Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 15:20

"And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land." — 2 Kings 15:20 (ASV)

Exacted. —Literally, caused to go out; a word already used in the sense of to lay out, expend money (2 Kings 12:12). Probably, therefore, laid (vayyissâ) , i.e., imposed, should be read here (Genesis 31:17).

Of. —Heb., upon.

The mighty men of wealth. —A later use of the Hebrew phrase, which, in older usage, means “the heroes of the host” (Judges 6:12; 1 Samuel 9:1).

Fifty shekels. —The talent of silver was worth 3,000 shekels. The payment of 1,000 talents (3,000,000 shekels) therefore implies a total of 60,000 persons able to contribute. Fifty shekels were one maneh (Assyrian, mana; Greek, μνῦ , and Latin, mina) . There was no great Temple treasury to draw from in the northern kingdom, and any palace hoards would have disappeared in the confusions attending the frequent revolutions of the time.

There. —Or, then (Psalms 14:5).