Topical Bible: Citizens: Wicked: Menahem

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Menahem, son of Gadi, is a figure in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, known for his wickedness and brutal reign. His account is primarily recorded in the Old Testament, specifically in 2 Kings 15:14-22. Menahem's rise to power and subsequent actions exemplify the moral and spiritual decline that characterized the later years of the Northern Kingdom.

Rise to Power

Menahem came to power through violence and treachery. After the assassination of King Shallum, who had reigned for only a month, Menahem seized the throne. The Bible records this transition in 2 Kings 15:14: "Then Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria and struck down Shallum son of Jabesh there. He killed him and reigned in his place."

Reign of Terror

Menahem's reign, which lasted ten years, was marked by cruelty and oppression. One of the most notorious acts attributed to him was the brutal suppression of a rebellion in the city of Tiphsah. The Bible describes this atrocity in 2 Kings 15:16: "At that time Menahem attacked Tiphsah and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women."

Tribute to Assyria

During Menahem's reign, the Assyrian Empire was expanding its influence over the region. To secure his position and avoid an Assyrian invasion, Menahem paid a substantial tribute to the Assyrian king, Pul (also known as Tiglath-Pileser III). This act is recorded in 2 Kings 15:19-20: "Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own grip on the kingdom. Menahem exacted this money from each of the wealthy men of Israel—fifty shekels of silver from each man—to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not remain in the land."

Spiritual Decline

Menahem's reign is characterized by a continuation of the idolatry and spiritual apostasy that plagued Israel. The Bible does not record any efforts by Menahem to turn the people back to the worship of Yahweh. Instead, his reign is summarized in 2 Kings 15:18: "And he did evil in the sight of the LORD. During his reign, he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit."

Legacy

Menahem's legacy is one of violence, oppression, and spiritual neglect. His actions contributed to the moral decay and instability that eventually led to the downfall of the Northern Kingdom. His son, Pekahiah, succeeded him, but the cycle of violence and idolatry continued, ultimately culminating in the Assyrian conquest and the exile of Israel.

Menahem's account serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of wicked leadership and the importance of faithfulness to God's commandments. His reign is a testament to the destructive power of sin and the need for righteous governance.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Kings 15:14
For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
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Library

How Zachariah Shallum, Menahem Pekahiah and Pekah Took the ...
... to the city Tiphsah; but the citizens that were ... This sum the multitude collected
for Menahem, by exacting ... government twenty years, and proved a wicked man and ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 11 how zachariah shallum.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... As Also What He Did For The Punishment Of The Wicked. ... How Zachariah Shallum, Menahem
Pekahiah And Pekah Took The ... Of The Jews And Made Them Citizens Of Those ...
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