Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him down in public, and killed him, and succeeded him — Shallum's assassination of Zechariah (הִכָּהוּ לִפְנֵי־הָעָם, *hikkahu lifnei-ha-am*, "struck him down before the people") represents the violent internal politics that now characterize Israel's closing decades. The public nature of the murder suggests either revolutionary fervor or complete erosion of respect for the monarchy. Shallum's immediate succession indicates factional control of the throne, yet offers no stability. This assassination initiates the rapid succession of conspirators and weaklings that dominates chapters 15-17.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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