2 Kings 16:5-7

5 Then 1Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to wage war; and they besieged * Ahaz, 2but could not overcome him.
6 At that time Rezin king of Aram recovered 3Elath for Aram, and cleared the Judeans out of Elath entirely; and the Arameans came to Elath and have lived there to this day.

Ahaz Seeks Help of Aram

7 4So Ahaz sent messengers to 5Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son; come up and deliver me from the hand of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are rising up against me."

2 Kings 16:5-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 16

This chapter contains the reign of Ahaz only, relates his idolatry, 2Ki 16:1-4 his hiring the king of Assyria with the treasure of the temple, and his own, to assist him against the kings of Israel and Syria, who besieged him, 2Ki 16:5-9, his seeing the altar of an idol at Damascus, the fashion of which he took, and ordered one like it to be built at Jerusalem, 2Ki 16:10-16, his defacing and removing some things in the temple, 2Ki 16:17,18, and the chapter is concluded with his death and burial, 2Ki 16:19,20.

Cross References 5

  • 1. 2 Kings 15:37; Isaiah 7:1
  • 2. 2 Chronicles 28:5, 6
  • 3. 2 Kings 14:22; 2 Chronicles 26:2
  • 4. 2 Chronicles 28:16
  • 5. 2 Kings 15:29

Footnotes 5

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