15:3 And he did [that which was] a right in the sight of the
LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;
(a) As long as he listened to Zachariah the prophet.
15:5 And the LORD b 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, c judging
the people of the land.
(b) His father and grandfather were slain by their subjects
and servants, and he because he would usurp the priest's
office contrary to God's ordinance was smitten
immediately by the hand of God with the leprosy,
(2Ch 26:21).
(c) As viceroy or deputy to his father.
15:8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did
Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria
six d months.
(d) He was the fourth in descent from Jehu, who reigned
according to God's promise, but in him God began to
execute his wrath against the house of Jehu.
15:10 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and
smote him before the people, and e slew him, and reigned
in his stead.
(e) Zachariah was the last in Israel, that had the kingdom
by succession, save only Pekahiah the son of Menahem,
who reigned only two years.
15:16 Then Menahem smote f 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.
(f) Which was a city of Israel that would not receive him
as their king.
15:19 [And] Pul the king of Assyria came against the g land:
and Menahem gave Pul a thousand h talents of silver,
that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in
his hand.
(g) That is, of Israel.
(h) Instead of seeking help from God, he went about by
money to purchase the favour of this king being an
infidel and therefore God forsook him, and Pul soon
afterward broke his promises, destroyed his country
and led his people away captive.
15:25 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 i Argob and Arieh, and with him
fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and
reigned in his room.
(i) Which were of the same conspiracy.
15:29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel k came
Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and
Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and
Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried
them captive to Assyria.
(k) For God stirred up Pul and Tiglathpileser against
Israel for their sins, (1Ch 5:26).
15:34 And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the
LORD: he did according l to all that his father Uzziah
had done.
(l) He shows that his uprightness was not such, but that
he had many great faults.
15:37 In m those days the LORD began to send against Judah
Rezin the king of Syria, and n Pekah the son of
Remaliah.
(m) After the death of Jotham.
(n) Who in one day slew 120,000 of Judah's fighting men
(2Ch 28:6), because they had forsaken the true
God.
