2 Kings 15:8-12

I. ISRAEL SUBMITS TO ASSYRIA 15:16-31

The heyday period for Israel ended abruptly with the death of Jeroboam II. In the period from 753-722 B.C. Israel had six kings representing five dynasties. In 2 Kings 15:8-31 five of these kings are discussed: (1) Zechariah (2 Kings 15:8-12); (2) Shallum (2 Kings 15:13-15); (3) Menahem (2 Kings 15:16-22); (4) Pekahiah (2 Kings 15:23-26); and (5) Pekah(2 Kings 15:27-31).

A. THE SIX-MONTH REIGN OF ZECHARIAH 15:8-12

TRANSLATION

(8) In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. (9) And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD just as his fathers had done; he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who caused Israel to sin. (10) And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people; and he slew him, and reigned in his place. (11) Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. (12) This was the word of the LORD which he had spoken unto Jehu, saying, Sons to the fourth generation shall sit for you upon the throne of Israel. And so it came to pass.

Fourteenth King of Israel
ZECHARIAH BEN JEROBOAM
753 B.C.
(Yahweh has remembered)

2 Kings 15:8-12

Synchronism
Zechariah = Uzziah 38
Contemporary Prophet
Hosea

Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way but wickedness over-throweth the sinners. Proverbs 13:6

COMMENTS

In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah (Uzziah), i.e., 753 B.C., Zechariah, the last king of the Jehu dynasty began to reign in the North (2 Kings 15:8). Because he failed to remove the calf cult from his kingdom, he is labeled as a king who did what was evil (2 Kings 15:9). After a reign of but six months Zechariah was openly and publicly slain by Shallum the son of Jabesh (2 Kings 15:10). The fact that Zechariah succeeded to the throne at all was a fulfillment of promises made to the founder of that dynasty, Jehu. To that king God had given assurance that his sons would hold the throne of Israel to the fourth generation. Jehu was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz who in turn was followed by Jehoash, Jeroboam II and finally Zechariah. In more recent years the doom of the Jehu dynasty had been pronounced by Hosea (Hosea 1:4) and Amos (Amos 7:9).