2 Kings 15

The Hebrew word describing the disease, ṣāraʽ, can refer to any serious skin disease that would make an Israelite ritually unclean, and unfit to step foot on the sacred grounds of a worship center. Skin diseases reported in the Bible may often have been what we know today as a simple rash or perhaps eczema or psoriasis. The word is often translated as leprosy, but there’s no way of knowing if the king had what we today call Hansen’s disease. It’s caused by bacteria that grows slowly and damages nerves, skin, and eyes. It can produce light patches on the skin. Hansen’s disease is curable today with steroids and antibiotics. Without treatment, lepers sometimes get injured and don’t treat the injury because they can’t feel the pain. Infection sets in and body parts are amputated.

The City of David was the original part of Jerusalem before Solomon expanded up the hill to add the Temple and palace complexes.

The Hebrew words for “in public” are qᵉbōl ‘am. They can mean “in front of” and “people.” The second word, however, can also mean: nation, army, Israelites, everyone, community. So, it’s impossible to accurately describe the scene, other than the dead king.

The city’s name is Tipshah in Hebrew and Tappuah in Greek. There’s only one Tappuah showing up in reports from then, and it’s way up north, by the Euphrates River. It’s possible, scholars say, that Menahem was trying to send a message to the neighboring countries about the extent of his kingdom’s control.

Cutting unborn babies out of pregnant women was a common thing for soldiers to do after winning a battle. It’s odd that some soldiers at the time seemed to consider it a display of power—killing babies. It’s still a thing in modern times. In World War II, there are reports of Japanese soldiers throwing babies in the air and catching them on their bayonets. In 2023, when Hamas terrorists attacked Jewish communities outside the Gaza Strip, some later acknowledged hearing children crying behind a closed door and shooting until the crying stopped.

King Jeroboam made two golden calves for Israel to worship (1 Kings 12:28).

Thirty eight tons of silver is 34,000 kg. In the ancient Hebrew measurement system, it was an even 1,000 talents. The weight nearly equals half a dozen bull African bush elephants. They each weigh about 6.7 tons.

The tax was 20 ounces or 570 grams. That’s 50 shekels in ancient Hebrew weight.

King Azariah, also known as Uzziah, reigned 52 years (verse 5). But most scholars seem to agree that the numbers don’t add up. Some say he reigned that long, from 783-742 BC. Others say 27 years, from 767-740, as the Casual English Bible does. To get to 52 years, most scholars say, Azariah’s reign had to somehow bleed into the reigns of his father Amaziah and his son Jotham. There certainly was some co-ruling going on. The history writer says he developed a skin disease and his son ran the palace. Some scholars simply say the dates are a mystery.

The Hebrew term describing the Pekah, salis, can mean: commander, captain, officer, or lieutenant—as in “a trusted advisor or colleague.”

These names are a guess because the Hebrew text is a mystery. A first-century Jewish historian, Josephus said Pekah caught the king by surprise while the king was eating with guests.