Gadi

Father of King Menahem

The divided kingdomLeaderc. 770 BC

Gadi is known from the Bible as the father of Menahem, who became king over Israel (the Northern Kingdom). He is mentioned in connection with Menahem's seizure of power, where Menahem killed King Shallum and took the throne in Samaria. Gadi himself played no independent prominent role but is significant as the father of one of Israel's kings during a turbulent period.

Family

ChildMenahem

Key events

Mentioned as Menahem's father

Gadi is identified as the father of Menahem, who rose up against King Shallum and seized power in Israel.

2 Kgs 15:14 Show in context →

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׃ ‬

Menahem's revolt against Shallum

Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria and killed Shallum son of Jabesh, becoming king in his place.

2 Kgs 15:14 Show in context →

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.

2 Kgs 15:15 Show in context →

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 ‬

2 Kgs 15:16 Show in context →

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 ‬

Menahem's brutal conquest of Tiphsah

Menahem son of Gadi attacked the city of Tiphsah and struck down everyone there, ripping open all pregnant women, because the city had not opened its gates to him.

2 Kgs 15:16 Show in context →

Menahem's reign in Israel

Menahem son of Gadi reigned over Israel in Samaria for ten years and did what was evil in the Lord's sight.

2 Kgs 15:17 Show in context →

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׃ ‬

2 Kgs 15:18 Show in context →

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׃ ‬

Menahem Pays Tribute to Assyria

During Menahem's reign, Pul king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents of silver to keep his power.

2 Kgs 15:19 Show in context →

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׃ ‬

2 Kgs 15:20 Show in context →

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׃ ‬

Mentioned in the Bible (2)

2 Kings 15:14 2 Kings 15:17