Daily Tanach Tuesday 18th Adar Sefer Melachim 2 Chapter 15 Part 2: The reign and legacy of Zachariyah, Shallum and Menachem, king of Israel

1. The reign and legacy of Zechariah:

• Zechariah the son of Yeravam reigned over Israel in the city of Samaria in the thirty-eighth year of Azariah the king of Yehuda.
• The length of his reign: He reigned for a total of six months.
• His deeds: Zechariah performed that which was evil in the eyes of Hashem, as he followed in the ways of sin of Yeravam the son of Nevat.
• His assassination and successor: Shallum the son of Yavesh revolted against Zechariah and struck him in front of the people and slew him and reigned in his stead.
• His chronicles: The remaining events of Zechariah are written in the book of chronicles of the kings of Israel.
• The prophecy to Yeihu: When Zechariah died, the prophecy that was spoken to Yeihu was fulfilled, as G-d had promised him that he would have four generations sit on the throne.

2. The reign and legacy of Shallum:

• Shallum the son of Yavesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of reign of Uzziah the king of Yehuda.
• The length of his reign: Shallum the son of Yavesh reigned for a full month in Shomron.
• His assassination and successor: Menachem the son of Gadi went from the city of Tirzah to the Shomron and he assassinated Shallum the son of Yavesh, and he reigned in his stead.
• His chronicles: The remaining deeds of Shallum and his revolt that he revolted, are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

3. The reign and legacy of Menachem the son of Gadi:

• His brutal attack on the city of Tifsach: Menachem the king of Israel attacked the city of Tifsach [which was a city in the land of Aram^[1]]. What provoked the attack was that the leader of the city refused to open the gates for him and accept him as king. He therefore attacked the city and brutally killed even pregnant woman by ripping out their children from their wombs.
• The year of his reign: Menachem the son of Gadi became king in the thirty-ninth year of reign of Azariah the king of Yehuda.
• His years of reign: Menachem the son of Gadi reigned over Israel in Shomron for a period of ten years.
• His deeds: Menachem the son of Gadi performed evil in the eyes of Hashem, as he did not turn away from the sins of Yeravam the son of Nevat throughout all of his days.
• Averting invasion by the king of Ashur: Ful, the king of Ashur, invaded the land of Israel, and Menachem the king of Israel gave Ful one thousand talents of silver to help support his kingdom and prevent him from conquering the land. Menachem collected these monies from Israel, from all the mighty warriors. Each man was required to give fifty shekels of silver. The king of Assyria eventually returned to his land and did not remain in the land of Israel.
• His chronicles: The remaining events of Menachem and all that he did, are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
• His passing: Menachem passed away and was buried together with his ancestors.
• His successor: Pekachiah, the son of Menachem, reigned in his stead.

[1] Radak 15:16