Bible Strands
2 Kings 15:13
In the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah’s reign over Judah, Shallum son of Jabesh became king, and he reigned in Samaria one full month.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text records a sudden royal transition in the northern kingdom during the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Uzziah. It marks the immediate aftermath of Jehu’s dynasty promise and precedes Menahem’s military takeover.
The words — שַׁלּ֤וּם (sha.Lum) = Shallum and מָלַ֔ךְ (ma.Lakh) = he became king. The Hebrew phrasing emphasizes the act of assuming the throne rather than a formal coronation or divine appointment.
The thread — This brief reign mirrors the pattern in 1 Kings 16:15 where Zimri rules for seven days, and directly triggers 2 Kings 15:14 where Menahem strikes down Shallum. It also follows the chronological marker in 2 Kings 15:1 that synchronizes northern and southern reigns.
Why it lands — The passage demands recognition of Israel’s political instability and the rapid turnover of usurpers. It requires the reader to track how short-lived human power contrasts with the sustained fulfillment of God’s spoken word.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 15:1 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah became king of Judah.
- 1 Kings 16:15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah for seven days. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon of the Philistines,
- 1 Kings 16:24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver and built a city there, calling it Samaria after the name of Shemer, who had owned the hill.
- 2 Kings 15:8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria six months.
- Job 20:15 He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.
- Psalms 55:23 But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
- Proverbs 28:2 A land in rebellion has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
- Proverbs 28:17 A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him.
- Matthew 1:8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah.