2 Kings 16:5-9

2 Kings 16:5-9

[5] Then Rezin  king  of Syria  and Pekah  son  of Remaliah  king  of Israel  came up  to Jerusalem  to war:  and they besieged  Ahaz,  but could  not overcome  [6] At that time  Rezin  king  of Syria  recovered  Elath  to Syria,  and drave  the Jews  from Elath:  and the Syrians  came  to Elath,  and dwelt  there unto this day.  [7] So Ahaz  sent  messengers  to Tiglathpileser  king  of Assyria,  saying,  I am thy servant  and thy son:  come up,  and save  me out of the hand  of the king  of Syria,  and out of the hand  of the king  of Israel,  which rise up  against me. [8] And Ahaz  took  the silver  and gold  that was found  in the house  and in the treasures  of the king's  house,  and sent  it for a present  to the king  of Assyria.  [9] And the king  of Assyria  hearkened  unto him: for the king  of Assyria  went up  against Damascus,  and took  it, and carried the people of it captive  to Kir,  and slew  Rezin. 

What does 2 Kings 16:5-9 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Aram had captured the town of Elath from Judah ( 2 Kings 16:6; cf. 2 Kings 14:22). When Aram and Israel threatened to invade Judah, Ahaz did not seek Yahweh but Tiglath-Pileser for deliverance. Rather than putting himself under Yahweh"s direction, he appealed to the king of Assyria as his "servant" and his "son" ( 2 Kings 16:7). This reflects a failure to see his role under God and God"s role over Israel. Instead of making sacrifices to Yahweh, he sent them to Tiglath-Pileser ( 2 Kings 16:8).