Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah

2Kings 15:14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

Menahem kills Shallum

Menahem reigns 10 years but is evil (like Jereboam)

King Pul of Assyria came and was about to attack Menahem (and Israel) so Menahem pays him LOTS of silver (1000 talents) to help him control Israel (odd thing to ask of an enemy)

(this doesn't work as eventually Assyria are one of the countries that take their turn to capture Israel later on)

1Ki 4: 24 For he (Solomon) had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

This is the biggest Israel EVER got..

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.

So Menahem tries (and it sounds like, succeeds) to take over Tiphsah again and extend Israel's borders. this is the last time recorded any Israel king attempts to extend the borders.

notice what he is recorded as having done - and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up. disgusting and disturbing, but

2Ki 8:12 reference to women with child again.

this was done to Israel by Hazael king of Assyria

Israel then does it to Tiphsah.

Amos 1:13 reference to women with child again. Ammonites did this to Israel too.

PEKAHIAH reigned for 2 years. he was bad, and killed by unrelated army officer PEKAH

Pekah was... bad. reigned for 20 years

he was a good fighter - 2Ch 28:6 he killed 120000 in one day (valient men) because they forsook God. don't know if that was his reason or somebody else's and he just jumped on the opportunity to kill people.

this is an example of God using Pekah to fulfill His purpose.

2Ch 28:8-15
8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.
10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?
11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.
12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,
13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

if you think about it, this is a literal example of the good samaritan.

that's a thought of roger's... xD