The BibleGospel Companion

Menahem

מְנַחֵם · me.na.chem · H4505“comforter; who conducts them; preparation of heat” Hitchcock's 18698 mentions, all in 2 Kings

Who he was

Menahem was the son of Gadi and became king of Israel after assassinating Shallum, who had reigned for only one month (2 Kings 15:14). Menahem reigned for ten years in Samaria (2 Kings 15:17). During his reign, he was known for his cruelty, particularly for his brutal treatment of the city of Tiphsah, where he ripped open pregnant women (2 Kings 15:16). When Pul, the king of Assyria, invaded Israel, Menahem paid him a thousand talents of silver to withdraw and to strengthen his own hold on the kingdom (2 Kings 15:19–20). To raise this tribute, Menahem exacted fifty shekels of silver from each wealthy man in Israel (2 Kings 15:20). Menahem died and was succeeded by his son Pekahiah (2 Kings 15:22).

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

FatherGadiChildrenPekahiah
Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

8 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

2 Kings 8 mentions

2 Kings 15:14Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, killed him, and reigned in his place.2 Kings 15:16Then Menahem attacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its border areas, from Tirzah. He attacked it because they didn’t open their gates to him, and he ripped up all their women who…2 Kings 15:17In the thirty ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel for ten years in Samaria.2 Kings 15:19Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.2 Kings 15:20Menahem exacted the money from Israel, even from all the mighty men of wealth, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back…2 Kings 15:21Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?2 Kings 15:22Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.2 Kings 15:23In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria for two years.

What the dictionary says

Conforting, the son of Gadi, and successor of Shallum, king of Israel, whom he slew.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources