Pekahiah’s reign continued to follow the damaging path laid by those before him.
He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin. (v.24) describes the moral and religious failure of Pekahiah as king over the northern kingdom of Israel. Pekahiah began his reign around 742 BC, following the death of his father, Menahem, who had seized the throne through aggression. Samaria served as the capital of the northern kingdom during this time, located in a strategically important region northwest of Jerusalem. By stating that he “did evil in the sight of the LORD,” the text underscores that Pekahiah chose to continue a pattern of disobedience rather than respond to God’s standards of covenant faithfulness.
When the verse says, he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin (v.24), the narrative points back to Jeroboam I, who reigned from about 930 to 910 BC as the first king of the newly separated northern kingdom (1 Kings 12:20). Jeroboam instituted idolatrous worship centers in Dan and Bethel, and this legacy drew Israel away from wholehearted devotion to the LORD. Pekahiah’s refusal to break away from these spiritually destructive practices reveals how the sins of former rulers shaped the nation’s destiny, setting an ongoing example of rebellion rather than a path back to the LORD. This perpetual cycle of wrongdoing stands in stark contrast to the way Jesus later invites believers to worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23), highlighting the universal call to devotion that transcends any earthly kingdom.
This verse challenges readers to reflect on how the influence of unfaithful leadership can steer entire communities away from godly principles. Pekahiah’s brief reign—marked by the same idolatrous policies as his predecessors—reveals how national identity and leadership can shape religious attitudes, and how a persistent pattern of sin can bring about consequences for generations. Ultimately, the verse serves as a stark warning about the importance of breaking with sinful precedents in order to pursue a sincere relationship with God.
Set to dark mode
2 Kings 15:24 meaning
He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin. (v.24) describes the moral and religious failure of Pekahiah as king over the northern kingdom of Israel. Pekahiah began his reign around 742 BC, following the death of his father, Menahem, who had seized the throne through aggression. Samaria served as the capital of the northern kingdom during this time, located in a strategically important region northwest of Jerusalem. By stating that he “did evil in the sight of the LORD,” the text underscores that Pekahiah chose to continue a pattern of disobedience rather than respond to God’s standards of covenant faithfulness.
When the verse says, he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin (v.24), the narrative points back to Jeroboam I, who reigned from about 930 to 910 BC as the first king of the newly separated northern kingdom (1 Kings 12:20). Jeroboam instituted idolatrous worship centers in Dan and Bethel, and this legacy drew Israel away from wholehearted devotion to the LORD. Pekahiah’s refusal to break away from these spiritually destructive practices reveals how the sins of former rulers shaped the nation’s destiny, setting an ongoing example of rebellion rather than a path back to the LORD. This perpetual cycle of wrongdoing stands in stark contrast to the way Jesus later invites believers to worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23), highlighting the universal call to devotion that transcends any earthly kingdom.
This verse challenges readers to reflect on how the influence of unfaithful leadership can steer entire communities away from godly principles. Pekahiah’s brief reign—marked by the same idolatrous policies as his predecessors—reveals how national identity and leadership can shape religious attitudes, and how a persistent pattern of sin can bring about consequences for generations. Ultimately, the verse serves as a stark warning about the importance of breaking with sinful precedents in order to pursue a sincere relationship with God.