מלכים ב, פרק י״ד, פסוק ט״ו

The final records of the King of Israel highlight his strength and the intense military campaigns he waged against the Kingdom of Judah [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Although a summary of his life was already recorded earlier, the historical account repeats his final deeds to draw a sharp contrast. While the earlier record reflected on the king's moral conduct, the current focus shifts entirely to his military might and battlefield prowess [מלבי״ם].

Despite his overwhelming success in combat, the king died shortly after his victory, pointing to a premature end. This early death was a direct punishment from God, brought about because the king became arrogant over his triumph, or perhaps because he harbored intentions to completely wipe out the royal line of David. God made this divine judgment clear through a striking irony: the defeated king of Judah lived for another fifteen years after the death of the man who conquered him. This sequence of events mirrors a past historical pattern, echoing the sudden death of Aviyah shortly after his own major military victory over Yarovam [מלבי״ם].