Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 15:14
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.
14. Menahem the son of Gadi ] It has been suggested that Menahem was an officer of king Zechariah and advanced from Tirzah, where he was stationed, to Samaria to avenge the murder of his master. This may have been so, but if the expression ‘before the people’ in verse 10 be correct, it would appear as if Zechariah had few to take his part.
Tirzah ] Was made a royal residence by Jeroboam I. (1Ki 14:17). The site of Tirzah has not been identified, but its beauty is extolled in Son 6:4. We learn from 1Ki 16:17 that it was a fortress capable of standing a siege, and so may have been a military post, and Menahem an officer there.
and reigned in his stead ] These words are not represented in the LXX.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Tirzah, the old capital, once more appears as a place of importance, giving birth to the pretender, who alone of all these later kings died a natural death, and left the crown to his son 2Ki 15:22. It would seem from the present passage to have been on lower ground than Samaria.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah,…. A city in the tribe of Manasseh, the royal city of the kings of Israel before Omri, of which [See comments on Jos 12:24], whether Menahem was of this city, or was now besieging it with an army he had the command of, as Josephus r suggests, is not certain; however, hearing what had befallen Zachariah, he came from hence: and came to Samaria; which, according to Bunting s, was six miles from Tirzah:
and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead; judging he had as good a right to the throne as Shallum had.
r Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 9. c. 11. sect. 1.) s Travels, &c. p. 169.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(14) For.And.
Menahem.Tiglath Pileser II. records in his annals that in his eighth regnal year (i.e., B.C. 738) he took tribute of Raunnu (Rezin) the Damascene, and Menihimm Samerinai.e., Menahem the Samaritan.
Gadi.Or, a Gadite.
Went up from Tirzah.Menahem was Zachariahs general, who at the time was quartered with the troops at Tirzah, near Samaria (1Ki. 14:17). On the news of the murder of Zachariah, Menahem marched to tHe capital. The month of Shallums reign was probably taken up with preparations for hostilities on both sides. A battle at Samaria decided matters (Josephus). Perhaps, however, Menahem simply entered Samaria with a part of his forces.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Menahem went up from Tirzah According to Josephus and most expositors, Menahem was the general of Zachariah’s army, and had his headquarters at Tirzah, the former residence of the kings of Israel, (see note on 1Ki 14:17,) and when he heard of the assassination of the king, he marched immediately with all his forces to Samaria. and slew the usurper Shallum, and took the kingdom into his own hand.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 15:14. Menahemwent up from Tirzah Tirzah was a long time the regal city of the kingdom of Israel; Jeroboam, who was the first king of Israel, though he dwelt for some time at Shechem, in his latter days at least resided here; as did all the kings of Israel, till Omri, having reigned six years in Tirzah, built Samaria, and removed the royal seat thither, where it continued till a final period was put to that kingdom. See Son 6:4 and Wells’s Geogr. vol. 3:
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ki 15:14 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.
Ver. 14. For Menahem the son of Gadi. ] Who was general of Zachariah’s army, saith Josephus: a as Omri was of drunken Elah’s. This Menahem is by Sulpitius Severus called Manes: as was also the first founder of the Manichees, those ancient heretics. The name signifieth Paracletum, a comforter: but they proved nothing less.
And slew him.
a Hist., lib. i.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Tirzah. The capital before Samaria (1Ki 14:17; 1Ki 14:15, 1Ki 14:21; 1Ki 16:8). Now Telluzah, about nine miles north of Samaria.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Tirzah: 1Ki 14:17, 1Ki 15:21, 1Ki 15:33, 1Ki 16:8, 1Ki 16:9, 1Ki 16:15, 1Ki 16:17
and smote: 2Ki 15:10
Reciprocal: Jos 12:24 – Tirzah 2Ki 14:19 – they made Hos 7:7 – devoured