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 15:19
Pul the king of Assyria--This is the first Assyrian king after Nimrod who is mentioned in biblical history. His name has been recently identified with that of Phalluka on the monuments of Nineveh, and that of Menahem discovered also.
came against the land--Elsewhere it is said "Ephraim [Israel] went to the Assyrian" [Hos 5:13]. The two statements may be reconciled thus: "Pul, of his own motion, induced, perhaps, by the expedition of Menahem against Thapsacus, advanced against the kingdom of Israel; then Menahem sent him a thousand talents in order not only to divert him from his plans of conquest, but at the same time to purchase his friendship and aid for the establishment of his own prec…
Read the whole note in the consoleAdam Clarke on 2 Kings 15:21
Are they not written in - the chronicles - There are no chronicles extant, in which there is any thing farther relative to this king.
John Gill on 2 Kings 15:22
And Menahem slept with his fathers,.... Died a natural death, and in peace, though an usurper and a tyrant:
and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead; the kingdom he had usurped continued in his family.
