Gadi גָּדִי
Father of Menahem, king of Israel.
Who is Gadi in the Bible?
Gadi was the father of Menahem, who became king of Israel during a period of political turmoil in the eighth century BC (2 Kings 15:14, 17). Menahem rose to power by assassinating Shallum, who himself had recently seized the throne, and then ruled Israel for ten years. While Gadi himself is not described in detail in Scripture, his significance lies entirely in his relationship to his son, whose reign was characterized by violence, heavy taxation to pay tribute to the Assyrian king Pul (Tiglath-Pileser III), and brutal suppression of opposition. Gadi's mention in the biblical record serves primarily to identify the lineage of a king whose rule exemplified the instability and moral decline that marked Israel's final centuries before its fall to Assyria.
Biography
Gadi is mentioned in 2Ki.15.14, 17 as the father of Menahem, who became king of Israel during a time of political instability. Menahem, the son of Gadi, assassinated Shallum, who had previously overthrown Zechariah to become king (2Ki.15.10, 14). Menahem then reigned as king of Israel for ten years (2Ki.15.17). During his reign, Menahem faced the threat of the Assyrian king Pul (Tiglath-Pileser III) and paid him a large tribute to gain his support and strengthen his hold on the kingdom (2Ki.15.19-20). Menahem's reign was marked by violence and oppression, as he brutally suppressed any opposition to his rule (2Ki.15.16).
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book2 Kings 2 verses
- 2 Kings 15:14
"Then Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria, struck down and killed Shallum son of Jabesh, and reigned in his place."
- 2 Kings 15:17
"In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | גָּדִי |