Who are Azariah (Uzziah) and Jotham, and what kind of kings were they?

Azariah, also called Uzziah, became king of Judah when he was sixteen and reigned a long time. The passage says he did what was right in the Lord’s sight, like his father, but he did not remove the high places, so the people kept offering sacrifices there. Because of his pride and stepping into a role that belonged to the priests, God struck him with leprosy, and he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham governed. Jotham later became king and also did what was right, yet he too left the high places. They show partial obedience, but not full reform.

Why did God strike Azariah with leprosy and make him live apart?

Azariah’s leprosy was not random suffering. The wider story shows that he overstepped the limits God had set, taking priestly work into his own hands by burning incense when he should not have. God answered this pride with leprosy, a disease that made him unclean and forced him to live in a separate house. His son Jotham then handled the rule of the people. This shows that even a generally good king is not free to ignore God’s order, and that high position does not excuse disobedience or pride.

What are the “high places,” and why is it a problem they were not removed?

The “high places” were local worship sites, often on hills, where people offered sacrifices and burned incense. Some people mixed worship of the true God with practices taken from the nations around them. God had chosen a central place for proper worship and did not want His people to copy pagan ways. When the passage says Azariah and Jotham did right but did not remove the high places, it means they allowed ongoing worship that did not follow God’s clear pattern. It shows half-hearted reform and a kind of tolerance of wrong worship.

Why are there so many murders and short reigns among Israel’s kings here?

In this chapter, several kings of Israel are killed by men who then take the throne. Zachariah is killed by Shallum, who is then killed by Menahem. Later Pekah kills Pekahiah, and finally Hoshea kills Pekah. This pattern of plots, violence, and short reigns shows a kingdom in deep trouble. The text links this to their ongoing sins, especially following the pattern started by Jeroboam with false worship. When leaders and people keep turning from God, He allows their rule to become unstable, so that power changes hands through bloodshed instead of peace.

What does the violence of Menahem at Tiphsah show about Israel at this time?

Menahem’s attack on Tiphsah is described in very harsh terms. Because the city did not open its gates to him, he destroyed it and even ripped up pregnant women. This is meant to shock the reader and show how hard and cruel the rulers had become. It paints a picture of a king who will do anything to keep and show his power, with no respect for life. The story fits the wider pattern of this chapter, where Israel’s kings walk in evil, and it helps explain why God allows foreign powers and judgment to come against them.

Why did Menahem pay Pul, king of Assyria, and what does that mean for Israel?

When Pul, king of Assyria, came against the land, Menahem chose to pay him a huge amount of silver so that Pul would support his rule instead of removing him. Menahem got this money by taxing the wealthy men of Israel. This shows how weak Israel had become. Rather than trusting God and turning from sin, the king leaned on a strong foreign ruler for safety. It marks a turning point where Israel starts to fall under Assyria’s control, leading later to loss of land and people being carried away.

What is the significance of Tiglath-pileser taking cities and people to Assyria?

During Pekah’s reign, Tiglath-pileser of Assyria captured many towns and regions in Israel, including parts of Galilee and the land of Naphtali, and carried people away to Assyria. This is more than just a military loss. It is a sign that God is allowing a foreign nation to cut Israel down because of long-standing sin and refusal to turn from false worship. Land that God had once given to His people is now slipping from their hands. It is an early step toward the full downfall of the northern kingdom.

How does this passage show that God keeps His word to Jehu’s family?

The passage points out that Zachariah’s short reign fulfills what God had said to Jehu, that his sons would sit on Israel’s throne to the fourth generation. Zachariah is that fourth generation. Even though the kings are doing evil and the kingdom is very unstable, God’s earlier word still comes true exactly. Then Jehu’s line ends with Zachariah’s death. This shows that God’s promises of blessing and His warnings of judgment both stand. He does not forget what He has said, even across many years and many kings.

What does this chapter teach about God’s character in the middle of chaos?

In the middle of all the plots, murders, and foreign attacks, this chapter shows that God is not absent. He is patient, allowing many chances to turn back, yet He is also just. He strikes Azariah with leprosy for pride, lets violent kings rise who match the nation’s sins, and allows Assyria to chip away at Israel’s land. At the same time, He keeps His word about Jehu’s sons. So we see a God who is steady, who takes sin seriously, and whose promises stand even when people are unfaithful.

How can believers today apply the message of this passage to their lives?

This passage invites self-check more than quick judgment on ancient kings. Azariah and Jotham show how easy it is to leave certain sins or patterns untouched, like the high places. The violent kings of Israel show what happens when pride, idolatry, and injustice are allowed to grow. For believers today, this calls for humble obedience, respect for the roles God has set, and a willingness to remove “high places” in our own lives, where we cling to old habits or idols. It also reminds us that God sees both public and hidden actions and that His word can be trusted.

2Kgs.15.1

2 Kings 15:1

KJV

In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.

Azariah Reigns in Judah

1 In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.

2 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;

4 Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

5 ¶ And the Lord smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the house, judging the people of the land.

6 And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

7 So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

Zechariah Reigns in Israel

8 ¶ In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.

9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

10 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

11 And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

12 This was the word of the Lord which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.

Shallum Reigns in Israel

13 ¶ 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.

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.

15 And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

16 ¶ Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.

Menahem Reigns in Israel

17 In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.

18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

19 And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

20 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.

21 ¶ And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

22 And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.

Pekahiah Reigns in Israel

23 ¶ In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.

24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

25 But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.

26 And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

Pekah Reigns in Israel

27 ¶ In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.

28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

31 And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

Jotham Reigns in Judah

32 ¶ In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.

33 Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

34 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

35 ¶ Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the Lord.

36 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

37 In those days the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

38 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

Cross References

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