Bible Figure
Menahem
8th century BCE King of Israel
Menahem was a king of northern Israel who gained the throne by killing Shallum and later paid heavy tribute to the Assyrian ruler Pul, or Tiglath-pileser III.
Biography
Menahem came from Tirzah and killed Shallum in Samaria. Kings records a brutal attack on Tiphsah when it refused to open its gates to him. He continued Jeroboam's sins. During his reign the Assyrian king Pul entered the land, and Menahem paid a thousand talents of silver to secure Assyrian support for his hold on power. He raised the money by imposing a levy on wealthy Israelites. Assyrian records help illuminate this growing pressure from the empire that would eventually destroy the northern kingdom.
Biblical Significance
Menahem's reign marks Israel's increasing subordination to Assyria. His use of tribute to stabilize his throne shows the kingdom's political weakness even before its final conquest.