Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 15:8-31
The best days of the kingdom of Israel were while the government was in Jehu's family. In his reign, and the next three reigns, though there were many abominable corruptions and miserable grievances in Israel, yet the crown went in succession, the kings died in their beds, and some care was taken of public affairs; but, now that those days are at an end, the history which we have in these verses of about thirty-three years represents the affairs of that kingdom in the utmost confusion imaginable. Woe to those that were with child (Kg2 15:16) and to those that gave suck in those days, for then must needs be great tribulations, when, for the transgression of the land, many were the princes the…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 15:8
ZECHARIAH'S REIGN OVER ISRAEL. (Kg2 15:8-16)
In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel--There was an interregnum from some unknown cause between the reign of Jeroboam and the accession of his son, which lasted, according to some, for ten or twelve years, according to others, for twenty-two years, or more. This prince pursued the religious policy of the calf-worship, and his reign was short, being abruptly terminated by the hand of violence. In his fate was fulfilled the prophecy addressed to Jehu (Kg2 10:30; also Hos 1:4), that his family would possess the throne of Israel for four generations; and accordingly Jehoahaz, Joash,…
Read the whole note in the consoleAdam Clarke on 2 Kings 15:10
Smote him before the people - In some public assembly: he probably became very unpopular.
John Gill on 2 Kings 15:10
And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him,.... A friend of his, as Josephus (q) calls him, encouraged by the dissatisfaction of the people to him:
and smote him before the people, and slew him; in a public manner, the people consenting to it, and approving of it, not liking Zachariah to be their king:
and reigned in his stead; though but a very short time.
(q) Antiqu. l. 9. c. 11. sect. 1.
