2 Kings 15 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah became king in the 27th year of Jeroboam king of Israel.

² Azariah was 16 years old when he began to rule. He ruled 52 years in Jerusalem. Azariah’s mother was named Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

³ Azariah did the things that the Lord said were right, just like his father Amaziah. Azariah followed all the things his father Amaziah did.

⁴ But he did not destroy the high places. [169] People still made sacrifices and burned incense [170] in these places of worship.

⁵ The Lord caused King Azariah to become sick with leprosy. [171] He was a leper until the day he died. Azariah lived in a separate house. Jotham, the king’s son, took care of the king’s house and judged the people.

⁶ All the great things that Azariah did are written in the book The History of the Kings of Judah.

⁷ Azariah {died and} was buried with his ancestors [172] in the City of David. [173] Azariah’s son Jotham became the new king after him.

⁸ Zechariah son of Jeroboam ruled over Samaria in Israel for six months. This was during the 38th year that Azariah was king of Judah.

⁹ Zechariah did the things the Lord said were wrong. He did the same things his ancestors [174] did. He did not stop doing the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat that caused Israel to sin.

¹⁰ Shallum son of Jabesh made plans against Zechariah. Shallum killed Zechariah in Ibleam. Shallum became the new king after him.

¹¹ All the other things that Zechariah did are written in the book The History of the Kings of Israel.

¹² In this way the Lord’s word came true. The Lord had told Jehu that four generations of his descendants [175] would be kings of Israel.

¹³ Shallum son of Jabesh became king {of Israel} during the 39th year that Uzziah was king of Judah. Shallum ruled for one month in Samaria.

¹⁴ Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzah to Samaria. Menahem killed Shallum son of Jabesh. Then Menahem became the new king after him.

¹⁵ All the things Shallum did, including his plans against Zechariah, are written in the book The History of the Kings of Israel.

¹⁶ {After Shallum died,} Menahem defeated Tiphsah and the area around it. The people refused to open {the city gate} for him. So Menahem defeated them and ripped open all the pregnant women in that city.

¹⁷ Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel during the 39th year that Azariah was king of Judah. Menahem ruled ten years in Samaria.

¹⁸ Menahem did the things the Lord said were wrong. Menahem did not stop doing the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat that caused Israel to sin.

¹⁹ Pul king of Assyria came to fight against Israel. Menahem gave Pul 75,000 pounds [176] of silver. He did this so Pul would support Menahem and make Menahem’s kingdom stronger.

²⁰ Menahem raised the money by making all the rich and powerful men pay taxes. Menahem taxed each man 20 ounces [177] of silver. Then Menahem gave the money to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria left, and did not stay there in Israel.

²¹ All the great things that Menahem did are written in the book The History of the Kings of Israel.

²² Menahem {died and} was buried with his ancestors. [178] Menahem’s son Pekahiah became the new king after him.

²³ Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria during the 50th year that Azariah was king of Judah. Pekahiah ruled two years.

²⁴ Pekahiah did the things that the Lord said were wrong. Pekahiah did not stop doing the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat that caused Israel to sin.

²⁵ The commander of Pekahiah’s army was Pekah son of Remaliah. Pekah killed Pekahiah. He killed him in Samaria at the king’s palace. [179] Pekah had 50 men from Gilead with him when he killed Pekahiah. Then Pekah became the new king after him.

²⁶ All the great things Pekahiah did are written in the book The History of the Kings of Israel.

²⁷ Pekah son of Remaliah began to rule over Israel in Samaria during the 52nd year that Azariah was king of Judah. Pekah ruled 20 years.

²⁸ Pekah did the things that the Lord said were wrong. Pekah did not stop doing the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat that caused Israel to sin.

²⁹ Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria came to fight against Israel. This was during the time that Pekah was king of Israel. Tiglath Pileser captured Ijon, Abel Bethmaacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and all the area of Naphtali. Tiglath Pileser took the people from these places as prisoners to Assyria.

³⁰ Hoshea son of Elah made plans against Pekah son of Remaliah. Hoshea killed Pekah. Then Hoshea became the new king after Pekah. This was during the 20th year that Jotham son of Uzziah {was king of Judah}.

³¹ All the great things that Pekah did are written in the book The History of the Kings of Israel.

³² Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah. This was during the second year that Pekah son of Remaliah was king of Israel.

³³ Jotham was 25 years old when he became king. Jotham ruled 16 years in Jerusalem. Jotham’s mother was named Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

³⁴ Jotham did the things the Lord said were right, just like his father Uzziah.

³⁵ But he did not destroy the high places. [180] The people still made sacrifices and burned incense [181] at those places of worship. Jotham built the upper gate of the Lord’s temple. [182]

³⁶ All the great things that Jotham did are written in the book The History of the Kings of Judah.

³⁷ At that time, the Lord sent Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah to fight against Judah.

³⁸ Jotham {died and} was buried with his ancestors. [183] Jotham was buried in the City of David [184] his ancestor. [185] Jotham’s son Ahaz became the new king after him.