Study note

2 Kings 16:5–6

Rezin … Pekah: This alliance between the kings of Aram and Israel was made to resist Assyrian control under Tiglath-pileser III (2 Kings 15:29–30; Isaiah 9:1). They attacked Judah to force it into the alliance or to replace its king with someone they preferred (Isaiah 7:3–6). This led to captivity and many deaths in Judah (2 Chronicles 28:5–15). Isaiah notes that Rezin and Pekah wanted to put a new king on Judah’s throne (Isaiah 7:3–6). Judah also faced attacks from the Edomites and Philistines (2 Chronicles 28:17–18). These events were seen as God's response to Ahaz’s terrible spiritual practices, which caused great sin in Judah (2 Chronicles 28:5, 19).