Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 15:16
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.
16 22. Menahem king of Israel. He smites Tiphsah. Pul, king of Assyria, comes against Israel but is bought off. Death of Menahem (Not in Chronicles)
16. Menahem smote Tiphsah ] Tiphsah is mentioned 1Ki 4:24 as at one boundary of the dominion of Solomon. The place there intended is Thapsacus on the west side of the Euphrates, and is famous in classic history as the point at which Cyrus with his 10000 Greeks crossed that river. If that be the place here spoken of, we must understand Menahem to have carried his victorious arms from Samaria to the Euphrates. For a king who had put himself on the throne by force, at a time when Israel was thoroughly disorganised, this seems inconceivable. For this reason most people consider the place here mentioned to have been within the kingdom of Israel. Josephus ( Ant. IX. 11. 1) calls it Thapsa, and speaks of it as a place which refused to admit the usurper. If this be so, it is mentioned nowhere else, and this seems to be by far the most natural explanation.
and the coasts [R.V. borders ] thereof ] That is, all the country round about this offending town.
from Tirzah ] Menahem’s proceeding appears to have been this. After the slaughter of Shallum in Samaria, he returned to Tirzah, and, making that his headquarters, went forth thence to reduce the country to subjection.
they opened not to him] Josephus says they closed their gates and barred them against him. At a time when the king was changing every few months the citizens might naturally feel unwilling to admit a new claimant for the rule, till they were certain of what was happening elsewhere.
ript up ] This savage conduct is mentioned (2Ki 8:12) among the enormities which Hazael was likely to perpetrate, and in the prophets (Hos 13:16; Amo 1:13) it is specified as part of the sufferings of Samaria from her invaders, and as inflicted by the Ammonites on the women of Gilead. But nowhere except here do we find such cruelty exercised by an Israelite. It marks the time as one of great degradation and barbarity.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
With respect to the supposed inability of Menahem to lead an expedition to Tiphsah (Thapsacus, see the marginal reference) on the Euphrates, we may note in the first place that such an expedition was a natural sequel to Jeroboams occupation of Hamath 2Ki 14:28; and further, that it would have been greatly facilitated by the weakness of Assyria at this time, that empire having fallen into a state of depression about 780 B.C.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Tiphsah; either that Tiphsah mentioned 1Ki 4:24, or another city of that name.
The coasts thereof from Tirzah, i.e. all the people dwelling between Tirzah and Tiphsah.
Because they opened not to him; because they refused to open the gates of their city to him, and to submit to him as conqueror.
The women he ripped up; that by this example of severity he might affright all the rest of the people into obedience.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. Menahem . . . smoteTiphsahThapsacus, on the Euphrates, the border city ofSolomon’s kingdom (1Ki 4:24).The inhabitants refusing to open their gates to him, Menahem took itby storm. Then having spoiled it, he committed the most barbarousexcesses, without regard either to age or sex.
2Ki15:17-21. MENAHEM’SREIGN.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah,…. The Jewish writers commonly take this Tiphsah to be without the land of Israel, the same with that in 1Ki 4:24 on the borders of Syria, and near the Euphrates; but it seems to be some place nearer Samaria, and Tirzah; according to Bunting t, it was but six miles from Samaria:
because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; they refused to open the gates of their city to him, and receive him, and acknowledge him as their king; therefore he exercised severity on the inhabitants of it, and the parts adjacent, as far as Tirzah, putting them to the sword:
and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up: which was a most shocking instance of barbarity, and which he did, to terrify others from following their example. Ben Gersom interprets it of strong towers built on mountains, which he demolished, deriving “haroth”, which we render “women with child”, from , “a mountain”.
t Travels, &c. p. 169.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
C. MENAHEM SUBMITS TO ASSYRIA 15:1622
TRANSLATION
(16) Then Menahem smote Tiphsah and all who were in it and its borders from Tirzah; because they did not open unto him therefore he smote it; and all the pregnant women he ripped open. (17) In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel; and he reigned ten years in Samaria. (18) And he did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not turn all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin. (19) And Pul king of Assyria came against the land; and Menahem gave to Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to strengthen the kingdom in his hand, (20) And Menahem secured the money from Israel, from all the wealthy land owners, to give the king of Assyria, fifty shekels of silver for each man. And the king of Assyria returned, and did not remain there in the land. (21) And the rest of the acts of Menahem and all which 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 ruled in his place.
Sixteenth King of Israel
MENAHEM BEN GADI
752742 B.C.
(Comforter)
2Ki. 15:16-22
Synchronism
Menehem 1 = Uzziah 39
Contemporary Prophet
Hosea
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. Pro. 11:11
COMMENTS
The only town known to history or geography as Tiphsah is the famous city on the Euphrates river (cf. 1Ki. 4:24). It would appear that Zechariah had intended to continue the expansionist policies of his father. At the very time Zechariah was assassinated, the armies under Menahem were garrisoned at Tirzah awaiting orders to march northward. After rather easily disposing of Shallum the assassin, Menahem immediately launched the expedition which had previously been planned. In the early days of Menahem, Assyria was weak and unable to resist these incursions. All the territory from Tirzah in Israel to Tiphsah fell temporarily under the control of Menahem. When the city of Tiphsah refused to surrender, Menahem treated it in a most cruel way. Even pregnant women were ripped open and their unborn children bandied about on the swords of his soldiers![580]
[580] On this cruel practice of ancient warfare see 2Ki. 8:12; Isa. 13:8; Hos. 10:14; Hos. 13:16; Amo. 1:13.
Menahems conquests in the north were short-lived. In 745 B.C. the mighty Tiglath-pileser, known in Babylonia as King Pul, came to the throne of Assyria. In one of his early campaigns Tiglath-pileser invaded Israel and forced Menahem to pay an enormous tribute of a thousand talents of silver (about $2,000,000).[581] This payment in effect made Menahem a vassal of Tiglath-pileser and placed his throne under the protection of the Assyrian monarch (2Ki. 15:19). To secure this tribute money, Menahem taxed the wealthy land owners fifty shekels each.[582] The tax would have to be levied on a thousand men. Content for the moment with his take, Tiglathpileser returned to Assyria (2Ki. 15:20).
[581] The figure of $2,000,000 is based on the Berkeley Version. An inscription of Tiglathpileser mentions the tribute of Menahem. See ANET, pp. 282ff.
[582] Fifty shekels of silver ($2,000) was about the price of a slave in this period. See D.J. Wiseman, Iraq XV, (1953), p. 135.
Nothing more is known of the life and reign of Menahem. He appears to have died a natural death. Menahem was succeeded by his son Pekahiah (2Ki. 15:21-22).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(16) Then.After slaying Shallum, and seizing the supreme power.
Tiphsah.The name means ford, and elsewhere denotes the well-known Thapsacus on the Euphrates (1Ki. 4:24). Here, however, an Israelite city in the neighbourhood of Tirzah is obviously intended. The course of events was apparently this: after slaying Shallum, Menahem returned to Tirzah, and set out thence at the head of his entire army to bring the rest of the country to acknowledge him as king. Tiphsah resisting his claims, he made an example of it which proved efficient to terrorise other towns into submission. [Thenius would read Tappuah for Tiphsah by a slight change in one Hebrew letter. This agrees very well with the local indications of the text (comp. Jos. 17:7-8), though, of course, there may have been an otherwise unknown Tiphsah near Tirzah.]
The coasts thereof.Literally, her borders (or, territories). (Comp. Jos. 17:8.)
From Tirzahi.e., starting from Tirzah. This shows that the districts of Tirzah and Tiphsah (or, Tappuah) were conterminous.
Because they opened not to him.Literally, for one opened not; an impersonal construction. The meaning is: the gates were closed against him. The to him is added by all the versions except the Targum.
And all the women.Comp. 2Ki. 8:21; Hos. 13:16; Amo. 1:13.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
REIGN OF MENAHEM, 2Ki 15:16-22.
16. Smote Tiphsah Ewald, Thenius, and others, think this must have been a city in Palestine near Tirzah. But in the absence of any mention of a city of this name near Tirzah, it is better to understand the border city of Solomon’s kingdom, the Thapsacus of the Greeks, mentioned 1Ki 4:24, where see note. Wordsworth well remarks: “In the state of confusion in which Israel was at this time, we need not be surprised that a restless and aspiring man, like Menahem, going forth from Tirzah, should have been able to carry his marauding and desolating conquests even to the banks of the Euphrates.”
The coasts thereof from Tirzah These words do not sufficiently authorize us to maintain that Menahem wasted all the land between Tirzah and Tiphsah, but they clearly show that his conquests were not confined to Tiphsah. We understand that he set out on his expedition from Tirzah, and no doubt many parts of the country between that place and the Euphrates suffered from his march.
Because they opened not The inhabitants of Tiphsah offered resistance to Menahem’s forces, and this so enraged him that he not only ravished the coasts thereof, but having taken the city, he perpetrated on its inhabitants, even to women and children, the most barbarous cruelties.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Menahem in Israel
v. 16. Then Menahem, v. 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, v. 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.
v. 19. And Pul, the king of Assyria, v. 20. And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, by simply levying certain assessments, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver v. 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? v. 22. And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah, his son, reigned in his stead.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
2Ki 15:16 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.
Ver. 16. He smote it, and all the women he ripped up. ] Opening their wombs crudelitate immani et barbara, because their husbands opened not the gates of their city unto him. a This abhorred cruelty Josephus mentioneth not; as being ashamed that other nations should be acquainted with it. The like was done, Hos 13:16 Amo 1:13 and at the Sicilian vespers, by those pseudo-Catholics.
a Here Manes showed himself to be Epimanes.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Menahem
(Comforter)
2Ki 15:16-22
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.-Pro 11:11
Menahem, Josephus asserts, and not without reason, was general of the Israelitish forces. His coming up from Tirzah to slay Shallum, and afterwards starting from Tirzah (where the main army was posted, probably) on his expedition of slaughter against Tiphsah, implies as much. 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. Tiphsah was originally one of Solomons northeastern border cities, on the Euphrates (1Ki 4:24). It was doubtless recovered to Israel under Jeroboam II, and was probably in revolt when so cruelly attacked by the war-king Menahem. Situated on the western bank of the Euphrates, on the great trade road from Egypt, Syria and Phenicia to Mesopotamia, it was important for Menahem to rescue it (Fausset). He, in all likelihood, expected by his brutal treatment of the Tiphsahites to strike terror to all who were likely to oppose his tenure of the crown.
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. 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. 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. 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. This is the first mention of the dreaded Assyrian in Scripture. Assyriologists are not perfectly agreed as to just who this Pul of Scripture was. The name (that form of it, at least) is not found on any of the Assyrian monuments. A Phulukh is mentioned in the Nimrud inscription, with whom some would identify him. Berosus mentions a Chaldean king named Pul, who reigned at just this time, and where the wise cannot among themselves agree we must not venture even to put forth an opinion, but pass on to that concerning which there can be no doubt-his invasion of the land, and the enormous price paid by Menahem for peace. Some suppose that Pul regarded Menahems reduction of Tiphsah as an attack upon his territory; hence his march against his kingdom; but it is more probable that it was a mere plundering incursion, as most of these ancient military expeditions were, especially those of Assyria. The burden of the levy fell upon the rich, which needs not excite much sympathy when we learn from the prophets Amos and Micah how their riches were obtained. See Amo 4:1; 5:11, 12; 8:4-6; Mi 2:2; 6:10-12.
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? And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead. Though he probably reigned as a military dictator merely, he evidently died in peace, as the expression slept with his fathers implies. The expression his fathers implies too that he was an Israelite, though his name Menahem does not sound like Hebrew. It is found nowhere else in Scripture, nor is that of his father (Gadi, fortunate)-a peculiar and somewhat remarkable, if not significant, circumstance. A competent and spiritually-minded Semitic philologist would, we believe, find an ample and productive field for original research here, as well as in many other portions of Old Testament Scripture, especially the opening chapters of 1 Chronicles.
Menahems name appears on the monuments of Tiglath-pileser, though it is thought by some, for various reasons, that the Assyrian chroniclers confused the name of Menahem with that of Pekah-his sons slayer. But this, like everything of merely human origin, is uncertain. Only in divinely-inspired Scripture have we absolute exactitude and certainty; for He who was the Truth declared, the Scripture cannot be broken. Hence they are most surely believed among us (Luk 1:1).
Fuente: Commentaries on the New Testament and Prophets
Tiphsah: 1Ki 4:24
all the women: 2Ki 8:12, Amo 1:13
Reciprocal: Jdg 9:52 – General Pro 28:15 – so Hos 5:11 – oppressed Hos 9:13 – shall Hos 13:16 – their infants Mat 24:19 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 15:16. Then Menahem smote Tiphsah Either that Tiphsah mentioned 1Ki 4:24, or another city of the same name. And the coasts thereof, from Tirzah All the people dwelling between those places. Because they opened not to him Refused to open the gates of their city, and submit to him as conqueror. All the women that were with child he ripped up That by this example of severity he might affright all the rest of the people into obedience. The frequent mention of this kind of cruelty, shows how inhumanly barbarous the eastern people were in those ages.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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.