Rezin
“Firm, stable”
Summary
Rezin was the last king of Syria (Damascus) who allied with Pekah of Israel against Judah, prompting Ahaz to seek Assyrian help, which resulted in Rezin's death and Syria's fall.
☩The Syro-Ephraimite War
Rezin was king of Syria (Aram-Damascus) during the reign of Ahaz of Judah and Pekah of Israel. He formed an alliance with Pekah to attack Judah, apparently to compel Ahaz to join their coalition against the rising power of Assyria. The allies besieged Jerusalem but could not take it, though Rezin separately recovered Elath for Syria, expelling the Jews and establishing Edomites there. This crisis prompted Isaiah's famous prophecy to Ahaz about the virgin birth and Immanuel.
☩Fall to Assyria
Rather than trust God's promise through Isaiah, Ahaz appealed to Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria for help, sending him treasures from the Temple and palace. The Assyrian king responded by attacking Damascus. Rezin was slain, his people carried captive to Kir, and Damascus fell in 732 BC, ending Syrian independence. Isaiah had prophesied this outcome: 'Within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken in pieces, so as not to be a people.' Rezin was thus the last king of the Aramean kingdom of Damascus.
Related Verses12 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Rezin," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Rezin," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Rezin," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).