And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the
mighty men of wealth
Who were most able to pay it, by which means he eased the poor, and might thereby attach them to him:
of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria:
that is, he required them to pay fifty shekels apiece to make up the above sum as a present to Pul; though the words in the original text lie more naturally thus, "to give to the king of Assyria fifty shekels of silver for one man"; that is, for every man in his army; which amounted to about six pounds a man:
so the king of Assyria turned back;
to his own country:
and stayed not there in the land;
in the land of Israel, neither to distress nor to help Menahem, for which he gave him the money.