2 Kings 15:18

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) He did that which was evil.—Ewald says that at the outset Menahem appeared to be guided by better principles, referring to Zechariah 11:4-8.

All his days.—In the Hebrew these words occur at the end of the verse. They are not found in any other instance of the common formula which the verse repeats (comp. 1Kings 15:26; 1Kings 15:34; 1Kings 16:26; 1Kings 22:53; 2Kings 3:1; 2Kings 10:31, &c), and almost certainly belong to the next verse.

From the sins.—Heb., from upon the sins, which is peculiar. The reading of the LXX., “from all the sins,” appears right.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

With respect to the supposed inability of Menahem to lead an expedition to Tiphsah (Thapsacus, see the marginal reference) on the Euphrates, we may note in the first place that such an expedition was a natural sequel to Jeroboam's occupation of Hamath 2 Kings 14:28; and further, that it would have been greatly facilitated by the weakness of Assyria at this time, that empire having fallen into a state of depression about 780 B.C.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2Ki 15:17-21. Menahem's Reign.

17. reigned ten years in Samaria—His government was conducted on the religious policy of his predecessors.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he did that which was evil,.... The same character is given of him as of those before him, 2 Kings 15:9.

Geneva Study Bible

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18. all his days] These words are unrepresented in the LXX.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. The writer does not seem to regard Menahem as either better or worse than his predecessors. The usual formula suffices to describe the moral and religious aspect of his reign. 2 Kings 15:18

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Reign of Menahem. - Menahem's reign lasted ten full years (see at 2 Kings 15:23), and resembled that of his predecessors in its attitude towards God. In 2 Kings 15:18, the expression כּל־ימיו (all his days) is a very strange one, inasmuch as no such definition of time occurs in connection with the usual formula, either in this chapter (cf. 2 Kings 15:24 and 2 Kings 15:28) or elsewhere (cf. 2 Kings 3:3; 2 Kings 10:31; 2 Kings 13:2, 2 Kings 13:11, etc.). The lxx have instead of this, ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ (in his days). If we compare 2 Kings 15:29, בּא פּקח בּימי (in the days of Pekah came, etc.), בּא בּימיו might possibly be regarded as the original reading, from which a copyist's error בּא כּל־מיו arose, after which כּל־ימיו was connected with the preceding clause.