2 Kings 15:17-22

2 Kings 15:17-22

[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.  [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.  [21] And the 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?  [22] And Menahem  slept  with his fathers;  and Pekahiah  his son  reigned  in his stead.

What does 2 Kings 15:17-22 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Menahem began Israel"s seventh royal family. His reign lasted10 years (752-742 B.C.).
Assyrian inscriptions have identified Pul as Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 B.C.; cf. 2 Kings 15:29; 2 Kings 16:7; 2 Kings 16:10; 1 Chronicles 5:26). Pul was the throne name that Tiglath-Pileser III took as Babylon"s sovereign after he conquered that nation about729 B.C. [1] This is the first explicit mention of Assyria in Kings. Tiglath-Pileser was a very strong Assyrian ruler. He invaded Israel in743 B.C. and consequently Israel experienced Assyria"s controlling influence.
Because of Israel"s apostasy God delivered her over to the clutches of a foreign power that would one day swallow her up (cf. Deuteronomy 28:32-33).