2 kings 15:20 - Menahem exacted the money from Israel, even from all the mighty men of wealth, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and didn’t stay there in the land.
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What does "2 kings 15:20" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 15:20 describes a political situation in the Kingdom of Israel under King Menahem. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"Menahem exacted the money from Israel...": King Menahem levied a tax on the people of Israel. "Exacted" implies he forcefully demanded the money.
"...even from all the mighty men of wealth...": The tax wasn't a general tax on everyone, but specifically targeted wealthy individuals, referred to as "mighty men of wealth."
"...from each man fifty shekels of silver...": The amount each wealthy person had to pay was fifty shekels of silver, a considerable sum at the time. This highlights the scale of the financial burden.
"...to give to the king of Assyria.": The purpose of this tax was to pay tribute to the king of Assyria. Assyria was a powerful empire, and Menahem was essentially buying them off.
"So the king of Assyria turned back, and didn’t stay there in the land.": This explains the motivation behind the tribute. By paying the Assyrian king, Menahem prevented an invasion or occupation of Israel. The payment was a form of protection money, ensuring Assyria left Israel alone.
In essence, this verse is about:
Political dependence: Israel was under the thumb of the Assyrian Empire and forced to pay them tribute.
Financial burden: The burden of this tribute fell on the wealthy elite of Israel.
Pragmatic decision: Menahem chose to pay the tribute to avoid a potentially devastating Assyrian invasion. He saw it as the lesser of two evils.
Contextual Significance:
This verse is important because it illustrates the increasing influence of Assyria in the region. It shows how smaller kingdoms like Israel were forced to submit to the power of the Assyrian Empire to maintain their independence, even if it came at a steep financial cost. This sets the stage for the eventual downfall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which would later be conquered and its people deported by Assyria.
2 kings 15:20 - Menahem exacted the money from Israel, even from all the mighty men of wealth, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and didn’t stay there in the land.
What does "2 kings 15:20" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 15:20 describes a political situation in the Kingdom of Israel under King Menahem. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"Menahem exacted the money from Israel...": King Menahem levied a tax on the people of Israel. "Exacted" implies he forcefully demanded the money.
"...even from all the mighty men of wealth...": The tax wasn't a general tax on everyone, but specifically targeted wealthy individuals, referred to as "mighty men of wealth."
"...from each man fifty shekels of silver...": The amount each wealthy person had to pay was fifty shekels of silver, a considerable sum at the time. This highlights the scale of the financial burden.
"...to give to the king of Assyria.": The purpose of this tax was to pay tribute to the king of Assyria. Assyria was a powerful empire, and Menahem was essentially buying them off.
"So the king of Assyria turned back, and didn’t stay there in the land.": This explains the motivation behind the tribute. By paying the Assyrian king, Menahem prevented an invasion or occupation of Israel. The payment was a form of protection money, ensuring Assyria left Israel alone.
In essence, this verse is about:
Political dependence: Israel was under the thumb of the Assyrian Empire and forced to pay them tribute.
Financial burden: The burden of this tribute fell on the wealthy elite of Israel.
Pragmatic decision: Menahem chose to pay the tribute to avoid a potentially devastating Assyrian invasion. He saw it as the lesser of two evils.
Contextual Significance:
This verse is important because it illustrates the increasing influence of Assyria in the region. It shows how smaller kingdoms like Israel were forced to submit to the power of the Assyrian Empire to maintain their independence, even if it came at a steep financial cost. This sets the stage for the eventual downfall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which would later be conquered and its people deported by Assyria.