2 Kings 15:20

18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

19 And 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 confirm the kingdom in his hand.

And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.

21 And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

22 And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Menahem exacted this money from each of the wealthy men of Israel—fifty shekels of silver from each man—to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not remain in the land.
KJV
And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.
WEB
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.
ASV
And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.
DARBY
And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, of all those who were wealthy, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. And the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.
BLB
And Menahem brought out the silver from Israel, from all the mighty men of wealth, to give to the king of Assyria, fifty shekels of silver for one man. And the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land.
ÅB
Og Menahem fikk de penger han skulle gi til kongen i Assyria, inn ved å legge skatt på Israel, på alle rikmenn, femti sekel på hver. Så vendte kongen i Assyria tilbake og ble ikke lenger i landet.
OTB
Så krevde Menahem pengene fra Israel, fra alle de mektige menn av rikdom, femti sjekel sølv fra hver mann, for å gi til Assyrias konge. Så trakk Assyrias konge seg tilbake og ble ikke værende i landet.
B1930
Og Menahem fikk de penger han skulde gi til kongen i Assyria, inn ved å legge skatt på Israel, på alle rikmenn, femti sekel på hver. Så vendte kongen i Assyria tilbake og blev ikke lenger i landet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Kings 23:35

    And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaoh-nechoh.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 17:3–4

    Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 15:29

    In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 18:14–17

    And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 19:32

    Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

    Read in context
  • Ruth 2:1

    And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

    Read in context
  • Job 1:3

    His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

    Read in context