Illustration created for this project.

Menahem

A king of Israel in its final decades, who took the throne by killing Shallum and secured it with notorious brutality against a town that would not open to him. When Pul of Assyria invaded, Menahem bought him off with a thousand talents of silver, raised by exacting fifty shekels from every wealthy man in the kingdom — the first formal tribute that made Israel an Assyrian vassal.

Role: King of Israel

Lived: ? – c. 742 BC

Belonged to: Kings of Israel

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Archaeology — physical evidence · 1

Life, role & deeds

BibleTo secure his throne he paid a thousand talents of silver to Pul (Tiglath-Pileser) of Assyria, exacting it from the wealthy men of Israel.

2 Kings 15:19–20

Unknown artistUnknown artist — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons) ArchaeologyThe annals of Tiglath-Pileser III record tribute from 'Menahem of Samaria' (Menihimme of Samerina) — the very payment named in Kings.

Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III (Nimrud/Calah), tribute list naming 'Menihimme of Samerina' (Menahem of Samaria); ed. H. Tadmor, 'The Inscriptions of Tiglath-Pileser III, King of Assyria' (Jerusalem: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1994); cf. ANET 283; 2 Kings 15:19-20.

↳ Samaria

Where in scripture

2 Kings

Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, killed him, and reigned in his place.
2 Kings 15:14

Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
2 Kings 15:19 — Pays tribute to Assyria

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

2 Kings 15:14 2 Kings 15:19

Related reading

Menahem

What we know — and how we know it

Where in scripture

Family