2 Kings 15:17-21
New Living Translation
17 Menahem son of Gadi began to rule over Israel in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria ten years. 18 But Menahem did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. During his entire reign, he refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.
19 Then King Tiglath-pileser[a] of Assyria invaded the land. But Menahem paid him thirty-seven tons[b] of silver to gain his support in tightening his grip on royal power. 20 Menahem extorted the money from the rich of Israel, demanding that each of them pay fifty pieces[c] of silver to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned from attacking Israel and did not stay in the land.
21 The rest of the events in Menahem’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
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2 Kings 15:17-21
English Standard Version
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 (A)Pul[a] the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave (B)Pul a thousand talents[b] of silver, that he might help him (C)to confirm his hold on the royal power. 20 Menahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels[c] 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?
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
