The kingdom
Short-lived Kings of Israel: Zechariah to Pekah
A series of kings in Israel (Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah) succeed one another through murder and conspiracies, while Assyria threatens the land.
2 Kings 15,8-31
8In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned six months.
בִּשְׁנַ֨ת שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וּשְׁמֹנֶה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה לַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה מָ֠לַךְ זְכַרְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־יָרָבְעָ֧ם עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּשֹׁמְר֖וֹן שִׁשָּׁ֥ה חֳדָשִֽׁים׃
9He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
וַיַּ֤עַשׂ הָרַע֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשׂ֖וּ אֲבֹתָ֑יו לֹ֣א סָ֗ר מֵֽחַטֹּאות֙ יָרָבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־נְבָ֔ט אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶחֱטִ֖יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
10Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against him, struck him down in front of the people, killed him, and became king in his place.
וַיִּקְשֹׁ֤ר עָלָיו֙ שַׁלֻּ֣ם בֶּן־יָבֵ֔שׁ וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ קָֽבָלְ־עָ֖ם וַיְמִיתֵ֑הוּ וַיִּמְלֹ֖ךְ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃
11The rest of the acts of Zechariah are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
וְיֶ֖תֶר דִּבְרֵ֣י זְכַרְיָ֑ה הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
12This fulfilled the word the LORD had spoken to Jehu: "Your descendants to the fourth generation will sit on the throne of Israel." And so it was.
ה֣וּא דְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר אֶל־יֵהוּא֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בְּנֵ֣י רְבִיעִ֔ים יֵשְׁב֥וּ לְךָ֖ עַל־כִּסֵּ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וֽ͏ַיְהִי־כֵֽן׃ פ
13Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned a full month in Samaria.
שַׁלּ֤וּם בֶּן־יָבֵישׁ֙ מָלַ֔ךְ בִּשְׁנַ֨ת שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וָתֵ֙שַׁע֙ שָׁנָ֔ה לְעֻזִיָּ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ יֶֽרַח־יָמִ֖ים בְּשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃
14Then Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria, struck down Shallum son of Jabesh there, killed him, and became king in his place.
וַיַּעַל֩ מְנַחֵ֨ם בֶּן־גָּדִ֜י מִתִּרְצָ֗ה וַיָּבֹא֙ שֹׁמְר֔וֹן וַיַּ֛ךְ אֶת־שַׁלּ֥וּם בֶּן־יָבֵ֖ישׁ בְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹן וַיְמִיתֵ֖הוּ וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃
15The rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy he led, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
וְיֶ֙תֶר֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י שַׁלּ֔וּם וְקִשְׁר֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָשָׁ֑ר הִנָּ֣ם כְּתֻבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס
16At that time Menahem marched from Tirzah and attacked Tiphsah, everyone in it, and its surrounding territory, because the city refused to open its gates to him. He struck it down and ripped open all its pregnant women.
אָ֣ז יַכֶּֽה־מְ֠נַחֵם אֶת־תִּפְסַ֨ח וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֤הּ וְאֶת־גְּבוּלֶ֙יהָ֙ מִתִּרְצָ֔ה כִּ֛י לֹ֥א פָתַ֖ח וַיַּ֑ךְ אֵ֛ת כָּל־הֶהָ֥רוֹתֶ֖יהָ בִּקֵּֽעַ׃ פ
17In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria.
בִּשְׁנַ֨ת שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וָתֵ֙שַׁע֙ שָׁנָ֔ה לַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה מָ֠לַךְ מְנַחֵ֨ם בֶּן־גָּדִ֧י עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עֶ֥שֶׂר שָׁנִ֖ים בְּשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃
18He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD. As long as he lived he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה לֹ֣א סָ֠ר מֵעַ֨ל חַטֹּ֜אות יָרָבְעָ֧ם בֶּן־נְבָ֛ט אֲשֶׁר־הֶחֱטִ֥יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כָּל־יָמָֽיו׃
19Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents of silver to gain his support and secure his own hold on the kingdom.
בָּ֣א פ֤וּל מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיִּתֵּ֤ן מְנַחֵם֙ לְפ֔וּל אֶ֖לֶף כִּכַּר־כָּ֑סֶף לִהְי֤וֹת יָדָיו֙ אִתּ֔וֹ לְהַחֲזִ֥יק הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
20Menahem raised the silver from Israel, exacting fifty shekels of silver from every wealthy man, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not remain in the land.
וַיֹּצֵא֩ מְנַחֵ֨ם אֶת־הַכֶּ֜סֶף עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל עַ֚ל כָּל־גִּבּוֹרֵ֣י הַחַ֔יִל לָתֵת֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר חֲמִשִּׁ֧ים שְׁקָלִ֛ים כֶּ֖סֶף לְאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֑ד וַיָּ֙שָׁב֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר וְלֹא־עָ֥מַד שָׁ֖ם בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
21The rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
וְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י מְנַחֵ֖ם וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה הֲלוֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
22Menahem rested with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah became king in his place.
וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב מְנַחֵ֖ם עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ פְּקַחְיָ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ פ
23In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years.
בִּשְׁנַת֙ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה לַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה מָ֠לַךְ פְּקַֽחְיָ֨ה בֶן־מְנַחֵ֧ם עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּשֹׁמְר֖וֹן שְׁנָתָֽיִם׃
24He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה לֹ֣א סָ֗ר מֵֽחַטֹּאות֙ יָרָבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־נְבָ֔ט אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶחֱטִ֖יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
25Pekah son of Remaliah, his officer, conspired against him. With fifty men of Gilead he struck him down in Samaria, in the citadel of the royal palace, together with Argob and Arieh. He killed him and became king in his place.
וַיִּקְשֹׁ֣ר עָלָיו֩ פֶּ֨קַח בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֜הוּ שָׁלִישׁ֗וֹ וַיַּכֵּ֨הוּ בְשֹׁמְר֜וֹן בְּאַרְמ֤וֹן בֵּית־*מלך **הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶת־אַרְגֹּ֣ב וְאֶת־הָאַרְיֵ֔ה וְעִמּ֛וֹ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ מִבְּנֵ֣י גִלְעָדִ֑ים וַיְמִיתֵ֖הוּ וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃
26The rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
וְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י פְקַחְיָ֖ה וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ
27In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years.
בִּשְׁנַ֨ת חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים וּשְׁתַּ֙יִם֙ שָׁנָ֔ה לַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה מָ֠לַךְ פֶּ֣קַח בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֧הוּ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּשֹׁמְר֖וֹן עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃
28He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה לֹ֣א סָ֗ר מִן־חַטֹּאות֙ יָרָבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־נְבָ֔ט אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶחֱטִ֖יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee—all the land of Naphtali—and he deported the people to Assyria.
בִּימֵ֞י פֶּ֣קַח מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל בָּא֮ תִּגְלַ֣ת פִּלְאֶסֶר֮ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁוּר֒ וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־עִיּ֡וֹן וְאֶת־אָבֵ֣ל בֵּֽית־מַעֲכָ֡ה וְאֶת־יָ֠נוֹחַ וְאֶת־קֶ֨דֶשׁ וְאֶת־חָצ֤וֹר וְאֶת־הַגִּלְעָד֙ וְאֶת־הַגָּלִ֔ילָה כֹּ֖ל אֶ֣רֶץ נַפְתָּלִ֑י וַיַּגְלֵ֖ם אַשּֽׁוּרָה׃
30Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. He struck him down and killed him, and became king in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.
וַיִּקְשָׁר־קֶ֜שֶׁר הוֹשֵׁ֣עַ בֶּן־אֵלָ֗ה עַל־פֶּ֙קַח֙ בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֔הוּ וַיַּכֵּ֙הוּ֙ וַיְמִיתֵ֔הוּ וַיִּמְלֹ֖ךְ תַּחְתָּ֑יו בִּשְׁנַ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֔ים לְיוֹתָ֖ם בֶּן־עֻזִיָּֽה׃
31The rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
וְיֶ֥תֶר דִּבְרֵי־פֶ֖קַח וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ