2 Kings 15:17-22
King Menahem rules Israel
17 Gadi's son Menahem became the king of Israel when Azariah had been king of Judah for 39 years. He ruled as king in Samaria for ten years. 18 Menahem did things that the Lord said were evil. He did not turn away from the bad things that Nebat's son Jeroboam had done. Jeroboam had caused many people in Israel to do those sins. 19 Then Pul, the king of Assyria, attacked the land of Israel. Menahem paid him 34 tonnes of silver to help him to rule Israel with greater power. 20 Menahem made all the rich people in Israel pay taxes to him. Every rich man had to pay 50 silver coins. Menahem gave that money to the king of Assyria. Then the king of Assyria went away. He did not stay any longer in Israel.
15:19Assyria was a country that was north of Israel. It was in what are now called northern Iraq and south-east Turkey. The Assyrians were enemies of the Israelites. Pul was a short name for King Tiglath-Pileser III.
21 The other things that happened while Menahem was king are written in a book. The book is called ‘The history of Israel's kings’. It tells about the things that Menahem did. 22 Menahem died and his son, Pekahiah, became king after him.
