Menahem
“Comforter”
Summary
A violent usurper who assassinated Shallum and reigned over Israel for ten years, notorious for brutality.
☩Seizure of Power
Menahem son of Gadi killed Shallum, who had reigned only one month after assassinating Zechariah. Menahem 'smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead' (2 Kings 15:14). He was the sixteenth king of Israel and reigned for ten years (approximately 752-742 BC).
☩Cruelty at Tiphsah
When Tiphsah refused to open its gates to him, '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' (2 Kings 15:16). This horrific act of violence characterized his brutal rule.
☩Tribute to Assyria
When Pul (Tiglath-Pileser III) of Assyria invaded, Menahem gave him 'a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand' (2 Kings 15:19). He exacted this tribute from wealthy Israelites—'fifty shekels of silver' each—to buy Assyrian protection for his throne.
☩Spiritual Assessment
'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' (2 Kings 15:18). Like all Israel's kings, Menahem maintained the idolatrous worship Jeroboam had established, perpetuating the nation's apostasy.