2 Kings 16:7-9 - Exposition

Expedition of Tiglath-pileser against Pekah and Rezin . In the extremity of his danger, when the confederacy had declared itself, or perhaps later, when he had suffered terrible defeats, and was about. to be besieged in his capital ( 2 Chronicles 28:5 , 2 Chronicles 28:6 ), Ahaz invoked the aid of Tiglath-pileser, sent him all the treasure on which he could lay his hands ( 2 Kings 16:8 ), offered to place himself and his kingdom under the Assyrian monarch's suzerainty, and entreated him to come and "save him out of the hands" of his enemies ( 2 Kings 16:7 ). Humanly speaking, he might be justified. He had not called in one foreign power until Pekah had called in another. There was no other prospect (again humanly speaking) of escape. But, had he accepted the offers of Isaiah 7:4-16 , and relied wholly on Jehovah, his position would have been far better. However, he was unable to see this; he made his application; and Tiglath-pileser "came up," and utterly crushed the Syro-Israelite confederacy ( Isaiah 7:9 ).