The brutality of Menahem

King Menahem of Israel, as presented in the biblical account (primarily in 2 Kings 15:14-22), provides a sobering example of leadership marked by brutality and unfaithfulness to God. Menahem’s reign serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of rebellion against God’s law and the ultimate fulfillment of divine justice.

Menahem came to power through violence, assassinating King Shallum and seizing the throne of Israel. His rise was part of a broader period of political instability in the northern kingdom, characterized by a succession of short-lived kings, often replaced through treachery and bloodshed. This chaos reflected Israel’s departure from God’s covenant, as they turned to idolatry and rejected the true worship of Yahweh.

Menahem’s rule, which lasted ten years, is remembered for its cruelty. In one instance, the Bible recounts his brutal suppression of a city that refused to submit to his authority. He savagely attacked the city of Tiphsah, killing its inhabitants and committing atrocities, including the ripping open of pregnant women (2 Kings 15:16). Such actions underscore his disregard for God’s laws, which demand justice, mercy, and the protection of the vulnerable. Menahem’s actions demonstrate the corrupting influence of sin on human leadership and the need for rulers to govern under God’s authority.

Economically, Menahem secured his kingdom through a heavy tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III, the king of Assyria. To pay this tribute, Menahem imposed a burdensome tax on Israel’s wealthiest citizens (2 Kings 15:19-20). This reliance on foreign powers rather than on God illustrates Israel’s spiritual decline. Instead of seeking deliverance through repentance and trust in Yahweh, Menahem placed his hope in human alliances, further entrenching Israel’s dependence on pagan nations. The payment of tribute to Assyria foreshadowed Israel’s eventual downfall, as Assyria would later conquer the northern kingdom.

Theologically, Menahem’s reign exemplifies the biblical principle that sin leads to judgment. His unfaithfulness to God and perpetuation of Israel’s idolatry contributed to the nation’s spiritual and moral decay. The prophetic warnings of Amos and Hosea, contemporaries of Menahem, highlight how Israel’s kings failed to lead the people in righteousness, instead plunging them deeper into covenantal disobedience. In Reformed thought, this reflects the consequences of humanity’s total depravity and the failure of human kings to fulfill the role of shepherds under God’s rule.

Menahem’s story ultimately points to the need for a greater King, one who would rule with justice, righteousness, and faithfulness to God’s covenant. From the Reformed perspective, his failure—as well as the failures of other kings of Israel—underscores humanity’s need for redemption through Jesus Christ, the true King who fulfills all righteousness. Menahem’s reign, marked by sin and its consequences, serves as a somber reminder of the wages of sin and the hope found only in God’s sovereign grace and redemptive plan.