the twentieth year of the reign of[s] Uzziah’s son Jotham, Elah’s son Hoshea conspired against Remaliah’s son Pekah, attacked him, executed him, and became king in his place. 31 The rest of Pekah’s activities, including everything that he accomplished, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
Jotham’s Reign over Judah
32 Uzziah’s son Jotham became king over Judah during the second year of the reign of[t] Remaliah’s son Pekah, king of Israel. 33 He was 25 years old when he became king. He reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. Zadok’s daughter Jerusha was his mother. 34 He did what the Lord considered to be right, following everything his father Uzziah had done, 35 except the high places were not torn down, and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. But he rebuilt the upper gate of the Lord’s Temple. 36 The rest of Jotham’s activities, including everything that he accomplished, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not?
37 Right about that time, the Lord began to send King Rezin of Aram and Remaliah’s son Pekah against Judah. 38 Meanwhile, Jotham died, as did[u] his ancestors, and was buried with them[v] in the City of David, his ancestor. Then Jotham’s son Ahaz reigned in his place.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 15:1 The Heb. lacks the reign of
- 2 Kings 15:2 The Heb. lacks she was
- 2 Kings 15:5 Lit. judged
- 2 Kings 15:7 Lit. Azariah slept with
- 2 Kings 15:8 The Heb. lacks the reign of
- 2 Kings 15:12 The Heb. lacks generations
- 2 Kings 15:12 Lit. And so it was
- 2 Kings 15:13 Uzziah is an alternate spelling of Azariah (cf. 2King 15:1)
- 2 Kings 15:13 Lit. a lunar of days; i.e. one complete lunar month (through all four phases of the moon)
- 2 Kings 15:17 The Heb. lacks the reign of
- 2 Kings 15:19 I.e. about 75,000 pounds; a talent weighed about 75 pounds
- 2 Kings 15:19 Lit. he
- 2 Kings 15:19 Lit. him
- 2 Kings 15:20 I.e. about 20 ounces; a shekel weighed about 0.4 ounce
- 2 Kings 15:22 Lit. Menahem slept with
- 2 Kings 15:23 The Heb. lacks the reign of
- 2 Kings 15:25 Lit. his
- 2 Kings 15:25 Lit. house
- 2 Kings 15:30 The Heb. lacks the reign of
- 2 Kings 15:32 The Heb. lacks the reign of
- 2 Kings 15:38 Lit. Jotham slept with
- 2 Kings 15:38 Lit. with his ancestors
2 Kings 15
New King James Version
Azariah Reigns in Judah(A)
15 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, (B)Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, (C)became king. 2 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done, 4 (D)except that the [a]high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 5 Then the Lord (E)struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his (F)death; so he (G)dwelt in an isolated house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the royal house, judging the people of the land.
6 Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 7 So Azariah [b]rested with his fathers, and (H)they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.
Zechariah Reigns in Israel
8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, (I)Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. 9 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, (J)as his fathers had done; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 10 Then Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and (K)struck and killed him in front of the people; and he reigned in his place.
11 Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
12 This was the word of the Lord which He spoke to Jehu, saying, (L)“Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” And so it was.
Shallum Reigns in Israel
13 Shallum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of [c]Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria. 14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from (M)Tirzah, came to Samaria, and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him; and he reigned in his place.
15 Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy which he [d]led, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 16 Then from Tirzah, Menahem attacked (N)Tiphsah, all who were there, and its territory. Because they did not surrender, therefore he attacked it. All (O)the women there who were with child he ripped open.
Menahem Reigns in Israel
17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria. 18 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 19 (P)Pul[e] king of Assyria came against the land; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his [f]hand might be with him to (Q)strengthen the kingdom under his control. 20 And Menahem (R)exacted[g] the money from Israel, from all the very wealthy, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in the land.
21 Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 22 So Menahem [h]rested with his fathers. Then Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.
Pekahiah Reigns in Israel
23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years. 24 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 25 Then Pekah the son of Remaliah, an officer of his, conspired against him and [i]killed him in Samaria, in the (S)citadel of the king’s house, along with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of Gilead. He killed him and reigned in his place.
26 Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
Pekah Reigns in Israel
27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, (T)Pekah the son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. 28 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, [j]Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria (U)came and took (V)Ijon, Abel Beth Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he (W)carried them captive to Assyria. 30 Then Hoshea the son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and struck and killed him; so he (X)reigned in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
31 Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
Jotham Reigns in Judah(Y)
32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, (Z)Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 33 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was [k]Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. 34 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord; he did (AA)according to all that his father Uzziah had done. 35 (AB)However the [l]high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. (AC)He built the Upper Gate of the house of the Lord.
36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 37 In those days the Lord began to send (AD)Rezin king of Syria and (AE)Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah. 38 So Jotham [m]rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 15:4 Places for pagan worship
- 2 Kings 15:7 Died and joined his ancestors
- 2 Kings 15:13 Azariah, 2 Kin. 14:21ff.; 15:1ff.
- 2 Kings 15:15 Lit. conspired
- 2 Kings 15:19 Tiglath-Pileser III, v. 29
- 2 Kings 15:19 Support
- 2 Kings 15:20 took
- 2 Kings 15:22 Died and joined his ancestors
- 2 Kings 15:25 Lit. struck
- 2 Kings 15:29 A later name of Pul, v. 19
- 2 Kings 15:33 Jerushah, 2 Chr. 27:1
- 2 Kings 15:35 Places for pagan worship
- 2 Kings 15:38 Died and joined his ancestors
2 Kings 15
English Standard Version
Azariah Reigns in Judah
15 (A)In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, (B)Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was (C)sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 4 (D)Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 5 (E)And the Lord touched the king, so that he was a leper[a] to the day of his death, (F)and he lived in a separate house.[b] And Jotham the king's son was over the household, governing the people of the land. 6 Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 7 And Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers (G)in the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his place.
Zechariah Reigns in Israel
8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. 9 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, (H)which he made Israel to sin. 10 Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him and (I)struck him down at Ibleam and put him to death and reigned in his place. 11 Now the rest of the deeds of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 12 (This was (J)the promise of the Lord that he gave to Jehu, “Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” And so it came to pass.)
Shallum Reigns in Israel
13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of (K)Uzziah[c] king of Judah, and he reigned one month in (L)Samaria. 14 Then Menahem the son of Gadi came up from (M)Tirzah and came to Samaria, and he struck down Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and put him to death and reigned in his place. 15 Now the rest of the deeds of Shallum, and the conspiracy that he made, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 16 At that time Menahem sacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its territory from Tirzah on, because they did not open it to him. Therefore he sacked it, (N)and he ripped open all the women in it who were pregnant.
Menahem Reigns in Israel
17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria. 18 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 19 (O)Pul[d] the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave (P)Pul a thousand talents[e] of silver, that he might help him (Q)to confirm his hold on the royal power. 20 Menahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels[f] of silver from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land. 21 Now the rest of the deeds of Menahem and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 22 And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.
Pekahiah Reigns in Israel
23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. 24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, (R)which he made Israel to sin. 25 And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him with fifty men of the people of Gilead, and struck him down in Samaria, in the citadel of the king's house with Argob and Arieh; he put him to death and reigned in his place. 26 Now the rest of the deeds of Pekahiah and all that he did, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
Pekah Reigns in Israel
27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. 28 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, (S)which he made Israel to sin.
29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, (T)Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured (U)Ijon, (V)Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, (W)Kedesh, (X)Hazor, Gilead, and (Y)Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he carried the people captive to Assyria. 30 Then Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah and struck him down and put him to death and reigned in his place, (Z)in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. 31 Now the rest of the acts of Pekah and all that he did, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
Jotham Reigns in Judah
32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 33 He was (AA)twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. 34 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, (AB)according to all that his father Uzziah had done. 35 (AC)Nevertheless, the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. He built (AD)the upper gate of the house of the Lord. 36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 37 In those days the Lord began to send (AE)Rezin the king of Syria and (AF)Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah. 38 Jotham slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 15:5 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
- 2 Kings 15:5 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
- 2 Kings 15:13 Another name for Azariah
- 2 Kings 15:19 Another name for Tiglath-pileser III (compare verse 29)
- 2 Kings 15:19 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
- 2 Kings 15:20 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.

