I. MANAHEN, or Manahem, the sixteenth King of Israel. He was Son of Gadi, and revenged the Death of his Master Zachariah, by that of Shallum, Son of Jabesh, who had usurped the Crown of Israel1. Manahem, General of the Army of Zachariah, was at Tirzah, when he had the News of his Master’s Death. He immediately marched against Shallum, who had shut himself up in Samaria; he killed him, and reigned in his Stead2. From thence he returned to Tirzah; but this City being not willing to acknowledge him, and shutting their Gates against him, he was so provoked at it, that he vented his Passion upon Tiphsah, a Town in the Neighbourhood of Tirzah, and probably Sharers in their Resolution. Afterwards he took Tirzah, ruined it intirely, and exercised many Barbarities in it. For he killed all the Women with Child in it, ript up their Bellies, and dashed the Children against the Ground. After this, he reigned in Samaria for ten Years3, and did Evil in the Sight of the Lord, walking in the Ways of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
Pul King of Assyria, probably the Father of Sardanapalus, having invaded the Land of Israel during the Reign of Manahem; this Prince was obliged to pay him a thousand Talents, that he might be assisted by him, and fixed upon the Throne. To raise this Sum, Manahem was forced to tax all the Persons in the Countrey that were able to pay at fifty Shekels a Head; after which Pul returned into his own Countrey. Hosea confirms what we have said, when he says, V. 13. Ephraim saw his Sickness, and Judah saw his Wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to King Jareb: Misit ad Regem ultorem. Vulg. But the Scripture seems to insinuate elsewhere, that the King 1 Chron. v. 26. Jos. Antiq. l. ix. c. 11.of Assyria came into the Countrey as an Enemy. And the God of Israel stirred up the Spirit of Pul King of Assyria, &c. Josephus thinks, that Pul came to act offensively against Manahem, who not finding himself in a Capacity to withstand so great a Force, bought his Peace for the thousand Talents he gave him. All this may be easily reconciled by supposing, that at first Pul invaded Israel as an Enemy, but that Manahem brought him over to his Interest by this great Sum that he gave him. Manahem slept with his Fathers, and his Son Pekahiah reigned in his Stead.
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Footnotes
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In the Year of the World 3232, before Christ 768, before the Vulgar Æra 772. See 2 Kings xv. 13. ↩
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2 Kings xv. 14, 15, &c. Joseph. Antiq. l. ix. c. 11. ↩
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From the Year of the World 3233, before Christ 767 Years, before the Vulgar Æra 771; to the Year of the World 3243, before Christ 757 Years, before the Vulgar Æra 761. ↩