Rezin

Rezin was the last king of Aram-Damascus, a kingdom located in modern-day Syria. His reign is noted in the biblical narrative primarily for his alliance with Pekah, the king of Israel, against the kingdom of Judah. Rezin's actions are recorded in the context of the Syro-Ephraimite War, a significant conflict during the 8th century BC.

Rezin's alliance with Pekah was formed to resist the expanding Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III. The two kings sought to pressure Ahaz, the king of Judah, into joining their coalition against Assyria. When Ahaz refused, Rezin and Pekah attacked Judah, as described in 2 Kings 16:5: "Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to wage war against Jerusalem; they besieged Ahaz but could not overcome him."

The prophet Isaiah was active during this period and provided counsel to Ahaz, urging him to trust in the Lord rather than seeking foreign alliances. Isaiah 7:4-7 records the Lord's message to Ahaz through Isaiah, assuring him that the plans of Rezin and Pekah would not succeed.

Ultimately, Rezin's reign ended when Tiglath-Pileser III captured Damascus and executed him, as noted in 2 Kings 16:9: "So the king of Assyria complied and attacked Damascus. He captured it and exiled its people to Kir, and he put Rezin to death."

Pekah

Pekah, the son of Remaliah, was a king of Israel who reigned during a tumultuous period marked by political instability and external threats. His reign is estimated to have lasted from approximately 752 to 732 BC. Pekah came to power through a conspiracy, assassinating his predecessor, Pekahiah, as recorded in 2 Kings 15:25: "Then Pekah son of Remaliah, one of his chief officers, conspired against him. Taking fifty men of Gilead with him, he assassinated Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the king’s palace at Samaria. So Pekah killed him and reigned in his place."

Pekah's alliance with Rezin of Aram was a strategic move to counter the Assyrian threat. Together, they sought to coerce Judah into joining their anti-Assyrian coalition. However, their efforts were thwarted when Ahaz of Judah appealed to Assyria for help, leading to the intervention of Tiglath-Pileser III.

The Assyrian king responded by attacking Israel and capturing several territories, as detailed in 2 Kings 15:29: "In 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—all the land of Naphtali—and he took the people to Assyria."

Pekah's reign ended in assassination, a common fate for many kings of Israel during this period. Hoshea, the son of Elah, conspired against him and took the throne, as recorded in 2 Kings 15:30: "Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and killed him, and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah."

The narratives of Rezin and Pekah serve as a testament to the political and military challenges faced by the kingdoms of Israel and Judah during the 8th century BC, highlighting the complex interplay of alliances and the overarching threat of Assyrian expansion.