House of Pekah

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The House of Pekah or dynasty of Pekah was a reigning dynasty of the Kingdom of Israel. It is represented by a single king, Pekah (reigned 752-732 BC). The reign of this dynasty is covered in 2 Kings, 15:27-31 and 16:5-7. [1]

Origin

Pekah is recorded as a son of Remaliah. [2] Remaliah means "bedecked of God". Charles N. Pope has suggested that Remaliah was a pseudonym of Rezin, Pekah's known ally. Pope suggests that Pekah was the junior partner in their alliance, and possibly a natural son of Rezin. [3]

Reign

Following the deposition of Shallum of Israel by Menahem, Pekah apparently seized control over part of the Kingdom of Israel. During Mernahem's reign, Menahem and Pekah were unable to defeat each other. Following Menahem's death, Pekah defeated Menahem's son and heir Pekahiah. Pekah reunified Israel under his own rule. [1]

Pekah apperently begun his reign in the Transjordan region. Menahem and Pekaniah ruled the areas of Israel located to the west of the west of Jordan River. [2] Edwin R. Thiele had instead suggested that Pekah ruled as an anti-king, with his realm limited to the region of Gilead. [2]

During Pekah's reign, Tiglath-Pileser III made significant incursions into Israel's areas, taking control over a number of cities. Tiglath-Pileser transferred people away from the captured regions of Galilee and Transjordan. Pekah allied himself with Rezin, the king of Aram-Damascus. Their alliance was an attempt to defend their kingdoms from the growing threat of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. They tried to force the Kingdom of Judah, under kings Jotham of Judah and Ahaz to join their alliance. Following Judah's refusal, the two allies attacked Judah's capital city, Jerusalem. A subsequent Assyrian invasion eliminated the threat to Jerusalem. [1]

Hoshea gained Assyrian support in conspiring against Pekah. He overthrew Pekah and succeeded him on the throne. The Biblical narrative regards Pekah as an evil king. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Harbin (2005), p. 279
  2. 1 2 3 Kaiser (2016), Chapter 26
  3. Pope (2016), Chapter 33

Sources