2 Kings 15:27 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 15:27 mean?

2 Kings 15:27 states that in the fifty-second year of Azariah’s reign as king of Judah, Pekah, the son of Remaliah, began to rule over Israel from Samaria, and he ruled for twenty years. This verse marks the beginning of Pekah’s reign in Israel and gives a time reference based on the reign of Judah’s king.

The verse is part of a historical record in the book of 2 Kings, which tracks the succession of kings in both Judah (the southern kingdom) and Israel (the northern kingdom). The writer is providing a chronological anchor by linking Pekah’s rise to power in Israel to the reign of Azariah in Judah, helping readers keep track of the overlapping timelines of the two kingdoms.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 15:27

• "two" (שְׁנַ֣יִם, shenayim), "fiftieth" (חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים, chamishim), and "year" (שָׁנָה, shanah): These words together specify the exact timing—“in the fifty-second year”—which is important for understanding the chronology of Israel’s and Judah’s kings.
• "Pekah" (פֶּקַח, Pekach) and "Remaliah" (רְמַלְיָהוּ, Remalyahu): Naming both Pekah and his father Remaliah helps distinguish this Pekah from others and follows the Hebrew tradition of identifying people by their parentage.
• "reign" (מָלַךְ, malakh): This verb indicates the official start of Pekah’s rule, marking a transition of power in Israel.

Why 2 Kings 15:27 matters

• This verse helps readers keep track of the overlapping reigns of kings in Israel and Judah, which can otherwise be confusing because the two kingdoms had separate rulers and timelines.
• By mentioning Samaria, the verse reminds readers that the capital of Israel was different from Judah’s, highlighting the division between the two kingdoms.
• The verse sets the stage for the events that follow in Pekah’s reign, which are significant in the larger story of Israel’s decline and eventual fall.