Shallum… became king of Israel, and he ruled in Samaria for one month. Menahem… assassinated Shallum, and succeeded him as king. …Menahem was on his way from Tirzah, he completely destroyed the city of Tappuah, its inhabitants, and the surrounding territory, because the city did not surrender to him. He even ripped open the bellies of all the pregnant women.
How barberic! One month!
…Menahem… became king of Israel… He died and was buried, and his son Pekahiah succeeded him as king. …Pekah son of Remaliah, plotted with fifty men from Gilead, assassinated Pekahiah… Hoshea son of Elah plotted against King Pekah, assassinated him, and succeeded him as king.
A time where kings only left power feet first… How far we are here from the glory days of David and Solomon (1 Kings 10:23-29).
…Tiglath Pileser, the emperor of Assyria, captured the cities of Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor, and the territories of Gilead, Galilee, and Naphtali, and took the people to Assyria as prisoners.
The first of the “super powers” to come and a sign of what was to come for the northern tribes (2 Kings 17:3-6).
…Jotham… became king of Judah… and he… did what was pleasing to the Lord. …It was while he was king that the Lord first sent King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah of Israel to attack Judah.
Doing what is pleasing to the Lord doesn’t necessarily translate to freedom from problems. It’s interesting that its the Lord who is the author of these events here – but not always (2 Kings 18:22-25). How to discern the difference?