But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
But Pekah, the son of Remaliah, who was one of his military officers, plotted against him and attacked him in Samaria, in the royal palace. Along with Argob and Arieh, and fifty men from Gilead, he killed him and became king in his place.
This verse describes how Pekah, a military captain, assassinated King Pekahiah of Israel in a palace coup and took over the throne.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred around 740 BC during the divided kingdom period when Israel (the northern kingdom) was experiencing political instability. Pekahiah had only ruled for two years when he was murdered by his own officer. This assassination was part of a pattern of violent power struggles that plagued the northern kingdom of Israel during its final decades before falling to Assyria.
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