Pekahiah, son of Menahem, was the king of Israel who reigned in Samaria for a brief period during the 8th century BC. His reign is recorded in the biblical narrative found in 2 Kings 15:22-26. Pekahiah ascended to the throne following the death of his father, Menahem, and ruled for two years.

Historical Context

Pekahiah's reign occurred during a tumultuous period in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The kingdom was plagued by political instability, idolatry, and external threats, particularly from the expanding Assyrian Empire. The Assyrian influence was growing in the region, and Israel was often caught in the power struggles between larger empires.

Biblical Account

The account of Pekahiah's reign is succinctly recorded in 2 Kings 15:23-24 : "In the fiftieth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria two years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit."

Pekahiah continued in the idolatrous practices established by Jeroboam I, the first king of the Northern Kingdom, who had set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan to prevent the Israelites from worshiping in Jerusalem. This sin of Jeroboam became a recurring theme in the evaluation of the kings of Israel, as they repeatedly failed to lead the nation back to the worship of Yahweh.

Assassination and Downfall

Pekahiah's reign was abruptly ended by a conspiracy led by one of his own military officers, Pekah son of Remaliah. The biblical narrative in 2 Kings 15:25 states: "Then Pekah son of Remaliah, one of his chief officers, conspired against him. Taking fifty men of Gilead with him, he assassinated Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the king’s palace at Samaria. So Pekah killed him and reigned in his place."

This violent coup reflects the internal strife and power struggles that characterized the Northern Kingdom during this period. Pekahiah's assassination marked yet another instance of political instability, as the throne of Israel was frequently seized by force rather than hereditary succession.

Religious and Moral Evaluation

From a religious perspective, Pekahiah's reign is evaluated negatively in the biblical text. His continuation of the idolatrous practices of Jeroboam I is seen as a failure to lead the people of Israel in accordance with the covenantal laws given by God. The repeated phrase "he did evil in the sight of the LORD" underscores the moral and spiritual decline of the Northern Kingdom, which ultimately led to its downfall and exile.

Legacy

Pekahiah's short reign is a reflection of the broader narrative of the kings of Israel, who, with few exceptions, failed to uphold the worship of Yahweh and led the nation into idolatry and moral decay. His assassination and the subsequent rise of Pekah highlight the instability and violence that plagued the Northern Kingdom until its eventual conquest by Assyria in 722 BC.