But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.

2 KINGS 15:25KJV
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2 Kings 15:25 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 15:25 mean?

2 Kings 15:25 describes how Pekah, the son of Remaliah and a captain in the king’s service, plotted against King Pekahiah and killed him in Samaria, inside the royal palace. Pekah carried out this assassination with the help of Argob, Arieh, and fifty men from Gilead, and then took the throne himself.

This verse is part of a historical account showing the instability and violence in the northern kingdom of Israel. The writer is narrating how one of the king’s own officers, Pekah, led a conspiracy that resulted in the king’s murder and a change in leadership. The mention of specific names and the location in the palace highlights the personal and political nature of the event.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 15:25

  • "Conspired" (קָשַׁר, qāshar): This word means to form a plot or alliance, often in secret. Its use here shows that Pekah’s actions were deliberate and planned rather than a sudden act of violence.
  • "Smote" (נָכָה, nākhah): This verb means to strike or kill. In this context, it makes clear that Pekah’s conspiracy ended with the actual killing of the king, not just an attempt.
  • "Gileadites" (גִּלְעָדִי, Gil‘adi): This term refers to men from the region of Gilead. Their involvement suggests Pekah had support from a specific group, possibly indicating political divisions within Israel.

Why 2 Kings 15:25 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the northern kingdom of Israel was marked by frequent coups and assassinations, highlighting the lack of stable leadership.
  • The detail about Pekah being a captain and having support from the Gileadites shows that military leaders and regional groups played a major role in who held power.
  • By naming those involved and the setting, the verse connects to the larger theme in Kings of how personal ambition and political alliances shaped Israel’s history.

Where else these words appear

“Argob” Hebrew H709 · used in 5 verses

  • Deuteronomy 3:4 And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
  • Deuteronomy 3:13 And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of giants.
  • Deuteronomy 3:14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi; and called them after his own name, Bashanhavothjair, unto this day.

“Pekah” Hebrew H6492 · used in 11 verses

  • 2 Kings 15:27 In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
  • 2 Kings 15:31 And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
  • 2 Kings 16:1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.

“Gileadites” Hebrew H1569 · used in 11 verses

  • Numbers 26:29 Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.
  • Judges 11:40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
  • 2 Samuel 19:31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

“Remaliah” Hebrew H7425 · used in 13 verses

  • 2 Kings 15:27 In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
  • 2 Kings 16:1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
  • Isaiah 7:4 And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.