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2 Kings 15

Azariah (Uzziah) of Judah

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.

The Last Kings of Israel

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.

Jotham of Judah

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

  • 1-7
    Azariah's Reign in Judah Azariah rules righteously for fifty-two years but is afflicted with leprosy, with his son Jotham governing in his place.
  • 8-12
    Zechariah's Brief Reign Zechariah rules Israel for six months before being assassinated by Shallum, fulfilling God's promise to Jehu's dynasty.
  • 13-22
    Shallum and Menahem's Reigns Shallum rules one month before Menahem kills him and establishes a brutal ten-year reign, paying tribute to Assyria.
  • 23-26
    Pekahiah's Short Rule Menahem's son Pekahiah reigns two years before being assassinated by his captain Pekah.
  • 27-31
    Pekah's Reign and Assyrian Conquest Pekah rules twenty years until Tiglath-Pileser conquers northern territories and Hoshea assassinates him.
  • 32-38
    Jotham's Reign in Judah Jotham follows his father Azariah's righteous example, ruling Judah for sixteen years during Israel's instability.

Azariah (Uzziah) of Judah

15:1–15:7
narrative narration solemn

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.

The Last Kings of Israel

15:8–15:31
narrative narration urgent

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.

Jotham of Judah

15:32–15:38
narrative narration peaceful

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.

Insights

Insight Character Study

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.

Insight Character Study

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.

Insight Character Study

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.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Interlinear

Word-by-word original language

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Historical Context

Places and events in this chapter

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