The name Arieh, derived from the Hebrew word Aryeh, carries the powerful and noble meaning of “lion.” Ironically, the man who bore this name in scripture is known only for his role in a moment of utter political instability—a violent, regicidal coup that shook the kingdom of Israel.
Arieh is mentioned only once in the entire Bible, and this single reference is found in the historical account of the Kings of Israel, during the tumultuous period of the divided monarchy.
The Context of the Coup
The setting for Arieh’s brief appearance is the reign of Pekahiah, the son of Menahem, king over Israel in Samaria. Pekahiah’s reign was short, lasting only two years (circa 742–740 B.C.). The Northern Kingdom of Israel was at this time in a state of political and spiritual decline, marked by a rapid succession of violent changes in leadership. The biblical text often attributes this instability to the nation’s continued spiritual backsliding and failure to follow the commandments of the Lord.
The moment of Arieh’s significance is recorded in 2 Kings 15:25, which describes the assassination of King Pekahiah:
“But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.” (KJV, emphasis added).
The Role of Arieh
The mention of Arieh in this verse places him directly at the scene of the regicide, alongside Argob, who may have been another notable official or bodyguard. Biblical commentators offer two main interpretations for the role of Arieh and Argob:
- Guards Slain with the King: The most common interpretation is that Arieh and Argob were trusted officials, possibly bodyguards or princes of King Pekahiah, who were loyal to him and were killed alongside the king by the usurper Pekah. If this is the case, their names are recorded as victims of Pekah’s brutal ascent to the throne.
- Conspirators: A less common, though plausible, view is that Arieh and Argob were among the conspirators—officials who were slain by Pekah for their involvement in the treachery, perhaps as a means of eliminating witnesses or rivals, though this reading is less supported by the structure of the verse.
The placement of their names directly next to the account of Pekah striking the King makes it most likely that Arieh fell in the defense or company of his King, Pekahiah, within the palace walls at Samaria.
The Theological Lesson
Arieh, the man whose name meant “lion,” suggesting strength and nobility, is immortalized only in the record of his death during a moment of profound weakness and internal strife for Israel. His story, though minimal, serves a purpose in the larger biblical narrative:
- The Price of Apostasy: The constant cycle of conspiracies and assassinations in the Northern Kingdom, which saw four kings assassinated in short order, serves as a stark warning. The chaos and violence—of which Arieh was a victim—were the bitter fruit of the nation’s systemic unfaithfulness to God’s covenant.
- The Power of Divine Record: Even a fleeting figure like Arieh, whose life details are lost to history, is preserved in the infallible Word of God. His name is a testament to the fact that God’s history is complete, recording even the death of a minor official in a palace coup as part of the total record of the nation’s decline.
In conclusion, Arieh’s legacy is not defined by personal action but by his tragic role in the collapse of righteous governance in Israel. He is a named casualty in the grim account of a kingdom that refused to walk in the way of the Lord.