8 In the thirty-eighth e year of Azariah king of Judah , Zechariah the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in Samaria for six months . 9 He did evil in the sight of the Lord , as his fathers had done ; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat , which he made Israel sin . 10 Then Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him and struck him before the people and killed him, and reigned in his place . 11 Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah , behold they are written in the Book of the Chronicles e of the Kings of Israel . 12 This is the word of the Lord which He spoke to Jehu , saying , "Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel ." And so it was.
13 Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth e year of Uzziah king of Judah , and he reigned one month in Samaria . 14 Then Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah and came to Samaria , and struck Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria , and killed him and became king in his place . 15 Now the rest of the acts of Shallum and his conspiracy which he made , behold they are written in the Book of the Chronicles e of the Kings of Israel . 16 Then Menahem struck Tiphsah and all who were in it and its borders from Tirzah , because they did not open to him; therefore he struck it and ripped up all its women who were with child .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 15:8-16
Commentary on 2 Kings 15:8-31
(Read 2 Kings 15:8-31)
This history shows Israel in confusion. Though Judah was not without troubles, yet that kingdom was happy, compared with the state of Israel. The imperfections of true believers are very different from the allowed wickedness of ungodly men. Such is human nature, such are our hearts, if left to themselves, deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. We have reason to be thankful for restraints, for being kept out of temptation, and should beg of God to renew a right spirit within us.