Azariah's fifty-two-year reign paradoxically combines divine approval ("did right in the LORD's eyes") with divine punishment (leprosy), creating the Bible's longest recorded tension between righteousness and judgment.
1In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign.
2He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
3He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
4However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.
5The LORD struck the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. Jotham, the king’s son, was over the household, judging the people of the land.
6Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
7Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in David’s city; and Jotham his son reigned in his place.
8In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months.
9He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, as his fathers had done. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
10Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people and killed him, and reigned in his place.
11Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
12This was the LORD’s word which he spoke to Jehu, saying, “Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” So it came to pass.
13Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned for a month in Samaria.
14Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, killed him, and reigned in his place.
15Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
16Then Menahem attacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its border areas, from Tirzah. He attacked it because they didn’t open their gates to him, and he ripped up all their women who were with child.
17In the thirty ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel for ten years in Samaria.
18He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
19Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
20Menahem exacted the money from Israel, even from all the mighty men of wealth, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and didn’t stay there in the land.
21Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
22Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.
23In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria for two years.
24He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
25Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him and attacked him in Samaria, in the fortress of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of the Gileadites. He killed him, and reigned in his place.
26Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
27In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria for twenty years.
28He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.
30Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, attacked him, killed him, and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
31Now 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.
32In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign.
33He was 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.
34He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes. He did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
35However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built the upper gate of the LORD’s house.
36Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
37In those days, the LORD began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.
38Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David’s city; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
2 Kings 15 chronicles a period of political instability, contrasting the relatively stable southern kingdom of Judah with the chaotic northern kingdom of Israel. Azariah (Uzziah) of Judah reigns faithfully for fifty-two years but is struck with leprosy, while Israel experiences rapid succession through assassination and conspiracy—Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah all rule within a short span. The chapter highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to Jehu's dynasty and introduces the growing threat of Assyrian dominance, as Menahem pays tribute to Pul (Tiglath-Pileser III) to secure his throne.
Context
This chapter continues the parallel histories of Israel and Judah from chapter 14, setting up the final collapse of the northern kingdom detailed in chapters 16-17.
Key Themes
Outline
King Azariah (Uzziah) of Judah does right in God's eyes but is struck with leprosy, leading to his son Jotham governing in his place until his death.
person_contrast
Azariah's fifty-two-year reign paradoxically combines divine approval ("did right in the LORD's eyes") with divine punishment (leprosy), creating the Bible's longest recorded tension between righteousness and judgment.
A period of instability in Israel with rapid succession of evil kings through conspiracy and assassination, fulfilling God's prophetic word to Jehu about his dynasty.
person_contrast
Zechariah's six-month reign marks the shortest-lived king in Israel's history, dramatically contrasting his namesake prophet's calls for covenant faithfulness with his own perpetuation of Jeroboam's idolatrous sins.
King Jotham of Judah follows his father Uzziah's righteous example, building temple gates, though external threats from Syria and Israel begin to emerge during his reign.
person_contrast
Jotham's reign uniquely showcases Uzziah in a context of sustained obedience and legitimate authority, contrasting with most biblical references linking Uzziah to divine judgment and chosen-people themes.
Azariah's fifty-two-year reign paradoxically combines divine approval ("did right in the LORD's eyes") with divine punishment (leprosy), creating the Bible's longest recorded tension between righteousness and judgment.
Zechariah's six-month reign marks the shortest-lived king in Israel's history, dramatically contrasting his namesake prophet's calls for covenant faithfulness with his own perpetuation of Jeroboam's idolatrous sins.
Jotham's reign uniquely showcases Uzziah in a context of sustained obedience and legitimate authority, contrasting with most biblical references linking Uzziah to divine judgment and chosen-people themes.
Connected passages across Scripture
All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.
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In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah.
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However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.
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He sacrificed and burned incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
He sacrificed and burned incense in the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.
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Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the king…
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So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the king…
Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.
Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
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In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria for…
six were born to him in Hebron; and he reigned there seven years and six months. He reigned thirty-three years in Jerusa…
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Isra…
Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.
He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made I…
He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with wh…
He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with wh…
Nevertheless he held to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn’t depart from t…
However, Jehu didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin—the golden calv…
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In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel for nine years.
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The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he fought and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicl…
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In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel for nine years.
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel. Ahab the son of Omri re…
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria for…
Nevertheless he held to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn’t depart from t…
He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made I…
He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with wh…
He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with wh…
However, Jehu didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin—the golden calv…
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When I saw among the plunder a beautiful Babylonian robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fi…
your valuation of a male from twenty years old to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the she…
“‘If a man dedicates to the LORD part of the field of his possession, then your valuation shall be according to the seed…
The king said to Araunah, “No, but I will most certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings t…
The LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, the leaders, and captains in the camp of the king of As…
Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings o…
The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of J…
Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of…
Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he committed, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles…
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, aren’t they written in the book of the acts of…
He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made I…
He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with wh…
He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with wh…
Nevertheless he held to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn’t depart from t…
However, Jehu didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin—the golden calv…
In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war. They besieged Ahaz,…
For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because t…
In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Re…
Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings o…
The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of J…
Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of…
Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he committed, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles…
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, aren’t they written in the book of the acts of…
For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because t…
In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war. They besieged Ahaz,…
In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Re…
In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel…
Nevertheless he held to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn’t depart from t…
He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made I…
He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with wh…
He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with wh…
However, Jehu didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin—the golden calv…
Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and D…
They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Ar…
Out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Hammothdo…
So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria, a…
and Beerah his son, whom Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive. He was prince of the Reubenites.
In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Re…
In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
The LORD’s word that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah,…
For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because t…
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel for nine years.
Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings o…
The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of J…
Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of…
Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he committed, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles…
The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he fought and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicl…
In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Re…
In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the king…
For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because t…
Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war. They besieged Ahaz,…
Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name wa…
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name…
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was…
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name wa…
However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.
Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, except that he sacrificed and burned incense in the…
However, the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was not yet a house built for the LORD’s name.
He sacrificed and burned incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
He cried against the altar by the LORD’s word, and said, “Altar! Altar! The LORD says: ‘Behold, a son will be born to Da…
Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of…
Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings o…
The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of J…
Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of…
Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he committed, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles…
Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war. They besieged Ahaz,…
In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Re…
Tell him, ‘Be careful, and keep calm. Don’t be afraid, neither let your heart be faint because of these two tails of smo…
“Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;
For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because t…
Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the king…
Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem, because they didn’t bring him into the…
Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.
In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
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Places and events in this chapter