Shallum
Shallum was the king of Israel, 752 BCE. He succeeded King Zechariah, and was succeeded by King Menahem.
- Kings of Israel: ... -> Zechariah -> Shallum -> Menahem -> ...
Overview
Originally a captain in the army of King Zechariah, Shallum "conspired against Zechariah, and smote him before the people; and slew him, and reigned in his stead" (2 Kings 15:10). He reigned only "a month of days in Samaria" (2 Kings 15:13) before Menahem—another captain from Zechariah's army—rose up and put Shallum to death (2 Kings 15:14–17). Menahem then became king in Shallum's stead.
Josephus depicts Shallum as a friend of his predecessor Zechariah of Israel. When general Menahem heard news that Zechariah has been assassinated, he brrought his entire army to Samaria to face Shallum.
Zechariah in ancient sources
Book of Kings
2 Kings 15:13-16 (NRSV) -- Shallum Reigns over Israel -- 13 Shallum son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah of Judah; he reigned one month in Samaria. 14 Then Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzah and came to Samaria; he struck down Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him; he reigned in place of him. 15 Now the rest of the deeds of Shallum, including the conspiracy that he made, are written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 16 At that time Menahem sacked Tiphsah, all who were in it and its territory from Tirzah on; because they did not open it to him, he sacked it. He ripped open all the pregnant women in it.