2 Kings 15

More Kings, More Drama: Azariah (Judah) & Israel’s Wild Ride

Azariah (Uzziah) Rules Judah

1 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam’s rule over Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah, king of Judah, took over as king.

2 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for fifty-two years. His mama’s name was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.

3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just like his pops Amaziah had done.

4 However, the high places were not taken down; the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense on those high places.

5 The Lord struck the king, so he had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house, and Jotham the king’s son was in charge of the palace, judging the people of the land.

6 As for the rest of Azariah’s story, all he did, is it not written in the book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah,

7 Azariah passed away and they buried him with his ancestors in the City of David. And his son Jotham took over as king.

Zechariah Rules Israel

8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah’s rule in Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in Samaria, and he ruled for six months.

9 He did what was whack in the eyes of the Lord, just like his ancestors had done. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to commit.

10 Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against him and struck him down in front of the people, killed him, and took over as king.

11 As for the rest of Zechariah’s story, is it not written in the book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel,

12 This was the word of the Lord that He spoke to Jehu: “Your sons will sit on the throne of Israel for four generations.” And that is exactly what happened.

Shallum Rules Israel

13 Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah’s rule in Judah, and he ruled for one whole month in Samaria.

14 Then Menahem son of Gadi rolled up from Tirzah to Samaria, and he hit Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, killed him, and took over as king.

15 As for the rest of Shallum’s story, and the conspiracy he pulled off, is it not written in the book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel,

Menahem Rules Israel

16 At that time, Menahem attacked Tiphsah and everyone in it, and its territory from Tirzah, because they did not open their gates for him. He hit it hard and ripped open all the pregnant women.

17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah’s rule in Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel, and he ruled for ten years in Samaria.

18 He did what was whack in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to commit, all his days.

19 Pul, king of Assyria, rolled up against the land, and Menahem gave Pul seven hundred fifty thousand pounds of silver so he would help him solidify his rule.

20 Menahem raised the money from Israel, from all the wealthy and powerful men, making each one pay about twelve ounces of silver to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria bounced and did not stay there in the land.

21 As for the rest of Menahem’s story, all he did, is it not written in the book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel,

22 Menahem passed away and joined his ancestors. And his son Pekahiah took over as king.

Pekahiah Rules Israel

23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah’s rule in Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria, and he ruled for two years.

24 He did what was whack in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to commit.

25 Pekah son of Remaliah, his official, conspired against him. He struck him down in Samaria, in the fortified part of the king’s palace, along with Argob and Arieh. With him were fifty men of Gileadites. He killed him and took over as king.

26 As for the rest of Pekahiah’s story, all he did, is it not written in the book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel,

Pekah Rules Israel

27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah’s rule in Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, and he ruled for twenty years.

28 He did what was whack in the eyes 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 rolled up and took Ijon, Abel-Beth-Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he deported the people to Assyria.

30 Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He struck him down, killed him, and took over as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.

31 As for the rest of Pekah’s story, all he did, is it not written in the book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel,

Jotham Rules Judah

32 In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah’s rule over Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah, took over as king.

33 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for sixteen years. His mama’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.

34 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just like his pops Uzziah had done.

35 However, the high places were not taken down; the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense on those high places. He built the Upper Gate of the Lord’s temple.

36 As for the rest of Jotham’s story, all he did, is it 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 passed away and joined his ancestors, and they buried him with his ancestors in the City of David his father. And his son Ahaz took over as king.