Hezekiah Hezekiah, who reigned from 728 to 686 BC was one of Judah’s best kings. Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, betrayed the Lord, but Hezekiah promoted true worship of God. Reversing the damage done by Ahaz, he repaired the Temple doors, had the Levites sanctify themselves, and reinstated religious ceremonies. He brought sacrifices, restored the priestly Temple service, and invited people throughout Judah and Israel to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem (2 Chr 29–30). After the celebration, he faithfully destroyed pagan worship sites. Soon after Hezekiah started ruling, the Assyrians under Shalmaneser V and his successor Sargon II defeated the northern kingdom, deported its inhabitants, and brought in foreign residents (722 BC). When Sargon II died in 705 BC, his son Sennacherib came to power, triggering widespread rebellion. Hezekiah stopped paying the tribute that his father Ahaz had paid (2 Kgs 18:7; see 16:7). As a result, in 701 BC Sennacherib invaded Judah. Hezekiah tried to appease the Assyrian ruler by sending a vast tribute payment, but the attempted return to servitude failed and the Assyrian forces threatened Jerusalem and mocked Hezekiah’s reliance on the Lord (18:17-35)....

Ahaz Ahaz reigned in Judah during a turbulent period (743–715 BC). His father Jotham (2 Kgs 15:32-38; 2 Chr 27:1-9) and son Hezekiah (2 Kgs 18:1-8) were praised for their obedience to the Lord, but Ahaz was evil, even sacrificing one of his sons to false gods. Ahaz’s reign was marked with conflict. King Pekah of Israel and King Rezin of Aram (Syria) wanted him to join a coalition against Assyria, but he refused. So Pekah and Rezin turned against Judah and won substantial victories, which severely frightened Ahaz. Isaiah the prophet encouraged Ahaz to rely on the Lord, but Ahaz refused (Isa 7). Revealing his lack of trust in the true God, Ahaz appealed to Tiglath-pileser III for help (2 Kgs 16:7-9). Ahaz made Judah dangerously dependent on Assyria, and Judah effectively became a vassal state. The Assyrian king subsequently defeated the Arameans in a two-year campaign (734–732 BC) and killed Rezin. He subdued Israel and incorporated great tracts of Pekah’s land into the Assyrian Empire (15:29). Ahaz became an eager servant of Assyria. He adopted many religious innovations based on Assyrian models. Ahaz visited Tiglath-pileser III in Damascus, where he saw an Assyrian alta...

Assyria Assyria was a symbol of terror and tyranny in the Near East for more than three centuries. In the biblical account, we learn about its power and ruthlessness in its treatment of the people of Israel and Judah. But its fortune rose and fell with the strength of its leaders. Eventually, it was overpowered by those who were stronger. Ashurnasirpal II (885–860 BC) Ashurnasirpal II possessed all the qualities and defects of his successors to the extreme: He had the ambition, energy, courage, vanity, and magnificence of a ruthless and unrelenting empire builder. Shalmaneser III (858–824 BC) Shalmaneser III is well known for the Battle of Qarqar (853 BC), considered the most fully documented event from the ancient world. His invasion of Syria was repelled by a coalition that included King Ahab of Israel and several other states. It was years before Shalmaneser was able to conquer Israel and Syria. King Jehu of Israel is depicted on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III kissing the ground at his feet and offering tribute. Repentance during the Time of Jonah Sometime during the reign of King Jeroboam II in Israel (793–753 BC), the prophet Jonah grudgingly travele...