In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria for two years. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. Pekah 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. Now 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.
Parallel Translations
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In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria for two years.
He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
Pekah 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.
Now 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.
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In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
And 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.
Show all 3 translations
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In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.
And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the castle of the king's house, by Argob and by Arieh; and with him were fifty men of the Gileadites; and he slew him, and reigned in his stead.
Now 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.
Cross-references (13)
- 2 Kings 15:9 (v24) He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, as his fathers had done. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with…
- 2 Kings 15:18 (v24) He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. He didn’t depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made…
- 2 Chronicles 28:6 (v25) For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because they had forsaken…
- 1 Kings 15:25 (v23) Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years.
- 1 Kings 16:8 (v23) In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah for two years.
Show all 13 cross-references
- 1 Kings 16:9 (v25) His servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza,…
- 1 Kings 22:51 (v23) Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two…
- 2 Kings 9:5 (v25) When he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting. Then he said, “I have a message for you, captain.” Jehu said, “To which of us…
- 2 Kings 9:14 (v25) So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram was keeping Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, because…
- 2 Kings 15:10 (v25) Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people, and killed him, and reigned in his place.
- 2 Kings 15:27 (v25) In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria for twenty years.
- 2 Kings 21:19 (v23) Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth the…
- Job 20:5 (v23) that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v25 Which were of the same conspiracy.
Which were of the same conspiracy.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv23–26 2Ki 15:23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king…
2Ki 15:23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, [and reigned] two years.
Ver. 23. Reigned two years.] Not ten years, as Drusius affirmeth. {a}
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{a} Regnavit annos decem.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On v25 Argob and Arieh might be either Pekah’s partners in…
Argob and Arieh might be either Pekah’s partners in this treason, or the king’s courtiers or officers, who were now slain with him.
Fifty men of the Gileadites; who assisted him in the execution of his treason.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv23–26 Five and twenty years old was he when he…
Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign,.... Alone, after the death of his father:
and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and his reign, upon the whole, was a good reign:
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and his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok; a person well known in those times; Dr. Lightfoot (h) thinks he was high priest.
(h) Works, vol. 1. p. 100.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v25 Verse 25. Smote him in Samaria, in the palace…
Verse 25. Smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh] Who Argob and Arieh were we know not; some make them men, some make them statues. Pekah had fifty Gileadites in the conspiracy with him.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v24 2Ki 15:24-25. He did that which was evil, &c.…
2Ki 15:24-25. He did that which was evil, &c. — He was the wicked son of a wicked father, and so perished by such a conspiracy as his father formed against Shallum. With Argob and Arieh — It does not appear from the text whether these persons were Pekah’s partners in this treason, or Pekahiah’s courtiers and officers now slain with him. With fifty men of the Gileadites — Who, it is probable, were Pekahiah’s body-guard.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v25 A captain of his - A mere “captain,” a…
A captain of his - A mere “captain,” a person, therefore, of very moderate rank. The low birth of Pekah is probably glanced at in Isaiah’s favorite designation of him as “Remaliah’s son” Isa 7:4-5, Isa 7:9; Isa 8:6.
From the fact that Pekah employed Gileadites to carry out his designs, it has been conjectured that he himself belonged to the trans-Jordanic region.
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In the palace of the king’s house - Rather, “In the tower of the king’s palace;” or possibly “in the harem of the king’s palace” (1Ki 16:18 note).
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv25–26 Near. Hebrew, "may be along with Argob, &c." who…
Near. Hebrew, "may be along with Argob, &c." who were in the conspiracy. (Chaldean, Septaugint, &c.) (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv23, 25 PEKAHIAH'S REIGN. (Kg2 15:22-24)
PEKAHIAH'S REIGN. (Kg2 15:22-24)
Pekahiah . . . son of Menahem began to reign--On comparing the date given with Azariah's reign, it seems that several months had intervened between the death of Menahem and the accession of Pekahiah, probably owing to a contest about the throne.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv23, 25 REIGN OF PEKAHIAH, 2Ki_15:23-26.
REIGN OF PEKAHIAH, 2Ki_15:23-26.
23. The fiftieth year — According to 2Ki_15:17, Menahem must have died in the forty-ninth year of Azariah, so that perhaps several months elapsed before his son became the acknowledged king. Perhaps, as Keil suggests, his right to the throne was contested.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On v25 23–26. Reign of Pekahiah king of Israel. He is…
23–26. Reign of Pekahiah king of Israel. He is slain by Pekah, the son of Remaliah, who succeeds him (Not in Chronicles)
25. Pekah … a captain of his] R.V. his captain. The word is the same which in 2Ki_7:2 is used for the captain (A.V. lord) on whose hand the king of Israel leaned. Probably Pekah occupied some such position about the king, which gave him the opportunity of attacking his master, for the murder was perpetrated ‘in the castle of the king’s house’. From the mention of the fifty men of the Gileadites who took part with him in the conspiracy, it has been conjectured that Pekah was himself a native of that wild land, the home in former days of Jephthah and of Elijah. His conduct is of the kind to be expected from one nursed in such wild localities.
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in the palace [R.V. castle] of the king’s house] The word is rendered ‘palace’ everywhere in A.V. except Pro_18:19 ‘like the bars of a castle’. But here and in 1Ki_16:18 (see note there) the sense requires some word expressive of security and protection from a foe. Hence the change in R.V. We know so little of the construction of the royal houses of Israel that it is difficult to be precise about what is meant. But it seems most likely that the king when he knew that Pekah and his fifty comrades were bent on his murder would take refuge in the most fortified place he could reach.
with Argob and Arieh] Doubtless two friends who had remained with Pekahiah to the last.
of the Gileadites] The LXX. has in some MSS. the words ἀπὸ τῶν τετρακοσίων=of the four hundred. I have found no means of explaining the reading. Before ‘fifty’ in this clause R.V. inserts were.
and he killed [R.V. slew] him and reigned in his room] R.V. stead. The words are exactly the same in the original as the closing words of verse 10 above. Both should be alike in the English.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v23 (Heb., Pĕkahyâh).
(23-26) THE REIGN OF PEKAHIAH
(Heb., Pĕkahyâh).
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(23) In the fiftieth year.—The forty-ninth, if verse seventeen were exact.
(25) But . . . a captain of his.—And . . . his adjutant (or knight, 2Ki_7:2).
The palace of the king’s house.—The same expression occurred in 1Ki_16:18. The word armôn, rendered “palace,” is usually explained as meaning citadel or keep, from a root meaning to be high. (Comp. ἡ ἄκρα in Greek.) Ewald makes it the harem, which, as the innermost and most strongly-guarded part of an Oriental palace, is probably meant here. Thither Pekahiah had fled for refuge before the conspirators.
With Argob and Arieh.—Pekah slew these two persons, probably officers of the royal guard, who stood by their master, as well as the king himself.
The peculiar names are an indication of the historical character of the account. Argob suggests that the person who bore this name was a native of the district of Bashan so designated (1Ki_4:13); Arieh (“lion”), like our own Cceur-de-Lion, betokens strength and bravery. (Comp. 1Ch_12:8, “The Gadites, whose faces were as the faces of lions.”)
And with him fifty men of the Gileadites.—Or, and with him were fifty, &c. Pekah was supported by fifty soldiers, probably of the royal guard. Menahem himself was of Gadite origin (2Ki_15:17), and so belonged to Gilead. He would therefore be likely to recruit his body-guard from among the Gileadites, who were always famous for their prowess. (Comp. Jos_17:1; Jdg_11:12; 1Ch_26:31.) The two names Argob and Arieh agree with this supposition. The LXX. reads, in place of “the Gileadites,” ἀπὸ τῶν τετρακοσίων, “of the four hundred,” which reminds us of David’s six hundred Gibbôrîm (2Sa_15:18).
Josephus accounts for the short reign of Pekahiah by the statement that he imitated the cruelty of his father.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv23–26 Vers. 23-26. SHORT REIGN OF PEKA-HIAH. The short reign…
Vers. 23-26. SHORT REIGN OF PEKA-HIAH. The short reign of Pekahiah was wholly undistinguished. He held the throne for two years only, or perhaps for parts of two years, and performed no action that any historian has thought worthy of record. Our author has nothing to relate of him but the circumstances of his death (ver. 25), wherewith he combines the usual formulae (vers. 23, 24, 26).
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v23 Pekahiah and Pekah in Israel
Pekahiah and Pekah in Israel
v. 23. In the fiftieth year of Azariah, king of Judah, probably after some months of anarchistic turmoil, Pekahiah, the son of Menahem, began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
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v. 24. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord; he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, his idolatry with the calves having persisted through all the history of Israel.
v. 25. But Pekah, the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, the king’s adjutant, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, the fortified part of his palace, where he had fled at the approach of the conspirators, with Argob and Arieh, who, as high officials faithful to Pekahiah, were killed with him, and with him, on the side of Pekah, fifty men of the Gileadites; and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
v. 26. And the rest of the acts of Pekahlah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
v. 27. In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah, king of Judah, Pekah, the son of Remaliah, began to reign over Israel in Samarla, and reigned twenty years, his accession to the throne following his assassination of the king.
v. 28. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord; he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, the constantly recurring phrase serving to draw attention to this continual defection of the ruler and the nation.
v. 29. In the days of Pekah, king of Israel, came Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, with some of the districts on its boundary,and carried them captive to Assyria. This was the beginning of Israel’s end.
v. 30. And Hoshea, the son of Elah, evidently as a result of this Assyrian campaign, made a conspiracy against Pekah, the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, this note taking into account Jotham’s viceregency.
v. 31. And 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. It is a source of great comfort that, shortly after the events here recorded, Isaiah prophesied of the light and glory of the Messiah which was to appear to the inhabitants of the devastated districts in Galilee, Isa 9:1.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv23, 25 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah
In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah
It can be stated clearly that this is the fiftieth year of his reign. AT: "In year 50 of the reign of Azariah king of Judah" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Numbers)
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Pekahiah
This is a man's name. (See: How to Translate Names)
what was evil in the sight of Yahweh
The sight of Yahweh represents Yahweh's judgment. See how you translated this in 2 Kings 3:2. AT: "what was evil in Yahweh's judgment" or "what Yahweh considers to be evil" (See: Metaphor)
He did not leave behind the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat
Leaving behind sins represents refusing to do those sins. AT: "Pekahiah did not refuse to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat" or "He sinned as Jeroboam son of Nebat had sinned" (See: Metaphor)
he had caused Israel to sin
Here the word "Israel" represents the people of the kingdom of Israel. (See: Metonymy)
translationWords
Uzziah
reign
Jeroboam
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v23 15:23-25 Menahem’s son Pekahiah reigned only two years before…
15:23-25 Menahem’s son Pekahiah reigned only two years before Pekah conspired to assassinate him. Pekahiah continued the sins associated with the religious policies initiated by Jeroboam I (1 Kgs 12:26-33). Pekah, an army commander, had apparently been a rival for the throne for some time.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.