2 Kings 15 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

2 Kings 15 Short Summary:

This chapter is a list of kings who reigned over Judah and Israel. The text moves through several decade very quickly. The kings of Judah highlighted in this chapter are Azariah, also known as Uzziah, and Jotham. The kings of Israel highlighted in 2 Kings 15 are Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah.

2 Kings 15 Extended Summary

WHEN:

• This chapter is a list of kings who reigned over Judah and Israel. Their reigns likely fit within the dates of 815-735 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Kings of Judah – Azariah (Uzziah) and Jotham

• Kings of Israel – Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah.

• Kings of Assyria – Pul and Tiglath-pileser.

WHERE:

• The capital of Israel was Samaria, and the capital of Judah was Jerusalem.

• Menahem attacked the city of Tiphsah. Tiphsah was hundreds of miles north of Samaria on the Euphrates River.

• In the days of Pekah, Tiglath-pileser attacked Israel and captured Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and the land of Naphtali.

OUTLINE:

• AZARIAH (UZZIAH) REIGNS IN JUDAH (15:1-7):

  • Azariah became king of Judah when he was 16 years old. He reigned for 52 years.

  • He “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,” although he failed to remove the high places where the people offered sacrifices.

  • He was a leper and had to live in a separate house. His son, Jotham, was his representative to the people.

• ZECHARIAH REIGNS IN ISRAEL (15:8-12):

  • Jeroboam II’s son, Zechariah, was king of Israel for 6 months.

  • He “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.”

  • Shallum conspired against him and assassinated him.

• SHALLUM REIGNS IN ISRAEL (15:13-15):

  • Shallum reigned 1 month as king of Israel.

  • He was killed by Menahem.

• MENAHEM REIGNS IN ISRAEL (15:17-22):

  • Menahem became king after killing Shallum, and he reigned for 10 years.

  • He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

  • He attacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women of the city.

  • Menahem paid off Pul, the king of Assyria, to remain in power. He forced all the rich men of Israel to give him 50 shekels of silver to pay the price.

• PEKAHIAH REIGNS IN ISRAEL (15:23-26):

  • Pekahiah, Menahem’s son, took the throne after his father’s death and reigned 2 years.

  • He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

  • Pekah assassinated him and reigned in his place.

• PEKAH REIGNS IN ISRAEL (15:27-31):

  • After killing Pekahiah, Pekah reigned in Israel for 20 years.

  • He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

  • During his reign, Tiglath-pileser attacked Israel’s land and captured Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and the land of Naphtali.

  • A man named Hoshea conspired against Pekah and killed him.

• JOTHAM REIGNS IN JUDAH (15:32-38):

  • Jotham, the son of Azariah (Uzziah), took the throne of Judah and reigned 16 years.

  • He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

  • During the days of Jotham, there were hostilities between Judah and their neighbors to the north, Israel and Syria.

APPLICATION:

• God’s long-suffering with Israel is a testament to His patience.

• Up to this point, Israel has not had one godly king. Every single one of them “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.”

• It was only after a couple of centuries that God started dissolving their kingdom.

• If you had a friend who was unkind, unfaithful, and unloving to you for years, do you still think you’d be that person’s friend? Probably not!

• But God was still being patient with Israel, even after generations of their unfaithfulness.

• God was patient with them, and God is very patient with us. Take a moment to praise God for His patience.