2 Kings 15:16
New International Version
At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.

New Living Translation
At that time Menahem destroyed the town of Tappuah and all the surrounding countryside as far as Tirzah, because its citizens refused to surrender the town. He killed the entire population and ripped open the pregnant women.

English Standard Version
At that time Menahem sacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its territory from Tirzah on, because they did not open it to him. Therefore he sacked it, and he ripped open all the women in it who were pregnant.

Berean Standard Bible
At that time Menahem, starting from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in its vicinity, because they would not open their gates. So he attacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah, all who were there, and its territory. Because they did not surrender, therefore he attacked it. All the women there who were with child he ripped open.

New American Standard Bible
Then Menahem attacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its borders from Tirzah, because they did not open up to him; so he attacked it and ripped up all its women who were pregnant.

NASB 1995
Then Menahem struck Tiphsah and all who were in it and its borders from Tirzah, because they did not open to him; therefore he struck it and ripped up all its women who were with child.

NASB 1977
Then Menahem struck Tiphsah and all who were in it and its borders from Tirzah, because they did not open to him, therefore he struck it; and he ripped up all its women who were with child.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Menahem struck Tiphsah and all who were in it and its borders from Tirzah, because they did not open to him; therefore he struck it and ripped up all its pregnant women.

Amplified Bible
Then Menahem struck [the town of] Tiphsah and all who were in it and its borders from Tirzah; [he attacked it] because they did not surrender to him; so he struck it and ripped up all the women there who were pregnant.

Christian Standard Bible
At that time, starting from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah, all who were in it, and its territory because they wouldn’t surrender. He ripped open all the pregnant women.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
At that time, starting from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah, all who were in it, and its territory. Because they wouldn’t surrender, he attacked it and ripped open all the pregnant women.

American Standard Version
Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the borders 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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Then Makhanim struck Tapsakh and all that was in it and its borders from Terzah, because they did not open the gate to him, and he put it to the sword and all those who were pregnant he ripped open.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then Manaem smote both Thersa and all that was in it, and its borders extending beyond Thersa, because they opened not to him: and he smote it, and ripped up the women with child.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Manahem destroyed Thapsa and all that were in it and the borders thereof from Thersa, because they would not open to him: and he slew all the women thereof that were with child, and ripped them up.

English Revised Version
Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the borders 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Menahem attacked Tiphsah, everyone there, and its territory. Because the city didn't open its gates for him, he attacked it and ripped open all its pregnant women.

Good News Translation
As Menahem was on his way from Tirzah, he completely destroyed the city of Tappuah, its inhabitants, and the surrounding territory, because the city did not surrender to him. He even ripped open the bellies of all the pregnant women.

International Standard Version
At another time, Menahem attacked Tiphsah and all of its inhabitants, including its coastlands from Tirzah, because they would not open the city gate for him. After defeating them, he ripped open all of their pregnant women.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the borders 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.

Literal Standard Version
Then Menahem strikes Tiphsah, and all who [are] in it, and its borders from Tirzah, for it did not open [to him], and he strikes [it], [and] he has ripped up all its pregnant women.

Majority Standard Bible
At that time Menahem, starting from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in its vicinity, because they would not open their gates. So he attacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.

New American Bible
At that time, Menahem attacked Tappuah, all its inhabitants, and its whole district as far as Tirzah, because they did not let him in. He attacked them; he even ripped open all their pregnant women.

NET Bible
At that time Menahem came from Tirzah and attacked Tiphsah. He struck down all who lived in the city and the surrounding territory, because they would not surrender. He even ripped open the pregnant women.

New Revised Standard Version
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.

New Heart English Bible
Then Menahem struck Tiphsah, and all who were in it, and its borders, from Tirzah: because they did not open to him, therefore he struck it; and all the women in it who were with child he ripped up.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were in it, and the borders of it from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women in it that were with child he ripped up.

World English Bible
Then Menahem attacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its border areas, from Tirzah. He attacked it because they didn’t open their gates to him, and he ripped up all their women who were with child.

Young's Literal Translation
Then doth Menahem smite Tiphsah, and all who are in it, and its borders from Tirzah, for it opened not to him, and he smiteth it, all its pregnant women he hath ripped up.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Shallum Reigns in Israel
15As for the rest of the acts of Shallum, along with the conspiracy he led, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 16At that time Menahem, starting from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in its vicinity, because they would not open their gates. So he attacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.

Cross References
2 Kings 8:12
"Why is my lord weeping?" asked Hazael. "Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites," Elisha replied. "You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women."

2 Kings 15:15
As for the rest of the acts of Shallum, along with the conspiracy he led, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Hosea 13:16
Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.

Amos 1:13
This is what the LORD says: "For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their territory.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Tiphsah

1 Kings 4:24
For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

all the women

2 Kings 8:12
And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

Amos 1:13
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:

Jump to Previous
Borders Child City Coasts Cut Destruction Limits Menahem Men'ahem Open Opened Refused Ripped Smote Starting Struck Tappuah Therein Thereof Time Tiphsah Tirzah Vicinity Women
Jump to Next
Borders Child City Coasts Cut Destruction Limits Menahem Men'ahem Open Opened Refused Ripped Smote Starting Struck Tappuah Therein Thereof Time Tiphsah Tirzah Vicinity Women
2 Kings 15
1. Azariah's good reign
5. He dying a leper, is succeeded by Jotham
8. Zachariah the last of Jehu's generation, reigning ill, is slain by Shallum
13. Shallum, reigning a month, is slain by Nenahem
16. Menahem strengthens himself by Pul
21. Pekahiah succeeds him
23. Pekahiah is slain by Pekah
27. Pekah is oppressed by Tiglath-pileser, and slain by Hoshea
32. Jotham's good reign
36. Ahaz succeeds him














(16) Then.--After slaying Shallum, and seizing the supreme power.

Tiphsah.--The name means ford, and elsewhere denotes the well-known Thapsacus on the Euphrates (1Kings 4:24). Here, however, an Israelite city in the neighbourhood of Tirzah is obviously intended. The course of events was apparently this: after slaying Shallum, Menahem returned to Tirzah, and set out thence at the head of his entire army to bring the rest of the country to acknowledge him as king. Tiphsah resisting his claims, he made an example of it which proved efficient to terrorise other towns into submission. [Thenius would read Tappuah for Tiphsah by a slight change in one Hebrew letter. This agrees very well with the local indications of the text (comp. Joshua 17:7-8), though, of course, there may have been an otherwise unknown Tiphsah near Tirzah.]

The coasts thereof.--Literally, her borders (or, territories). (Comp. Joshua 17:8.)

From Tirzah--i.e., starting from Tirzah. This shows that the districts of Tirzah and Tiphsah (or, Tappuah) were conterminous.

Because they opened not to him.--Literally, for one opened not; an impersonal construction. The meaning is: the gates were closed against him. The to him is added by all the versions except the Targum.

And all the women.--Comp. 2Kings 8:21; Hosea 13:16; Amos 1:13. . . .

Verses 16-22. - REIGN OF MENAHEM, AND EXPEDITION OF PUL AGAINST SAMARIA. Two events only of Menahem's reign receive notice from the writer.

(1) His capture of Tiphsah, and severe treatment of the inhabitants (ver. 16).

(2) The invasion of his land by an Assyrian monarch, called "Pul" or "Phul," and his submission to that monarch's authority. Pul's retirement was bought by a large sum of money, which Menahem collected from his subjects (vers. 19, 20). Verse 16. - Then Menahem smote Tiphsah. The only town of this name known to history or geography is the famous city on the Euphrates (1 Kings 4:24), called by the Greeks Thapsacus. It has been thought that Menahem could not have pushed his conquests so far, and a second Tiphsah has been invented in the Israelite highland, between Tirzah and Samaria, of which there is no other notice anywhere. But "Tiphsah," which means "passage" or "fordway," is an unsuitable name for a city in such a situation. The view of Keil is clearly tenable - that Zachariah had intended to carry on his father's warlike policy, and had collected an army for a great Eastern expedition, which had its head-quarters at the royal city of Tirzah, and was under the command of Menahem. As the expedition was about to start, the news came that Shallum had murdered Zachariah and usurped the throne. Menahem upon this proceeded from Tirzah to Samaria, crushed Shallum, and, returning to his army, carried out without further delay the expedition already resolved upon. The Assyrian records show that, at the probable date of the expedition, Assyria was exceptionally weak, and in no condition to resist an attack, though a little later, under Tiglath-pileser, she recovered herself. And all that were therein, and the coasts thereof, from Tirzah. "From Tirzah" means "starting from Tir-zah," as in ver. 14. It is to be connected with "smote," not with "coasts." Because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it. Determined resistance on the part of a city summoned to surrender has always been regarded as justifying an extreme severity of treatment. It is not clear that Menahem transgressed the ordinary usages of war in what he did, however much he transgressed the laws of humanity. And all the women therein that were with child he ripped up (comp. 2 Kings 8:12, with the comment; and see also Isaiah 13:18; Hosea 10:14; Hosea 13:16; Amos 1:13).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
At that time
אָ֣ז (’āz)
Adverb
Strong's 227: At that time, place, therefore

Menahem,
מְ֠נַחֵם (mə·na·ḥêm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4505: Menahem -- 'comforter', king of Northern Israel

starting from Tirzah,
מִתִּרְצָ֔ה (mit·tir·ṣāh)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8656: Tirzah -- daughter of Zelophehad, also a Canaanite city

attacked
יַכֶּֽה־ (yak·keh-)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

Tiphsah
תִּפְסַ֨ח (tip̄·saḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8607: Tiphsah -- a place on the Euphrates

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

everyone
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

in its
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

vicinity,
גְּבוּלֶ֙יהָ֙ (gə·ḇū·le·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

because
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they would not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

open [their gates].
פָתַ֖ח (p̄ā·ṯaḥ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

So he attacked [Tiphsah]
וַיַּ֑ךְ (way·yaḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

and ripped open
בִּקֵּֽעַ׃ (biq·qê·a‘)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1234: To cleave, to rend, break, rip, open

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the pregnant women.
הֶהָ֥רוֹתֶ֖יהָ (he·hā·rō·w·ṯe·hā)
Article | Adjective - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2030: Pregnant


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OT History: 2 Kings 15:16 Then Menahem struck Tiphsah and all who (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
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