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2 Kings 15:16

King James Version (KJV)

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2 Kings 15:16

Verse 16 of 38

Scripture focus

Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that [were] therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not [to him], therefore he smote [it; and] all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.

2 Kings 15:16 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Kings 15:16

Theological / Devotional

Tiphsah. This is hardly the city by this name mentioned by Solomon in 1 Kings 4:24, for that city, the well-known Thapsacus, was on the Euphrates River. Menahem would hardly have occasion to make his way to so distant a place at this time. The mention of the city in connection with Tirzah has led to the belief that the two cities were near to each other. Some identify Tephsah with Khirbet Tafsa, a village 7 1/4 mi. (11.6 km.) west-southwest of Shechem. Others follow Lucian’s recension, which reads Taphoe, and identify it with Tappuah, now Sheikh Abu Zarad, about 7 7/8 mi. (12.6 km.) southwest of Shechem.

They opened not. Menahem made an example of the city that refused to give its loyalty to him.

Ripped up. Such savage cruelty was typical of the barbarous customs of the times (see 2 Kings 8:12; Hosea 13:16; Amos 1:13).

By SdaBc