1
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah king of Judah became king.
2
He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah, from Jerusalem.
3
He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
4
Nevertheless, the high places were not removed. The people still offered and burned sacrifices on the high places.
5
Then the LORD struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death, and he lived in a separate house. And Jotham, the king’s son, was over the palace and governed the people of the land.
6
Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
7
Then Azariah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David. And Jotham his son became king in his place.
8
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in Samaria. He reigned six months.
9
He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, by which he caused Israel to sin.
10
Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, struck him down at Ibleam, and killed him; then he became king in his place.
11
Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
12
This was the word of the LORD that he spoke to Jehu: “Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” And so it came to pass.
13
Shallum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah. He reigned one month in Samaria.
14
Then Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah and came to Samaria. He struck down Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and became king in his place.
15
Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy he made, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
16
At that time, starting from Tirzah, Menahem struck Tiphsah and all who were in it and its territory, because they did not open the city to him. So he struck it and ripped open all its pregnant women.
17
In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king over Israel. He reigned ten years in Samaria.
18
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. Throughout his life he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to commit.
19
Pul, king of Assyria, came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, so that he might help him strengthen the kingdom in his hand.
20
Menahem exacted this money from Israel, from all the wealthy, to give to the king of Assyria: fifty shekels of silver from each man. Then the king of Assyria turned back and did not remain there in the land.
21
Now 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
Then Menahem rested with his fathers. And Pekahiah his son became king in his place.
23
In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria. He reigned two years.
24
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to commit.
25
Then his officer, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him and struck him down in Samaria in the fortress of the king’s house; with him were Argob and Arieh, and fifty men of the Gileadites. He killed Pekahiah and became king in his place.
26
Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah and all that he did, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
27
In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria. He reigned twenty years.
28
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to commit.
29
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor, Gilead and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried the people away to Assyria into exile.
30
Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah; he struck him down and became king in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.
31
Now the rest of the acts of Pekah and all that he did, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
32
In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah became king.
33
He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha, daughter of Zadok.
34
He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, just as Uzziah his father had done.
35
Nevertheless, the high places were not removed. The people still offered and burned sacrifices on those high places. He built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD.
36
Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
37
In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.
38
Then Jotham rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his ancestor. And Ahaz his son became king in his place.
🛡️👑💥 Summary of 2 Kings 15 – Strong Kings in the World, Weak in Heart
2 Kings 15 summarizes the reigns of several kings of Judah and Israel, beginning with Azariah/Uzziah in Judah and continuing through several bloody changes of power in Israel. Although some kings succeeded militarily and politically, almost all failed spiritually, because they still allowed idolatry and the high places. This is a chapter full of rapid changes of power, tragic deaths, and a reminder that political stability does not guarantee stability in faith.
📌 1. Azariah/Uzziah, the Strong King of Judah Who Became Leprous (verses 1–7)
➡️ Azariah (also called Uzziah) came to the throne at the age of 16 and reigned 52 years
➡️ He did what was right in the sight of the Lord but the high places were not removed
➡️ The Lord struck him with leprosy, and he was separated from the palace — his son Jotham ruled as regent
🎯 Military success and long life do not replace the need for personal holiness.
📌 2. Zechariah, the King of Israel Who Reigned 6 Months (verses 8–12)
➡️ Zechariah was the last descendant of Jehu on the throne of Israel
➡️ He reigned only 6 months before being killed by Shallum
➡️ This killing ended the Lord’s promise to Jehu: 4 generations on the throne
🎯 Unfaithfulness brought the royal line to a tragic end, just as foretold.
📌 3. Shallum Killed After 1 Month of Reigning (verses 13–16)
➡️ Shallum reigned for 1 month, then was killed by Menahem
➡️ Menahem attacked the city of Tiphzah because it would not surrender, and brutally slaughtered its inhabitants
🎯 Power gained through violence only gives rise to greater cruelty.
📌 4. Menahem Rules Israel with Tyranny (verses 17–22)
➡️ He reigned 10 years and continued to live wickedly
➡️ He paid tribute to Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, by levying a tax on the people (50 shekels per person)
🎯 A king who does not rely on God will bow to foreign power and oppress his people.
📌 5. Pekahiah, Son of Menahem, Killed by Pekah (verses 23–26)
➡️ Pekahiah reigned only 2 years before being killed by his officer, Pekah
➡️ Israel’s history grew ever more filled with betrayal and murder
🎯 Power without justice produces continual instability.
📌 6. Pekah Reigns and Israel Loses Territory (verses 27–31)
➡️ Pekah reigned 20 years and continued to live wickedly
➡️ Tiglath-Pileser captured many cities of Israel and carried the people away to Assyria
➡️ Pekah was killed by Hoshea, who later became the last king of Israel
🎯 Continued rejection of God brings destruction and exile.
📌 7. Jotham, Son of Azariah, King of Judah (verses 32–38)
➡️ Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but he still allowed the high places to remain
➡️ He strengthened the wall of the house of the LORD, but his reign was full of threats from Aram and Israel
🎯 Personal obedience is important, but allowing public sin to remain will still invite threats.
📖 Main Teaching
- Political or military success does not guarantee God’s favor
- Every leader who lives in sin is eventually brought down — sooner or later
- Idolatry left unchecked produces national instability
- The Lord still fulfills His promises and prophecies, even through chaos
- Personal obedience must be joined with active spiritual leadership
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 Galatians 6:7
“What a person sows, that also will he reap.”
➡️ Israel reaped chaos and ruin from the seed of its collective disobedience.
📖 Matthew 7:17–18
“A good tree bears good fruit… a bad tree bears bad fruit.”
➡️ Evil kings produced a broken nation — for leadership reflects spiritual condition.
📖 2 Timothy 3:5
“Outwardly they carry on their worship, but in truth they deny its power.”
➡️ The high places remained even though the kings claimed to worship the Lord.
📖 Hebrews 12:6
“The Lord disciplines the one He loves.”
➡️ Azariah/Uzziah, faithful yet not wholly devoted, was struck with leprosy so he might learn humility.
🕊️ “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD… only the high places were not removed.” – 2 Kings 15:3–4
🕊️ “The LORD afflicted him with leprosy until the day of his death.” – 2 Kings 15:5
🕊️ “Tiglath-Pileser… carried the people away to Assyria.” – 2 Kings 15:29
🕊️ “In those days the LORD began to send Rezin and Pekah against Judah.” – 2 Kings 15:37
