2 Kings 15

Azariah becomes Judah’s king

In the twenty-seventh year of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Azariah (the son of Judah’s King Amaziah) began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and reigned for fifty-two years from Jerusalem. His mom was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.

And he did what was right in the Existing One’s eyes, just like his father Amaziah had done. Nevertheless, he didn’t destroy the shrines. The people continued to offer sacrifices on the shrines. The Existing One touched the king so that he had leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. His son Jotham managed the household and governed over the people of the land. Now the rest of Azariah’s history including everything he did is recorded in the book The Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. And Azariah slept with his fathers in the ground and they buried his body with the rest of the kings in the city of David. His son Jotham reigned in his place.

Zecchariah becomes Israel’s king, assassinated by Shallum

In the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Zecchariah (Jeroboam’s son) reigned over Israel from Samaria for six months. And he did what was evil in the Existing One’s sight, just like his fathers had done. He didn’t depart from the ways of Jeroboam (Nebat’s son), and led Israel into opposition with God. Shallum (Jabesh’s son) conspired against him, assassinated him, and took the throne in his place. Now the rest of Zechariah’s history is recorded in the book The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. (The Existing One promised Jehu, “Your sons will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation,” and so it came to pass.

Shallum becomes Israel’s king, assassinated by Menahem, Menahem destroys those who oppose him

Shallum (Jabesh’s son) began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Uzziah, and he reigned one month from Samaria. Then Menahem (Gadi’s son) went from Tirzah to Samaria and assassinated Shallum and took the throne in his place. Now the rest of Shallum’s history, including the way he conspired to become king, is recorded in the book The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. At that time Menahem destroyed the town of Tiphsah and everyone in it from Tirzah on, because they refused to surrender the town over to him. So he destroyed everything even ripping out unborn children from their pregnant mothers.

Menahem pays Assyria preventing attack on Judah

In the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Menahem (Gadi’s son) began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for ten years from Samaria. He did what was evil in the Existing One’s eyes. His whole life, he never departed from the offenses of Jeroboam (Nebat’s son), and he Israel to do the same. Assyria’s King Pul came against the country, and Menahem gave Pul 75,000 pounds of silver to help him maintain control over the throne. Menahem raised that money by taxing the rich 1.2 pounds of silver each. He gave it to Assyria’s king, so he turned back and didn’t fight them. The rest of Menahem’s history including everything he did is recorded in the book The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. And Menahem slept in the ground with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah reigned in his place.

Pekahiah becomes Israel’s King, assassinated by Pekah

In the fiftieth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekahiah (Menahem’s son) began to reign over Israel from Samaria, and he reigned for two years. He did what was evil in the Existing One’s sight. He didn’t turn away from the offenses of Jeroboam (Nebat’s son), also leading Israel down that same path. And his captain, Pekah (Remaliah’s son), plotted against him with fifty men from Gilead including Argob and Arieh. They assassinated him in Samaria’s citadel, and Pekah reigned in his place. Now the rest of Pekahiah’s history, including everything he did is recorded in the book The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Pekah becomes Israel’s king

In the fifty-second year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekah (Remaliah’s son) began to reign over Israel from Samaria, and he reigned for twenty years. He did what was evil in the Existing One’s sight. He didn’t depart from the offenses of Jeroboam (Nebat’s son), and he led Israel down the same path.

Assyria Israel’s territories, deports them, Hoshea assassinates Pekah, Pekah becomes Israel’s king

In the days of Israel’s King Pekah, Assyria’s King Tiglath-pileser came and captured the entire region of Naphtali including Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee. He held the people captive and brought them back to Assyria. Then Hoshea (Elah’s son) plotted against Pekah (Remaliah’s son), assassinated him, and reigned in his place during the twentieth year of Jothan (Uzziah’s son). Now the rest of Pekah’s history including everything he did, is written in the book The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Jotham becomes Judah’s King

In the second year of Israel’s King Pekah (Remaliah’s son), Jotham (the son of Israel’s King Uzziah) began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mom’s name was Jerusha (Zadok’s daughter). He did what was right in the Existing One’s eyes, just like his father Uzziah had done. Nevertheless, the shrines weren’t taken down. The people still offered sacrifices at the shrines. He built the upper gate of the Existing One’s house. The rest of Jotham’s history and everything he did is recorded in the book The Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. In those days the Existing One started sending Syria’s King Rezin and Pekah (Remaliah’s son) to oppose Judah. Jotham slept in the ground with his fathers and was buried with the other kings in the city of David, and his son Ahaz reigned in his place.