Zechariah, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah, Kings of Israel
Zechariah,
the son of Jeroboam, reigned over Israel only six months, and was then treacherously
slain by one of his servants, named Shallum, who proclaimed himself king. But Menahem, the
general of the army, hearing of what Shallum had done, came against him and slew him, and
made himself king. Menahem ruled for ten years with great cruelty, slaying those who did not
wish him to be king, and destroying their towns. When he died, his son Pekahiah succeeded
him. He was a wicked man also, and after a reign of two years he was treacherously put to
death by one of his generals, named Pekah. Pekah made himself king, and reigned for twenty
years, and he too was a cruel and sinful man.
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