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[[Menahem]] ([[Hebrew]] '''מְנַחֵם''', comforter) (r. 771-761BC by [[James Ussher|Ussher]],<ref name=Ussher>[[James Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World]]'', [[Larry Pierce]], ed., Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2003 (ISBN 0890513600), pghh. 570, 573-6, 581</ref> or r. 752-742BC by [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]]<ref name=Wood>Leon J. Wood, ''A Survey of Israel's History'', rev. ed. David O'Brien, Grand Rapids, MI: Academie Books, 1986 (ISBN 031034770X), pp. 278-280</ref>) was the sixteenth king of the [[Northern Kingdom]] of [[Israel]]. Though his name means "comforter," he was anything but "comforting" to the Northern Kingdom in the ten years of his reign. His reign is most notable for the special capitation tax he levied on the wealthiest of his subjects in order to pay a handsome tribute to an [[Assyria]]n ruler.

'''Menahem''' ([[Hebrew]] '''מְנַחֵם''', comforter) (r. 771-761BC by [[James Ussher|Ussher]],<ref name=Ussher>[[James Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World]]'', [[Larry Pierce]], ed., Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2003 (ISBN 0890513600), pghh. 570, 573-6, 581</ref> or r. 752-742BC by [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]]<ref name=Wood>Leon J. Wood, ''A Survey of Israel's History'', rev. ed. David O'Brien, Grand Rapids, MI: Academie Books, 1986 (ISBN 031034770X), pp. 278-280</ref>) was the sixteenth king of the [[Northern Kingdom]] of [[Israel]]. Though his name means "comforter," he was anything but "comforting" to the Northern Kingdom in the ten years of his reign. His reign is most notable for the special capitation tax he levied on the wealthiest of his subjects in order to pay a handsome tribute to an [[Assyria]]n ruler.

== Family ==

== Family ==

Thiele and other Assyriologists<ref name=Wood/> identified this Pul as [[Tiglath-Pileser III]], mainly because Tiglath-Peleser III says that he received a tribute from a king of Israel. This, according to the Thiele system, would have occurred in the seventh or eighth year of Menahem's reign.

Thiele and other Assyriologists<ref name=Wood/> identified this Pul as [[Tiglath-Pileser III]], mainly because Tiglath-Peleser III says that he received a tribute from a king of Israel. This, according to the Thiele system, would have occurred in the seventh or eighth year of Menahem's reign.

In fact, Tiglath-Pileser ''did'' receive a tribute from an ancient Israelite king--but it was [[Jehoahaz I|Ahaz]] of the [[Southern Kingdom]].<ref name=ISBE>Caldecott, W. Shaw. "[http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Def.show/RTD/ISBE/ID/299/Ahaz.htm Ahaz]." ''International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia''. Edited by James Orr. Blue Letter Bible. 1913. 5 May 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2007.</ref> Both the Chronicler<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=28|verses=20-21}}</ref> and the author of Kings<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=16|verses=7-8}}</ref> attest to this. The author of Kings also states that Tiglath-Pileser did invade the Northern Kingdom in ernest--during the twenty-year reign of King [[Pekah]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=16|verses=9}}</ref>

In fact, Tiglath-Pileser ''did'' receive a tribute from an ancient Israelite king—but it was [[Jehoahaz I|Ahaz]] of the [[Southern Kingdom]].<ref name=ISBE>Caldecott, W. Shaw. "[http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Def.show/RTD/ISBE/ID/299/Ahaz.htm Ahaz]." ''International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia''. Edited by James Orr. Blue Letter Bible. 1913. 5 May 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2007.</ref> Both the Chronicler<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=28|verses=20-21}}</ref> and the author of Kings<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=16|verses=7-8}}</ref> attest to this. The author of Kings also states that Tiglath-Pileser did invade the Northern Kingdom in ernest—during the twenty-year reign of King [[Pekah]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=16|verses=9}}</ref>

If Tiglath-Pileser actually said that he also received a tribute from Menahem, then he might have been misattributing to himself the deeds of an earlier monarch, an act having ample precedent among the [[rulers of Assyria]].<ref name=Pierce>[[Larry Pierce]], [http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v15/i1/chronology.asp Evidentialism–the Bible and Assyrian chronology] ''TJ'' 15(1):62–68 April 2001</ref> On the other hand, Thiele also asserts that Pekah actually held sway in another part of the kingdom in Menahem's day,<ref name=Wood2>Wood, ''op. cit.'', pp. 280-281.</ref> and therein lies Thiele's basis for identifying Pul as Tiglath-Pileser.

If Tiglath-Pileser actually said that he also received a tribute from Menahem, then he might have been misattributing to himself the deeds of an earlier monarch, an act having ample precedent among the [[rulers of Assyria]].<ref name=Pierce>[[Larry Pierce]], [http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v15/i1/chronology.asp Evidentialism–the Bible and Assyrian chronology] ''TJ'' 15(1):62–68 April 2001</ref> On the other hand, Thiele also asserts that Pekah actually held sway in another part of the kingdom in Menahem's day,<ref name=Wood2>Wood, ''op. cit.'', pp. 280-281.</ref> and therein lies Thiele's basis for identifying Pul as Tiglath-Pileser.

== Death and Succession ==

== Death and Succession ==

Menahem died after a ten-year reign. His son [[Pekahiah]] began to reign after him, though not for long.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=15|verses=22}}</ref><ref name=HSI/>

Menahem died after a ten-year reign. His son [[Pekahiah]] began to reign after him, though not for long.<ref name=HSI/><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=15|verses=22}}</ref>

== Chronological Placement ==

== Chronological Placement ==

Both Ussher and Thiele state that Menahem began his reign in the thirty-ninth year of the reign of [[Uzziah]]. But in addition to each man having an entirely different reckoning of Uzziah's reign, they ''also'' have a different reckoning of the ''territorial extent'' of Menahem's reign. Ussher states that Menahem reigned in [[Samaria]] over all [[Israel]]<ref name=Ussher/>--but Thiele insists that Menahem ''did not'' have complete control over all the kingdom. Instead, according to Thiele, the renegade general [[Pekah]] held sway in [[Gilead]] beginning at the same time that Menahem killed Shallum.<ref name=Wood/><ref name=Wood2/> Pekah would not rule ''in Samaria'' until much later. Thiele's primary reason for so assuming is to time the [[Fall of Samaria]] at 722-1 BC, while also timing the [[Jehu]] Revolution at 841 BC.<ref name=Pierce/> (See [[Biblical chronology dispute#The Chronology of the United and Divided Kingdoms|here]] for a detailed discussion of the primary issue.)

Both Ussher and Thiele state that Menahem began his reign in the thirty-ninth year of the reign of [[Uzziah]]. But in addition to each man having an entirely different reckoning of Uzziah's reign, they ''also'' have a different reckoning of the ''territorial extent'' of Menahem's reign. Ussher states that Menahem reigned in [[Samaria]] over all [[Israel]]<ref name=Ussher/>—but Thiele insists that Menahem ''did not'' have complete control over all the kingdom. Instead, according to Thiele, the renegade general [[Pekah]] held sway in [[Gilead]] beginning at the same time that Menahem killed Shallum.<ref name=Wood/><ref name=Wood2/> Pekah would not rule ''in Samaria'' until much later. Thiele's primary reason for so assuming is to time the [[Fall of Samaria]] at 722-1 BC, while also timing the [[Jehu]] Revolution at 841 BC.<ref name=Pierce/> (See [[Biblical chronology dispute#The Chronology of the United and Divided Kingdoms|here]] for a detailed discussion of the primary issue.)

== References ==

== References ==

<references/>

<references/>

== See Also ==

== See also ==

* [[Uzziah]]

* [[Uzziah]]

* [[Pekahiah]]

* [[Pekahiah]]