2 Kings 15:1

CHAPTER XV

Azariah begins to reign over Judah, and acts well, but does not

remove the high places, 1-4.

He becomes leprous, and dies, after having reigned fifty-two

years; and Jotham, his son, reigns in his stead, 5-7.

Zachariah reigns over Israel, and acts wickedly; and Shallum

conspires against him and slays him, after he had reigned six

months, 8-12.

Shallum reigns one month, and is slain by Menahem, 13-15.

Menahem's wicked and oppressive reign; he subsidizes the king

of Assyria, and dies, after having reigned ten years, 16-22.

Pekahiah, his son, reigns in his stead; does wickedly; Pekah,

one of his captains, conspires against and kills him, after he

had reigned two years, 23-26.

Pekah reigns in his stead, and acts wickedly, 27-28.

Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, carries into captivity the

inhabitants of many cities, 29.

Hoshea conspires against and slays Pekah, after he had reigned

twenty years; and reigns in his stead, 30, 31.

Jotham beans to reign over Judah; he reigns well; dies after a

reign of sixteen years, and is succeeded by his son Ahaz,

32-38.

NOTES ON CHAP. XV

Verse 2 Kings 15:1. In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam] Dr. Kennicott complains loudly here, because of "the corruption in the name of this king of Judah, who is expressed by four different names in this chapter: Ozriah, Oziah, Ozrihu, and Ozihu. Our oldest Hebrew MS. relieves us here by reading truly, in 2 Kings 15:1; 2 Kings 15:6, עזיהו Uzziah, where the printed text is differently corrupted. This reading is called true,

1. Because it is supported by the Syriac and Arabic versions in these three verses.

2. Because the printed text itself has it so in 2 Kings 15:32; 2 Kings 15:34 of this very chapter.

3. Because it is so expressed in the parallel place in Chronicles; and,

4. Because it is not αζαριας, Azariah, but οζιας, Oziah, (Uzziah,) in St. Matthew's genealogy."

There are insuperable difficulties in the chronology of this place. The marginal note says, "This is the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam's partnership in the kingdom with his father, who made him consort at his going to the Syrian wars. It is the sixteenth year of Jeroboam's monarchy." Dr. Lightfoot endeavours to reconcile this place with 2 Kings 14:16-12, thus: "At the death of Amaziah, his son and heir Uzziah was but four years old, for he was about sixteen in Jeroboam's twenty-seventh year; therefore, the throne must have been empty eleven years, and the government administered by protectors while Uzziah was in his minority." Learned men are not agreed concerning the mode of reconciling these differences; there is probably some mistake in the numbers. I must say to all the contending chronologers: -

Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites.

When such men disagree, I can't decide.