17. In Azariah’s thirty-ninth year as king of Judah, Menahem, son of Gadi, began to rule as king of Israel. He ruled for 10 years in Samaria.
18. He did what the Lord considered evil. During his entire life he never turned away from the sins that Jer o boam (Nebat’s son) led Israel to commit.
19. King Pul of Assyria came to ⌊attack⌋ the country. So Menahem gave Pul 75,000 pounds of silver to gain his support and help strengthen his hold on the kingdom.
20. Menahem raised the money from all the wealthy men in Israel. Each gave 20 ounces of silver for the king of Assyria. Then the king of Assyria left the country.
21. Isn’t everything else about Menahem—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Israel?
22. Menahem lay down in death with his ancestors, and his son Pekahiah succeeded him as king.
23. In Azariah’s fiftieth year as king of Judah, Menahem’s son Pekahiah began to rule. Pekahiah was king of Israel in Samaria for two years.
24. He did what the Lord considered evil. He didn’t turn away from the sins that Jer o boam (Nebat’s son) led Israel to commit.
25. His officer Pekah, son of Remaliah, plotted against him. With 50 men from Gilead, Pekah attacked Pekahiah, Argob, and Arieh in the fortress of the royal palace in Samaria. Pekah killed him and succeeded him as king.