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?

2 KINGS 15:21KJV
Know the Bible

2 Kings 15:21 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 15:21 mean?

2 Kings 15:21 closes the account of Menahem, a king of Israel, by pointing readers to a separate record for more information about his reign. The question about that record is a conventional way of referring readers to it, rather than a request for an answer.

The narrator uses “the rest of the acts” to mark the account as a selection from a larger history. After describing Menahem’s dealings with Assyria, the narrative directs readers toward a record concerned with Israel’s kings.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 15:21

  • “acts” — דָּבָר (davar): This word can mean a matter or an event as well as a word. Here it covers the affairs of Menahem’s reign, not just individual deeds.

  • “chronicles” — דָּבָר (davar) and יוֹם (yom): Together these words convey the sense of a record of events over time. They help explain why the KJV calls the source “chronicles.”

Why 2 Kings 15:21 matters

  • The record named here is a source about the kings of Israel. The title “the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel” identifies its subject; it should not be confused with the biblical books called 1 and 2 Chronicles.

  • The verse separates the account in Kings from the source it cites. The phrase “are they not written” points beyond the present narrative to a written record the narrator expects readers to recognize.

Where else these words appear

“Menahem” Hebrew H4505 · used in 8 verses

  • 2 Kings 15:14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Kings 15:17 In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.
  • 2 Kings 15:20 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.

“rest” Hebrew H3499 · used in 95 verses

  • Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
  • 1 Kings 22:39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
  • 2 Chronicles 28:26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.