2 Kings 15:23-26 Pekahiah’s Reign

Pekahiah, the son of Menaham takes the throne. I wouldn’t have expected such a vicious king to remain alive to pass on his ways.

The people didn’t rebel against Menaham. They let his reign continue until his death and allowed his son to take his place. I don’t know if they had any choice in the matter though. Maybe the ‘devil they knew’ was preferable to one they didn’t.

I wonder what it was about him that inspired his own captain to plot his death. Was he ruthless like his father? Was he a weak leader? Was he oblivious to the needs of the people? I looked ahead and didn’t find any answers to these questions.

One thing we do know about him is that he continued to lead the people in worshiping the golden calves. This was the sin of Jeroboam, the first king of the divided kingdom. This sin hasn’t left Israel since the day the idols were set up. The devotion to Baal and Asherath come and go but not this idol worship. “Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt” (1 Kings 12:28) called Jeroboam to the congregation.

I’m curious about the naming of two individuals in our reading today. Who were Argob and Ahieh? Were they men who helped assassinate the king? Were they also victims of assassination? Were they wives of the king?

I tried to find out by looking in my book that covers EVERY bible name. (It was a gift from my mom to help me with my ‘first person’ stories.) Even they don’t know any more about these two individuals. They even suggest that Argob and Ahiel might be the names of the palace where Pekahiah was struck down. They didn’t propose that they might be the names of the king’s wives though.

Did you notice that all the men who were part of the plot were from the tribe of Gilead? Was Pekah also from that tribe? I have a feeling that the king wasn’t from that tribe. We aren’t told which tribe Menaham was from but I find it hard to believe that men from the same tribe as the king would assassinate him. Is it possible that the reason for his assassination was because of some slight he had done to the tribe of Gilead?

I don’t know what we are to learn from this king today. Other than the fact that he followed in the same sins as the rest of Israel’s kings and he was killed by his own men, there is little we know about him. The Spirit usually helps me see something in the stories that we can apply to our lives today, but I’m coming up empty. I’m sure it is my fault rather than God’s word. I miss that ‘ah ha’ moment.

Something that did spark is the need to be certain of the character of those who you surround yourself with. The man, Pekah, who struck down Pekahiah was one of his closest officers. I’m not saying to doubt all your friends and expect them to betray you, but be aware of changes in their behavior. I’m pretty certain this plot didn’t develop overnight. Something had to be building for a while yet Pekahiah missed it. Ask God for discernment, even among your closest friends.

Father God, thank You for sharing Your stories with me. I suppose You didn’t share much about this king because he didn’t have a big impact on Your plans. Sometimes I get too wrapped up in the behind the scenes and want more detail than is available. You made me this way so I suppose it is fine to wonder; so long as I don’t get bogged down there.

Holy Spirit, thank You for answering the question that always starts my time in the word; “What would You have me learn from this today?” I don’t have many ‘inner circle friends’ to be concerned with. My husband does though. I wish I would have asked for Your discernment before getting into the Clicky App mess. Next time I WILL.