2 Kings 15

International Children’s Bible

Azariah King of Judah

15 Azariah^[a] son of Amaziah became king of Judah. This was during Jeroboam’s twenty-seventh year as king of Israel. ² Azariah was 16 years old when he became king. He ruled 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Jecoliah, and she was from Jerusalem. ³ He did what the Lord said was right. He obeyed God just as his father Amaziah had done. ⁴ But the places where false gods were worshiped were not removed. So the people still made sacrifices and burned incense there.

⁵ The Lord struck Azariah with a harmful skin disease. He had this disease until the day he died. He lived in a separate house. Jotham, the king’s son, was in charge of the palace. He governed the people of the land.

⁶ All the other things Azariah did are written down. They are in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. ⁷ Azariah died and was buried near his ancestors in Jerusalem. And his son Jotham became king in his place.

Zechariah King of Israel

⁸ Zechariah son of Jeroboam was king over Israel in Samaria. He ruled for six months. This was during Azariah’s thirty-eighth year as king of Judah. ⁹ Zechariah did what the Lord said was wrong. He did just as his ancestors had done. Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused the people of Israel to sin. And Zechariah did not stop doing the same sins.

¹⁰ Shallum son of Jabesh made plans against Zechariah. He killed Zechariah in Ibleam. And Shallum became king in Zechariah’s place. ¹¹ The other acts of Zechariah are written down. They are in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. ¹² Now the Lord had told Jehu: “Your sons down to your great-great-grandchildren will be kings of Israel.” And the Lord’s word came true.

Shallum King of Israel

¹³ Then Shallum son of Jabesh became king. This was during Uzziah’s thirty-ninth year as king of Judah. Shallum ruled for a month in Samaria. ¹⁴ Then Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzah to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria. He killed him and became king in Shallum’s place.

¹⁵ The other acts of Shallum and his secret plans are written down. They are in the book of the history of the kings of Israel.

Menahem King of Israel

¹⁶ Menahem started out from Tirzah and attacked Tiphsah. He destroyed the city and the area nearby. This was because the people had refused to open the city gate for him. So he defeated them and ripped open all their pregnant women.

¹⁷ Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel. This was during Azariah’s thirty-ninth year as king of Judah. And Menahem ruled ten years in Samaria. ¹⁸ He did what the Lord said was wrong. Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to sin. And all the time Menahem was king, he did not stop doing the same sins.

¹⁹ Pul king of Assyria came to attack the land. Menahem gave him about 74,000 pounds of silver. This was so Pul would support Menahem and make his hold on the kingdom stronger. ²⁰ Menahem raised the money by taxing all the rich men of Israel. He taxed each man about 1¼ pounds of silver. Then he gave the money to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria left and did not stay in the land.

²¹ Everything else Menahem did is written down. It is in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. ²² Then Menahem died. And his son Pekahiah became king in his place.

Pekahiah King of Israel

²³ Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria. This was during Azariah’s fiftieth year as king of Judah. Pekahiah ruled two years. ²⁴ He did what the Lord said was wrong. Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to sin. And Pekahiah did not stop doing the same sins.

²⁵ Pekah son of Remaliah was one of Pekahiah’s captains. He made plans against Pekahiah. He took 50 men of Gilead with him and killed Pekahiah. They killed him, Argob and Arieh in the palace at Samaria. Then Pekah became king in Pekahiah’s place.

²⁶ Everything else Pekahiah did is written down. It is in the book of the history of the kings of Israel.

Pekah King of Israel

²⁷ Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria. This was during Azariah’s fifty-second year as king of Judah. And Pekah ruled 20 years. ²⁸ He did what the Lord said was wrong. Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to sin. And Pekah did not stop doing the same sins.

²⁹ Tiglath-Pileser, also called Pul, was king of Assyria. He attacked while Pekah was king of Israel. Tiglath-Pileser captured the cities of Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He also captured Gilead and Galilee. And he captured all the land of Naphtali. He sent the people from these places away to Assyria. ³⁰ Then Hoshea son of Elah made plans against Pekah son of Remaliah. Hoshea attacked and killed Pekah. Then he became king in Pekah’s place. This was during the twentieth year Jotham son of Uzziah was king.

³¹ Everything else Pekah did is written down. It is in the book of the history of the kings of Israel.

Jotham King of Judah

³² Then Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah. This was during the second year Pekah son of Remaliah was king of Israel. ³³ Jotham was 25 years old when he became king. He ruled 16 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. ³⁴ Jotham did what the Lord said was right. He obeyed God just as his father Uzziah had done. ³⁵ But the places where false gods were worshiped were not removed. And the people still made sacrifices and burned incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the Temple of the Lord.

³⁶ The other things Jotham did while he was king are written down. They are in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. ³⁷ At that time the Lord began to send Rezin king of Aram against Judah. He also sent Pekah son of Remaliah against them. ³⁸ Jotham died and was buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem. It was the city of David, his ancestor. And Jotham’s son Ahaz became king in his place.