2 Kings 15:21 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 15:21 mean?

2 Kings 15:21 says that the rest of the deeds and actions of King Menahem, and everything he did during his reign, are recorded in another historical record called "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel." This verse points readers to another source for more details about Menahem's rule.

This statement comes from the author of 2 Kings, who is summarizing the reign of Menahem, a king of Israel. The verse serves as a closing note, letting readers know that the biblical account does not include every detail, but that more information could be found in a now-lost official record. This was a common way for the writers of Kings to wrap up the story of each king.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 15:21

• "rest" (יֶתֶר, yether): This word means "the remainder" or "what is left." Here, it refers to everything about Menahem's reign that was not included in the main biblical narrative.
• "acts" (דָּבָר, davar): While often translated as "acts" or "deeds," this word literally means "words" or "matters." It covers both actions and significant events or policies.
• "chronicles" (דָּבָר, davar; יָמִים, yamim): The phrase "book of the chronicles" uses these words to mean "book of the events" or "book of the days," suggesting an official royal record or annals, not the biblical books called Chronicles.

Why 2 Kings 15:21 matters

• This verse shows that the biblical writers sometimes relied on other historical records and did not aim to give a full biography of every king.
• It helps readers understand that the Bible's account is selective, focusing on what the author considered most important for the message of Kings.
• The mention of "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel" highlights that there were once other detailed records about Israel's history, now lost to us.