3 Sep 2014
King Menahem
How He Became King: After he assassinated Shallum
When He Began Reigning: Uncertain
Reign Length: 10 years
Ruled Over: Israel
Type of King: Evil
Prophet: Uncertain
Death: Uncertain
Burial: Unknown
Menahem became king over Israel after he assassinated Shallum. He then reigned over Israel for 10 years, and did evil:
2 Kings 15:17: “In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.
18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.”
Menahem was a brutal king. Since the area around Tirzah had not supported his assassination of Shallum, he murdered them all:
2 Kings 15:16: “Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.”
During his reign the king of Assyria came against him. Menahem taxed the wealthy in order to obtain 1,000 talents of silver, which he then gave to the Assyrians in order to get them to leave:
2 Kings 15:19: “And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
20 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.”
When Menahem died, Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.