2 Kings 15:23-26·~1 min

Pekahiah Reigns in Israel

Pekahiah reigns two years in Samaria, continues Jeroboam’s sins, and is killed in the palace by Pekah and his allies from Gilead.

I²³n the fiftieth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel and reigned in Samaria two years. ²⁴And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit. ²⁵Then his officer, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him along with Argob, Arieh, and fifty men of Gilead. And at the citadel of the king’s palace in Samaria, Pekah struck down and killed Pekahiah and reigned in his place.

The rest of Pekahiah’s acts are recorded in the chronicles of Israel’s kings.

²⁶As for the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, along with all his accomplishments, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Section summaryPekahiah inherits the throne and the same evil pattern, but not for long. His short reign ends inside the royal citadel through a conspiracy led by one of his own officers.

Role in the chapterThis section keeps the chapter’s rhythm of unstable succession. Even hereditary rule in Israel proves fragile, as violence rises from within the court itself.