Then Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to Ahaz but afflicted him rather than strengthening him.
Parallel translations
- WEB Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and gave him trouble, but didn’t strengthen him.
- KJV And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
- NKJV Also Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, and did not assist him.
- NASB So Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him.
- NLT So when King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria arrived, he attacked Ahaz instead of helping him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria comes to Ahaz but troubles him rather than strengthening him. The alliance Ahaz sought backfires, bringing oppression instead of help.
Overview
The Assyrian king whom Ahaz courted afflicts rather than aids him, exposing the futility of trusting in pagan power. The Chronicler shows that forsaking God for human alliances yields only greater bondage. This reversal warns against seeking security apart from the LORD and points to Christ as the only deliverer who never disappoints those who trust Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 2 Kgs 15:29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.
- Isa 30:16“No,” you say, “we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee! “We will ride swift horses,” but your pursuers will be faster.
- 1 Chr 5:26So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria) to take the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. And he brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day.
- Isa 7:20On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well.
- Isa 30:3But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame, and the refuge of Egypt’s shade your disgrace.
- Jer 2:37Moreover, you will leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not prosper by their help.”
- Hos 5:13When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.
- 2 Kgs 16:7–10So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hands of the kings of Aram and Israel, who are rising up against me.”
- 2 Kgs 17:5Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land, marched up to Samaria, and besieged it for three years.
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Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 28:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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