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2 Kings >
Exposition >
Continued from notes on 1 Kings >
C. The Second Period of Antagonism 9:30-17:41 >
11. Menahem's evil reign in Israel 15:17-22
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Menahem began Israel's seventh royal family. His reign lasted 10 years (752-742 B.C.).
Assyrian inscriptions have identified Pul as Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 B.C.; cf. v. 29; 16:7, 10; 1 Chron. 5:26). Pul was the throne name that Tiglath-Pileser III took as Babylon's sovereign after he conquered that nation about 729 B.C.96This is the first explicit mention of Assyria in Kings. Tiglath-Pileser was a very strong Assyrian ruler. He invaded Israel in 743 B.C. and consequently Israel fell under Assyria's control.
Because of Israel's apostasy God delivered her over to the clutches of a foreign power that would one day swallow her up (cf. Deut. 28:32-33).
