The northern kingdom of Israel is falling into disarray far faster than the southern kingdom of Judah because Israel has fallen into idolatry faster than Judah. When the ten northern tribes split from the two southern tribes, the first king (Jeroboam I) set up golden calf images at Dan and at Bethel as "representations" of the God who had brought them out of Egypt. The Lord had forbidden them to fashion an image to represent Him. He had forbidden them to bow down to an image of anything or anyone. So although the citizens of the northern kingdom haven't always been idolaters in the very strictest sense of the word, they are living in disobedience to the Lord in their religious practices. In addition to this, during the era of the Ahab Dynasty, Baal worship became the state religion and many of the citizens forsook the Lord altogether in favor of this Phoenician god. But since the Jehu Dynasty eradicated the Ahab Dynasty and the state-sponsored worship of Baal, the people have reverted back to the golden calves. The Lord is not pleased with this and as a result the nation is experiencing a time of political instability.
Before we begin our text we must note that the author of 2 Kings refers to Uzziah as Azariah in verse 8. "In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned six months." (2 Kings 15:8) Zechariah is the son of Jeroboam II, who was the son of Jehoash who was the son of Jehoahaz who was the son of Jehu. The Jehu Dynasty is almost at an end now, for the Lord promised Jehu that his descendants would sit on the throne to the fourth generation.
Zechariah is yet another king of Israel who brings his sacrifices and offerings to a golden calf, likely the calf located at the altar in Bethel. "He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his predecessors had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit." (2 Kings 15:9) Zechariah adheres to the religious system put in place by Jeroboam I and, like Jeroboam I, encourages and influences countless others to do the same.
"Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He attacked him in front of the people, assassinated him and succeeded him as king. The other events of Zechariah's reign are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel. So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled: 'Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.'" (2 Kings 15:10-12) We no longer possess "the book of the annals of the kings of Israel" but I can't imagine that a lot of material concerning Zechariah was contained in it since he only wore the crown for six months. He could not have accomplished much during that amount of time other than promoting and possibly enforcing the golden calf cult. Because Jehu had destroyed Baal worship in Israel, the Lord made him a promise to keep his family line on the throne to the fourth generation, but if Jehu had returned the nation to worshiping the Lord in the right way, his dynasty likely would have endured far longer. Nevertheless, the Lord kept His promise and now the Jehu Dynasty is at an end.
Zechariah's assassin won't fare any better than Zechariah did. In fact, his reign will be even shorter. "Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned in Samaria one month. Then Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated him and succeeded him as king. The other events of Shallum's reign, and the conspiracy he led, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel." (2 Kings 15:15)
We don't know anything about the religion of Shallum or whether he adhered to a religion at all. He might have worshiped at one of the golden calf sites. He might have worshiped a pagan god. He might have been ruled by nothing other than ambition and political aspirations. If we possessed the book of the annals of the kings of Israel, it would tell us how and why the conspiracy against Zechariah came about, but I tend to believe Shallum's attack on Zechariah was politically motivated rather than spiritually motivated. I doubt he took Zechariah out due to any disapproval over Zechariah's religious beliefs. It seems clear that Shallum was not the only person who was very unhappy having Zechariah as king, for the Bible tells us that Shallum's assassination of the king and his taking of the throne in the king's place was done "in front of the people" (verse 10) which indicates that no one made a move to try to protect King Zechariah and that no one tried to prevent Shallum from assuming the throne.
Shallum doesn't hold onto the throne for very long. A man named Menahem kills him and assumes the throne in his place. In tomorrow's study we will learn what a violent and heartless man Menahem is. Conditions in the northern kingdom are spiraling out of control and descending into anarchy. These uncertain times in the northern kingdom are directly related to the spiritual problems in the nation.
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