King Shallum (Israel)

Shallum son of Jabesh assassinated King Zechariah, the last of Jehu's dynasty, and seized the throne of Israel in the 39th year of Uzziah of Judah. He held Samaria for just one month: Menahem son of Gadi marched up from Tirzah, the old capital, killed him and made himself king (2 Kings 15:13–15). His father's name may point to a family from Jabesh-gilead, east of the Jordan.

The violence did not end with him. Menahem sacked Tiphsah for refusing to open its gates, then paid Pul, that is Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria, 1,000 talents of silver, raised by taxing every wealthy man 50 shekels, to secure his throne (2 Kings 15:16–20). Tiglath-pileser's own annals list "Menahem of Samaria" among his tributaries, an outside confirmation of the turmoil that began with Shallum's coup.