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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 for ten years in Samaria. 18 But he did evil in the eyes of Yahweh. He did not depart all of his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which he caused Israel to sin.

19 Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, so Menahem gave a thousand talents of silver to Pul so that his hand would be with him to strengthen his hold on the kingdom.[a] 20 Menahem exacted the money from Israel, from all the very rich,[b] to give to the king of Assyria fifty shekels of silver for each one. Then the king of Assyria returned 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 scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 15:19 Literally “to strengthen the kingship in his hand”
  2. 2 Kings 15:20 Literally “the mighty of the wealth”

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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Footnotes

  1. 15:19a Hebrew Pul, another name for Tiglath-pileser.
  2. 15:19b Hebrew 1,000 talents [34 metric tons].
  3. 15:20 Hebrew 50 shekels [20 ounces or 570 grams].