Read 2 Kings 15
Azariah King of Judah
15 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. 4 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
5 The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. Jotham the king’s son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
6 As for the other events of Azariah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 7 Azariah rested with his ancestors and was buried near them in the City of David. And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.
Zechariah King of Israel
8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned six months. 9 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his predecessors had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
10 Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He attacked him in front of the people, assassinated him and succeeded him as king. 11 The other events of Zechariah’s reign are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel. 12 So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled: “Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”
Shallum King of Israel
13 Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned in Samaria one month. 14 Then Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated him and succeeded him as king.
15 The other events of Shallum’s reign, and the conspiracy he led, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.
16 At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.
Menahem King of Israel
17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years. 18 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. During his entire reign he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
19 Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom. 20 Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy person had to contribute fifty shekels of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and stayed in the land no longer.
21 As for the other events of Menahem’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 22 Menahem rested with his ancestors. And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king.
Pekahiah King of Israel
23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. 24 Pekahiah did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. 25 One of his chief officers, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him. Taking fifty men of Gilead with him, he assassinated Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the royal palace at Samaria. So Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king.
26 The other events of Pekahiah’s reign, and all he did, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.
Pekah King of Israel
27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. 28 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
29 In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and deported the people to Assyria. 30 Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinated him, and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.
31 As for the other events of Pekah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
Jotham King of Judah
32 In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign. 33 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. 34 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done. 35 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the Lord.
36 As for the other events of Jotham’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 37 (In those days the Lord began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.) 38 Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David, the city of his father. And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king.
Go Deeper
It can seem daunting to read the historical accounts of the kings of Israel and Judah who seemed no different than pagan kings around them. In a span of about 50 years, six evil kings of Israel are exposed for the sins of idolatry, killing entire populations, even ripping open pregnant women. In the end, most met an untimely death, and four of them were assassinated. However, scripture records two kings of Judah who did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, with one notable exception.
King Uzziah began his reign in Judah as a 16 year old teenager. We learn that “he did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done” (v3). Referencing 2 Chronicles 26, we discover specific details of his accomplishments during his 52 year reign. David Guzik of Enduring Word Bible Commentary lists them as:
- He defeated the Philistines and took many of their cities, and also kept the Ammonites in tribute.
- He was internationally famous as a strong king.
- He was an ambitious builder and skilled in agriculture.
- He built up and organized the army, introducing several new items of military technology.
- He reigned during the ministry of Zechariah the prophet.
As impressive as these achievements were, they do not tell King Uzziah’s whole story. “But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, where the people offered sacrifices and burned incense. The Lord struck the king with leprosy, which lasted until the day of his death; he lived in a house by himself” (v.4-5). Sadly, like his father & grandfather, he compromised by imitating the customs of other nations, which led to his tragic end. A lesson we can learn from Uzziah’s life is that partial obedience is still disobedience. We tend to categorize and normalize sin, but all sin is a serious affront to holy God, especially sin that leads others astray.
No earthly king can hold a candle to Christ. In seeking models to emulate, we only need to look to the sinless Savior. The one who was “pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, and the punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). He alone provides the perfect model.
Questions
- What kind of legacy would those in your inner circle say you are actively working towards? One day, someone will write your obituary. What do you hope it will say? Write down some important facts you want shared.
- Who do you know that is intentionally following Jesus? What habits do they incorporate in their daily lives? Send them a text/call thanking them for being a godly example.
- Where have you been tempted to “partially obey” the commands of scripture? Repent and share with an accountability partner.
Pray This
As you reflect on today’s reading, pray the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13:
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
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3 thoughts on “2 Kings 15”
It seems that as I have gotten “older” I do like more history. I have learned and am learning more through the Bible reading plan. Today’s questions are quite good, thought provoking for me. I say and will continue to say I do not have a big enough vocabulary for how I want to glorify God. All the best positive adjectives still wouldn’t suffice. One of my favorite songs is Shane and Shanes Psalm 34 “O taste and see.”
God thank You for your blessings!! Thank You for your goodness!! Thank You for your guidance!!! I praise You and magnify You!! I will bless the Lord at all times,His praise shall be continually in my mouth Psalm 34:1 in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO
I’m asking God to expose secret sins that lure me away from complete obedience. No rationalizing or normalizing, just coming clean to abandon what hinders my relationship with the One who paid the ultimate price to free me from all unrighteousness. I want nothing standing between my Savior and me. As I read the narratives of kings of Judah & Israel, it points to our greatest need of all, a Savior. “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow.” (hymn by Elvina M. Hall)
Thank you for breaking down this passage. When you throw two or more lineages at me, I get lost! I had a classmate I haven’t seen in 30 years ask me if I knew who she was. By the grace of God I remembered, and thwarted the embarrassment.
I always listen to HC before SS so I got to see the video JP showed of the satanic leader being delivered by Jesus. Ironically, our sermon was over Mark 1:21-28. The pastor stated, “There is no battle between God vs Evil. The only battle is within us bc God has complete authority over evil.” (Even the demons obey) And so I reflected to our readings in Kings and thought how true. God is already victorious over evil, but self carries out it’s plan. We are no different than these kings. Each one of us has the power and knowledge to do right and be victorious. The power to surrender and follow Christ lies within us…not against us.