Remaliah רְמַלְיָ֜הוּ
Father of Pekah, king of Israel
Who is Remaliah in the Bible?
Remaliah was the father of Pekah, who became king of Israel during the eighth century BC. Though Remaliah himself never held the throne, he is remembered throughout Scripture because his son Pekah played a significant role in Israel's later history (2 Kings 15:25, 27). Pekah seized power by assassinating King Pekahiah and ruled for twenty years, during which he formed a coalition with the king of Syria to attack Judah (2 Kings 16:5; Isaiah 7:1). The prophet Isaiah repeatedly referred to Pekah as "the son of Remaliah" when condemning this alliance and foretelling its failure (Isaiah 7:4-9), language that may reflect the humble or contemptuous status of Remaliah's family background. Remaliah's significance in biblical narrative lies entirely in his connection to his son, whose political and military actions shaped the fate of Israel and Judah during a critical period of conflict.
Biography
Remaliah is mentioned in the Bible as the father of Pekah, who became king of Israel (2Ki.15.25, 27, 30, 32, 37; 16.1, 5; 2Ch.28.6; Isa.7.1, 4, 5, 9; 8.6). Pekah, son of Remaliah, was a captain in the army of King Pekahiah of Israel. He conspired against Pekahiah, killed him, and seized the throne (2Ki.15.25). Pekah reigned as king of Israel for 20 years (2Ki.15.27). During his reign, Pekah formed an alliance with King Rezin of Aram (Syria) and attacked Judah (2Ki.15.37; 16.5; Isa.7.1). However, their attack was unsuccessful, and the prophet Isaiah foretold the downfall of both Pekah and Rezin (Isa.7.4-9; 8.6). Pekah was eventually assassinated by Hoshea, who became the next king of Israel (2Ki.15.30). The frequent mention of Pekah as "son of Remaliah" in the biblical text suggests that Remaliah was not a prominent figure himself, but rather was known primarily as the father of King Pekah.
Family
In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 1 with study content2 Kings 5 verses
- 2 Kings 15:25
"Then his officer, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him along with Argob, Arieh, and fifty men of Gilead. And at the citadel of the king’s palace in Samaria, Pekah struck down and killed Pekahiah and reigned in his place."
- 2 Kings 15:27
"In the fifty-second year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty years."
- 2 Kings 15:30
"Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. In the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah, Hoshea attacked Pekah, killed him, and reigned in his place."
- 2 Kings 15:32
"In the second year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah over Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah."
- 2 Kings 15:37
"(In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.)"
2 Chronicles 1 verse
- 2 Chronicles 28:6
"For in one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 valiant men in Judah. This happened because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers."
Isaiah 5 verses
- Isaiah 7:1
"Now in the days that Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram marched up to wage war against Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Pekah son of Remaliah the king of Israel, but he could not overpower the city."
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 7:4
"and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah."
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 7:5
"For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted your ruin, saying:"
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 7:9
"The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.’”"
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 8:6
"“Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoiced in Rezin and the son of Remaliah,"
Study Isaiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | רְמַלְיָ֜הוּ |
Remaliah
contemptuous allusion to Pekah as "the son of Remaliah" in Isa 7:4 (similarly "the son of Kish," 1Sa 10:11) may be a slur on Remaliah's humble origin.
re-mem'-ber, re-mem'-brans: "Remember" is mostly the translation, in the Old Testament, of zakhar, and in the New Testament of mnaomai (Mt 5:23; <ref osisRef="Bible:M