◄ 2 Kings 15:10 ►
Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, struck him down and killed him in front of the people, and reigned in his place.
Study Bible
Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah
This phrase introduces Shallum, who is identified as the son of Jabesh. The act of conspiracy indicates a premeditated plan to overthrow Zechariah, the king of Israel. This event occurs during a turbulent period in Israel's history, marked by political instability and frequent changes in leadership. The conspiracy reflects the broader theme of rebellion and the consequences of turning away from God's covenant, as seen throughout the books of Kings. Zechariah was the last of Jehu's dynasty, fulfilling the prophecy given to Jehu in 2 Kings 10:30 that his descendants would sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.

struck him down and killed him
The act of striking down and killing Zechariah signifies a violent transfer of power, which was not uncommon in the history of Israel and Judah. This assassination marks the end of the Jehu dynasty, which had been established by divine mandate but ultimately failed to maintain faithfulness to God. The violent nature of this transition highlights the moral and spiritual decline of the northern kingdom, as leaders increasingly relied on force rather than divine guidance.

in front of the people
The public nature of Zechariah's assassination suggests a significant level of unrest and dissatisfaction among the populace. It indicates that Shallum's conspiracy had some level of public support or at least public acquiescence. This act in front of the people could also symbolize the transparency of God's judgment on the house of Jehu, as the king's demise was not hidden but witnessed by many, emphasizing the fulfillment of divine prophecy.

and reigned in his place
Shallum's brief reign, lasting only one month, is a testament to the instability and chaos that characterized the northern kingdom during this period. His usurpation of the throne did not bring lasting peace or stability, as he was soon overthrown by Menahem. This cycle of violence and short-lived reigns underscores the consequences of Israel's departure from God's laws and the failure to uphold the covenant. The rapid succession of kings during this time serves as a backdrop to the eventual fall of the northern kingdom to Assyria, as prophesied by the prophets.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Shallum son of Jabesh
Shallum was a conspirator who assassinated King Zechariah and took the throne of Israel. His reign was short-lived, lasting only a month.

2. Zechariah
The king of Israel, son of Jeroboam II, and the last of Jehu's dynasty. His assassination marked the end of a dynasty that had been prophesied to last four generations.

3. Israel
The northern kingdom, distinct from Judah, often characterized by political instability and idolatry during this period.

4. Conspiracy and Assassination
The act of Shallum conspiring and killing Zechariah highlights the political turmoil and moral decline in Israel.

5. Public Execution
Zechariah was killed "in front of the people," indicating a public and possibly humiliating assassination.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Sin and Disobedience
The assassination of Zechariah and the end of Jehu's dynasty illustrate the consequences of Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience to God.

The Sovereignty of God in History
Despite human actions and political upheaval, God's sovereign plan unfolds as prophesied, demonstrating His control over history.

The Dangers of Political Ambition
Shallum's conspiracy and murder for power serve as a warning against unchecked ambition and the moral decay it can cause.

Public Leadership and Accountability
Zechariah's public assassination underscores the importance of accountability in leadership and the potential consequences of failing to lead righteously.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the assassination of Zechariah fulfill God's prophecy to Jehu, and what does this teach us about God's faithfulness to His word?

2. In what ways does the political instability in Israel during this time reflect the spiritual state of the nation?

3. How can we apply the lessons of leadership and accountability from Zechariah's reign to our own roles in leadership, whether in the church, community, or family?

4. What are the dangers of ambition and conspiracy as seen in Shallum's actions, and how can we guard our hearts against similar temptations?

5. How does the public nature of Zechariah's assassination serve as a warning for leaders today regarding the visibility and impact of their actions?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 10:30
This verse records God's promise to Jehu that his descendants would sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation, which was fulfilled with Zechariah.

Hosea 1:4
Hosea prophesies the end of Jehu's dynasty, which is fulfilled in the assassination of Zechariah.

Proverbs 29:2
This verse speaks to the impact of righteous and wicked rulers on the people, relevant to the instability seen in Israel's leadership.
Sermons
Some Lessons from the History of KingsD. Thomas 2 Kings 15:1-38
Anarchy in IsraelJ. Orr 2 Kings 15:8-22
People
Abel, Ahaz, Amaziah, Amram, Aram, Argob, Arieh, Azaliah, Azariah, David, Elah, Gadi, Gileadites, Hoshea, Jabesh, Jecholiah, Jecoliah, Jehu, Jeroboam, Jerusha, Jotham, Maacah, Menahem, Naphtali, Nebat, Pekah, Pekahiah, Pul, Remaliah, Rezin, Shallum, Tappuah, Tiglathpileser, Tirzah, Uzziah, Zachariah, Zadok, Zechariah
Places
Abel-beth-maacah, Assyria, Damascus, Galilee, Gilead, Hazor, Ibleam, Ijon, Janoah, Jerusalem, Kedesh, Samaria, Syria, Tirzah
Topics
Assassinated, Attacked, Attacking, Conspired, Conspireth, Death, Design, Front, Ibleam, Jabesh, Killed, Putteth, Reigned, Reigneth, Secret, Shallum, Slew, Smiteth, Smote, Stead, Struck, Succeeded, Zechariah
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 15:10

     5817   conspiracies

2 Kings 15:1-38

     5366   king

Library
The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

A Living Book
[Illustration: (drop cap T) Symbol of "Asshur", the principal Assyrian idol.] There is only one Book that never grows old. For thousands of years men have been writing books. Most books are forgotten soon after they are written; a few of the best and wisest are remembered for a time. But all at last grow old; new discoveries are made; new ideas arise; the old books are out of date; their usefulness is at an end. Students are the only people who still care to read them. The nations to which the …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord
"If any one wishes to be rich, let him go north; if he wants to be wise, let him come south." Such was the saying, by which Rabbinical pride distinguished between the material wealth of Galilee and the supremacy in traditional lore claimed for the academies of Judaea proper. Alas, it was not long before Judaea lost even this doubtful distinction, and its colleges wandered northwards, ending at last by the Lake of Gennesaret, and in that very city of Tiberias which at one time had been reputed unclean! …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Prophet Micah.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Micah signifies: "Who is like Jehovah;" and by this name, the prophet is consecrated to the incomparable God, just as Hosea was to the helping God, and Nahum to the comforting God. He prophesied, according to the inscription, under Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We are not, however, entitled, on this account, to dissever his prophecies, and to assign particular discourses to the reign of each of these kings. On the contrary, the entire collection forms only one whole. At …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Hosea.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. That the kingdom of Israel was the object of the prophet's ministry is so evident, that upon this point all are, and cannot but be, agreed. But there is a difference of opinion as to whether the prophet was a fellow-countryman of those to whom he preached, or was called by God out of the kingdom of Judah. The latter has been asserted with great confidence by Maurer, among others, in his Observ. in Hos., in the Commentat. Theol. ii. i. p. 293. But the arguments …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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