Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.

2 KINGS 15:13KJV
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2 Kings 15:13 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 15:13 mean?

2 Kings 15:13 reports that Shallum, the son of Jabesh, became king in Samaria during the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah, king of Judah, but his reign lasted only a full month. The verse highlights the extremely short and unstable rule of Shallum over Israel.

The book of 2 Kings is giving a historical account of Israel’s kings. This verse notes the timing of Shallum’s rise to power, linking it to the reign of Uzziah in Judah, and points out that Shallum’s time as king was unusually brief. The setting is the northern kingdom of Israel, with Samaria as its capital, during a period marked by frequent changes in leadership and political turmoil.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 15:13

  • שַׁלּוּם (Shallum): This is the name of the new king, meaning "retribution" or "recompense." The name itself does not carry special meaning in this context, but it identifies the individual whose brief reign is being described.
  • מָלַךְ (malakh, “reign”): This verb is used for beginning to rule as king. Its use here emphasizes the official start of Shallum’s rule, even though it was short-lived.
  • שָׁלוֹם (yom, “full”): The word translated as “full” here literally means "day," but in this context, it is used to indicate a complete month, not just part of one. This stresses how short Shallum’s reign was—just one whole month.
  • שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shomron, “Samaria”): The mention of Samaria as the location of Shallum’s reign roots the event in the northern kingdom’s capital, underlining the political center of Israel at that time.

Why 2 Kings 15:13 matters

  • This verse clears up that Shallum’s reign was not only short but also officially recognized, even if it lasted only a month, which shows the instability in Israel’s monarchy at the time.
  • By tying Shallum’s reign to the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah of Judah, the verse helps readers synchronize the histories of the northern and southern kingdoms, showing how events in one affected the other.
  • The mention of Samaria as the seat of power highlights the division between Israel and Judah and the ongoing political struggles in the northern kingdom.

Where else these words appear

“month” Hebrew H3391 · used in 13 verses

  • Exodus 2:2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
  • 1 Kings 6:38 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.
  • Job 29:2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

“Jabesh” Hebrew H3003 · used in 21 verses

  • Judges 21:8 And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.
  • 1 Samuel 11:3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.
  • 2 Samuel 2:4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.

“Shallum” Hebrew H7967 · used in 26 verses

  • 2 Kings 15:10 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
  • 1 Chronicles 6:12 And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum,
  • Ezra 2:42 The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.

“Uzziah” Hebrew H5818 · used in 26 verses

  • 2 Kings 15:30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
  • 2 Chronicles 26:9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
  • 2 Chronicles 27:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.