מלכים ב, פרק ט״ו, פסוק י״ג

Following the collapse of the House of Jehu, the Kingdom of Israel entered a period marked by extreme political instability and frequent regime changes. The throne passed rapidly from one ruler to the next through a series of violent rebellions and conspiracies, with kings surviving for only brief periods. During this chaotic era, a new ruler named Shallum seized power in the thirty-ninth year of the king of Judah. This specific timing aligns perfectly with the historical timeline; his predecessor, Zechariah, assumed the throne in the thirty-eighth year of the Judean king and ruled for only six months, naturally pushing the start of Shallum's reign into the thirty-ninth year [מצודת דוד].

The king of Judah ruling at this time is referred to by two different names. Although some ancient manuscripts and translations present the name Azariah instead of Uzziah, the accepted tradition maintains Uzziah as the precise name. Ultimately, commentators agree that Uzziah and Azariah are simply two interchangeable names for the exact same person, and historical accounts naturally alternate between them [מנחת שי, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל].

Shallum's time in power was exceptionally short, lasting a mere single month, a measurement directly tied to the length of the lunar cycle [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This rapid downfall was not a random political event, but a precise punishment of measure for measure. Because Shallum had conspired and murdered his predecessor to capture the crown, he faced the exact same fate. Just one month into his rule, Menahem son of Gadi rose up and assassinated him, ensuring that his violent path to power ended just as quickly as it began [אברבנאל].