Pekahiah
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Pekahiah was the son of Menahem and reigned two years over Israel from Samaria, continuing in the sins of Jeroboam. Pekah the son of Remaliah, one of his own captains, conspired against him with fifty men of the Gileadites and killed him in the palace of the king's house, then took the throne. Pekahiah was the last king of Israel to succeed his father; the two kings after him came to power by conspiracy.
Biography
- Occupation
- King of Israel
- Father
- Menahem
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
- Nationality
- Israelite
Family
Did You Know?
Pekahiah began to reign 'in the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah' (2 Kings 15:23); Azariah is Uzziah, whose long reign outlasted several northern kings.
His killer Pekah was helped by 'fifty men of the Gileadites' (2 Kings 15:25), which suggests support from east of the Jordan, the region Assyria would soon take from Israel.
Like Elah the son of Baasha, he inherited a throne his father had seized by violence and was killed within two years by one of his own officers.
Key Chapters
Key Passages
Pekahiah Succeeds Menahem
2 Kings 15:22
He inherits a throne his father had seized by force and held by paying tribute to Assyria.
22nd Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.
Two Years in Samaria
2 Kings 15:23-24
His short reign follows the same pattern of idolatry as every king of Israel before him.
23n the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
Slain in the Palace
2 Kings 15:25-26
His own officer kills him inside the royal palace, a sign of how unstable Israel had become.
25ut Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
