24. MENAHEM

MENAHEM

"Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein.because they did not open to him; and he smote it: all the women in it that were with child he ripped up.Pul the king of Assyria came against the land; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to establish the kingdom in his hand. And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, of all those who were wealthy, of each man fifty shekels of silver."

2Ki 15:16-20 The story of cruel Menahem takes us another step downward in the history of Israel. God emphasizes the self-seeking character of this wicked king. Because they did not open their gates to him, he attacked Tiphsah and everyone in that city and its vicinity. He sacked the city and in his cruelty went so far as to rip open all the pregnant women. What a contrast to that One who "will come with might, and His arm shall rule for Him.He will feed His flock like a shepherd: He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead those that give suck" (Isa 40:11). What a glorious day to look forward to! When threatened by the even stronger might of the Assyrian king, Menahem bought him off with a huge quantity of silver, intending thereby to strengthen his own hold on the kingdom too. Yet, just as with politicians today, the money did not come out of his own pocket. Scripture points out that he "exacted" the money from Israel, forcing every wealthy man in Israel to contribute. What a contrast to the One of whom the psalmist prophesied, "I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy ones with bread" (Psa 132:15). Reading of such callous, cruel treatment of his subjects, we are not surprised to read that Menahem did evil in Jehovah’s sight and that he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam.