Pekahiah
Pekahi'ah (Heb. Pekachyah', פּקִחיָה, opening [of the eyes] by Jehovah; Sept. Φακεσίας v.r. Φακείας; Josephus, Φακείας, Ant. 9:11, 1; Vulg. Phaceja), son and successor of Menahem, was the seventeenth king of the separate kingdom of Israel. After a brief reign of two years (B.C. 758, 757), a conspiracy was organized against him by "one of his captains" (probably of his body guard), Pekah, son of Remaliah, who, at the head of fifty Gileadites, attacked him in his palace at Samaria, assassinated him and his friends Argob and Arieh, and seized the throne. This reign was no better than those which had gone before; and the calf-worship was retained (2Ki 15:22-26). SEE ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF.
