14 Then Menahem son of Gadi went to Samaria from Tirzah and assassinated him, and he became the next king. 15 The rest of the events in Shallum's reign, including his conspiracy, are recorded in 16 At that time Menahem destroyed the town of Tappuah and all the surrounding countryside as far as Tirzah, because its citizens refused to surrender the town. He killed the entire population and ripped open the pregnant women.

The Reign of Menahem

17 Menahem son of Gadi began to rule over Israel in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria ten years. 18 But Menahem did what was evil in the Lord 's sight. During his entire reign, he refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. 19 Then King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria invaded the land. But Menahem paid him thirty-seven tons of silver to gain his support in tightening his grip on royal power. 20 Menahem extorted the money from the rich of Israel, demanding that each of them pay fifty pieces of silver to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned from attacking Israel and did not stay in the land. 21 The rest of the events in Menahem's reign and everything he did are recorded in 22 When Menahem died, his son Pekahiah became the next king.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 15:14-22

Commentary on 2 Kings 15:8-31

(Read 2 Kings 15:8-31)

This history shows Israel in confusion. Though Judah was not without troubles, yet that kingdom was happy, compared with the state of Israel. The imperfections of true believers are very different from the allowed wickedness of ungodly men. Such is human nature, such are our hearts, if left to themselves, deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. We have reason to be thankful for restraints, for being kept out of temptation, and should beg of God to renew a right spirit within us.