2 Chronicles 28:16

KJV

¶ At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

KJV (with Strong's)

At that time {H6256} did king {H4428} Ahaz {H271} send {H7971} unto the kings {H4428} of Assyria {H804} to help {H5826} him.

Complete Jewish Bible

It was at that time that King Achaz sent to the kings of Ashur to help him.

Berean Standard Bible

At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the king of Assyria.

American Standard Version

At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Chronicles 28:16 marks a pivotal moment in the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, capturing his desperate and faithless decision to appeal for military assistance from the formidable, pagan Assyrian Empire. Faced with overwhelming pressure from the Syro-Ephraimite War, Ahaz chose to rely on a worldly superpower rather than placing his trust in the Lord, thereby exacerbating Judah's spiritual decline and charting a course toward future subjugation and profound distress. This act underscores a critical theological failure, where human pragmatism and political expediency superseded divine reliance, leading to far-reaching and devastating consequences for the kingdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the Chronicler's detailed account of King Ahaz's exceedingly wicked reign, spanning [2 Chronicles 28](/2_chronicles/28 "2 Chronicles 28 - The Reign of Ahaz"). Immediately preceding this verse, Judah has endured a catastrophic defeat at the hands of the combined forces of Aram (Syria) and Israel (the northern kingdom), resulting in immense casualties and the capture of 200,000 Judeans ([2 Chronicles 28:5-8](/2_chronicles/28-5-8 "2 Chronicles 28:5-8 - Judah's Defeat and Captives")). The subsequent intervention of the prophet Oded ([2 Chronicles 28:9-15](/2_chronicles/28-9-15 "2 Chronicles 28:9-15 - Oded's Prophecy and Release of Captives")) led to the compassionate release and return of these captives, a remarkable demonstration of God's mercy even amidst Judah's profound sin. However, despite this clear divine intervention and an implicit call to repentance and trust, Ahaz's heart remained stubbornly hardened. His decision in [2 Chronicles 28:16](/2_chronicles/28-16 "2 Chronicles 28:16 - Ahaz Appeals to Assyria") to appeal to Assyria for help, rather than turning to the Lord, directly follows these events, starkly revealing his deep-seated distrust in God's ability or willingness to deliver him. This act stands in stark contrast to the faithful actions of earlier kings who sought the Lord in times of crisis, such as King Jehoshaphat in [2 Chronicles 20](/2_chronicles/20 "2 Chronicles 20 - Jehoshaphat's Prayer and God's Deliverance"). The verses immediately following ([2 Chronicles 28:17-21](/2_chronicles/28-17-21 "2 Chronicles 28:17-21 - Further Attacks and Assyria's Failure")) detail further attacks from Edom and the Philistines, and critically, the ultimate failure of the Assyrian alliance to bring true relief, instead leading to greater distress and tribute.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of [2 Chronicles 28:16](/2_chronicles/28-16 "2 Chronicles 28:16 - Ahaz Appeals to Assyria") are situated during the tumultuous period of the Syro-Ephraimite War (c. 735-732 BC). At this time, the Neo-Assyrian Empire, under the formidable Tiglath-Pileser III, was the preeminent power in the Near East, aggressively expanding its dominion. Aram (Syria, with its capital Damascus) and Israel (Ephraim, under King Pekah) formed an anti-Assyrian coalition and attempted to coerce Judah into joining their alliance. When Ahaz steadfastly refused, they launched a concerted attack on Judah, intending to depose him and install a more compliant ruler on the Judean throne. Culturally, it was a common and often necessary practice for smaller nations to seek alliances with larger, more powerful empires for protection, though this typically came at the significant cost of heavy tribute and political subjugation. However, for Judah, a nation uniquely bound by covenant to Yahweh, such alliances were consistently condemned by prophets as a profound betrayal of their exclusive relationship with God, who alone was their true protector and deliverer. Ahaz's appeal to Assyria was therefore not merely a pragmatic political maneuver but a profound theological statement, rejecting divine promises and explicit warnings from prophets like Isaiah, who urged him to trust in God's deliverance (e.g., [Isaiah 7:4-9](/isaiah/7-4-9 "Isaiah 7:4-9 - Isaiah's Prophecy to Ahaz")).

* **Key Themes:** The primary theme powerfully illuminated by [2 Chronicles 28:16](/2_chronicles/28-16 "2 Chronicles 28:16 - Ahaz Appeals to Assyria") is the **profound distrust in God** that permeated Ahaz's entire reign. His decision to dispatch an appeal for Assyrian aid was a direct and deliberate rejection of God's sovereignty and His demonstrated ability to protect Judah, opting instead for reliance on human strength and political maneuvering over divine providence. This act also highlights **the inherent danger of foreign alliances**, particularly with pagan nations. While such alliances might superficially appear to offer a quick solution to immediate threats, they invariably came with severe costs, including political subjugation, economic tribute, and, most significantly, the insidious adoption of foreign religious practices, further drawing Judah away from its covenant fidelity to God. This faithless move ultimately brought more trouble upon Judah, as explicitly stated later in [2 Chronicles 28:20](/2_chronicles/28-20 "2 Chronicles 28:20 - Tiglath-Pileser III troubles Ahaz"). Finally, the verse powerfully underscores the **inescapable consequences of disobedience**. Ahaz's choice was a continuation and intensification of his pattern of profound spiritual rebellion and idolatry ([2 Chronicles 28:2-4](/2_chronicles/28-2-4 "2 Chronicles 28:2-4 - Ahaz's Idolatry")). His refusal to trust God and his embrace of pagan practices led directly to national vulnerability and personal distress, demonstrating unequivocally that turning away from God's prescribed path inevitably leads to negative and often devastating outcomes.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ahaz (Hebrew, _ʼÂchâz'_):** From the root meaning "to possess" or "to grasp," Ahaz's name ironically contrasts with his actions. Instead of grasping onto God's promises and sovereignty, he grasped onto worldly power. His name, meaning "possessor," highlights his personal agency in this decision, as he possessed the authority to make such a fateful choice for Judah.
* **send (Hebrew, _shâlach'_):** This Hebrew verb signifies a deliberate, purposeful dispatch or sending forth. It implies Ahaz's active and intentional initiative in seeking this foreign alliance. It was not a passive reaction to circumstances but a decisive step, highlighting his agency and culpability in choosing to rely on human power rather than divine. This verb often carries the nuance of commissioning or delegating, underscoring the formal and official nature of his appeal to Assyria.
* **help (Hebrew, _ʻâzar'_):** This primitive root verb means "to surround, i.e., protect or aid." While the act of seeking help is natural, the critical aspect here is the *source* from which Ahaz sought this `ʻâzar`. He sought it from a pagan king, contrasting sharply with the biblical portrayal of Yahweh as the ultimate and sufficient `ʻâzar` for His people (e.g., [Psalm 121:2](/psalms/121-2 "Psalm 121:2 - My Help Comes from the Lord")). Ahaz's choice reveals a fundamental spiritual failure to recognize God as his true and sufficient helper, opting instead for a human, ungodly source.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"At that time":** This phrase serves as a crucial temporal marker, deeply situating Ahaz's decision immediately after the devastating defeat by Aram and Israel ([2 Chronicles 28:5-8](/2_chronicles/28-5-8 "2 Chronicles 28:5-8 - Judah's Defeat and Captives")) and the compassionate, miraculous return of Judean captives orchestrated by God ([2 Chronicles 28:9-15](/2_chronicles/28-9-15 "2 Chronicles 28:9-15 - Oded's Prophecy and Release of Captives")). It underscores the context of extreme duress and fear that prompted Ahaz's desperate move, yet also highlights his profound failure to turn to God despite recent, tangible evidence of divine mercy and intervention.
* **"did king Ahaz send":** This clause emphatically highlights Ahaz's personal agency and initiative. It was his deliberate and sovereign choice, not a coerced action, to seek this alliance. This underscores his spiritual culpability and the depth of his distrust in God, especially given the prophetic warnings from Isaiah to trust in the Lord alone for deliverance. His action represents a conscious turning away from divine counsel.
* **"unto the kings of Assyria":** This specifies the powerful, pagan recipient of Ahaz's desperate appeal. By turning to Assyria, the dominant superpower of the age, Ahaz fundamentally violated the covenant principle of relying solely on Yahweh for protection and deliverance. This act was a practical denial of God's sovereignty and an embrace of worldly power, signifying a profound spiritual compromise and a rejection of Judah's unique identity as God's chosen people.
* **"to help him":** This states the explicit and immediate purpose of Ahaz's embassy. He sought military intervention and relief from his pressing enemies, Aram and Israel. While the desire for help is a natural human inclination in times of crisis, the source chosen reveals a profound spiritual misdirection, prioritizing human strength and political expediency over divine faithfulness and the covenant promises of God.

#### Literary Devices
The verse powerfully employs **Irony** to underscore Ahaz's profound spiritual blindness. He seeks "help" from Assyria, a formidable and seemingly invincible nation, yet this alliance ultimately brings him and Judah more distress rather than true salvation, as explicitly stated in [2 Chronicles 28:20](/2_chronicles/28-20 "2 Chronicles 28:20 - Tiglath-Pileser III troubles Ahaz"). The very source of his perceived salvation becomes a tool of further oppression and subjugation. Furthermore, the narrative uses **Foreshadowing**, as Ahaz's reliance on foreign powers rather than God sets a dangerous and destructive precedent that significantly contributes to Judah's eventual subjugation and exile, demonstrating the long-term, devastating consequences of such faithless alliances. There is also an implicit **Contrast** between Ahaz's faithless appeal to Assyria and the actions of earlier, more faithful kings of Judah (e.g., Asa in [2 Chronicles 14](/2_chronicles/14 "2 Chronicles 14 - Asa's Victory by Faith") or Jehoshaphat in [2 Chronicles 20](/2_chronicles/20 "2 Chronicles 20 - Jehoshaphat's Prayer and God's Deliverance")), who, when faced with similar existential threats, sought the Lord's intervention and experienced miraculous, divinely orchestrated deliverance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ahaz's decision in [2 Chronicles 28:16](/2_chronicles/28-16 "2 Chronicles 28:16 - Ahaz Appeals to Assyria") stands as a stark theological warning against the pervasive human tendency to seek security, deliverance, and solutions from worldly powers and human ingenuity rather than from the sovereign and all-sufficient God. His act was not merely a political miscalculation or a pragmatic choice, but a profound spiritual betrayal—a practical denial of the covenant relationship where Yahweh alone was to be Judah's King, Protector, and ultimate Provider. This reliance on Assyria reflected Ahaz's deep-seated idolatry and distrust, demonstrating a preference for tangible, human strength and political alliances over the invisible, omnipotent power and unfailing faithfulness of God. It powerfully illustrates the recurring biblical theme that true security, lasting peace, and genuine salvation are found only in radical dependence on the Lord, and that alliances built on human might or ungodly principles inevitably lead to compromise, subjugation, and further spiritual and moral decline.

* [Psalm 20:7](/psalms/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Lord, not chariots")
* [Isaiah 31:1](/isaiah/31-1 "Isaiah 31:1 - Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help")
* [Jeremiah 17:5](/jeremiah/17-5 "Jeremiah 17:5 - Cursed is the one who trusts in man")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
King Ahaz's profound misstep serves as a timeless and potent warning for believers across all generations. In moments of intense crisis, overwhelming challenges, or perceived helplessness, the temptation to seek immediate, worldly solutions or to rely solely on human strength, resources, and ingenuity can be incredibly strong. Whether facing financial distress, relational conflict, career uncertainty, health crises, or societal upheaval, the "Assyria" of our day might manifest as an ungodly alliance, a compromise of deeply held values for perceived security, or an over-reliance on human wisdom and power structures rather than divine guidance and provision. This verse calls us to a radical re-evaluation of where our ultimate trust and allegiance truly lie. It challenges us to honestly ask ourselves if our first instinct in trouble is to turn to God in prayer and faith, seeking His wisdom and intervention, or to scramble for human solutions that may offer temporary relief but ultimately lead to deeper entanglement, spiritual compromise, and even greater distress. True security, lasting peace, and genuine deliverance are found not in the strength of human alliances or the wisdom of the world, but in unwavering, radical trust in the Lord's sovereign provision and unfailing faithfulness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life am I currently tempted to seek "help" from worldly sources or human ingenuity rather than relying fully and primarily on God's provision and wisdom?**
* **How does my initial, instinctive response to crisis or overwhelming pressure reveal the true object of my trust and allegiance—is it God or something else?**
* **What practical, concrete steps can I take today to cultivate a deeper, more consistent, and unwavering reliance on God's sovereignty and provision in all circumstances, even when the "Assyrias" of life seem overwhelming and insurmountable?**

### FAQ
**Why was seeking help from Assyria so wrong, especially if it seemed like the only way to survive the Syro-Ephraimite War?**

Answer: Ahaz's decision was not merely a pragmatic political move but a profound spiritual betrayal of his covenant relationship with Yahweh. While it might have appeared to be the only viable military option from a human perspective, Ahaz had received explicit prophetic warnings from Isaiah to trust in God's deliverance and not to fear the combined forces of Aram and Israel (e.g., [Isaiah 7:3-9](/isaiah/7-3-9 "Isaiah 7:3-9 - God's sign to Ahaz")). His choice demonstrated a profound lack of faith and a preference for pagan power over the covenant Lord, who had repeatedly shown Himself able to deliver His people from far greater threats. Furthermore, the "help" from Assyria came at an exorbitant cost, including heavy tribute and the tragic introduction of Assyrian idolatry into Judah, ultimately leading to further subjugation and distress, as [2 Chronicles 28:20-21](/2_chronicles/28-20-21 "2 Chronicles 28:20-21 - Assyria's burden on Ahaz") clearly states that Tiglath-Pileser III "distressed him, but strengthened him not."

**Did Ahaz's alliance with Assyria actually "help" him in the long run?**

Answer: Temporarily, the Assyrian intervention did relieve the immediate military pressure from Aram and Israel, as Tiglath-Pileser III indeed attacked Damascus (Aram) and annexed parts of Israel. However, this "help" was superficial, fleeting, and ultimately detrimental. [2 Chronicles 28:20](/2_chronicles/28-20 "2 Chronicles 28:20 - Tiglath-Pileser III troubles Ahaz") explicitly states that "Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not." The alliance burdened Judah with crushing tribute, led to political subjugation under Assyria, and tragically, prompted Ahaz to adopt Assyrian idolatrous practices ([2 Chronicles 28:23-25](/2_chronicles/28-23-25 "2 Chronicles 28:23-25 - Ahaz's Idolatry and Death")), further provoking God's wrath. So, while it offered a short-term military solution to a pressing threat, it resulted in long-term spiritual decay, economic hardship, and national decline, proving to be a curse rather than a blessing.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ahaz's desperate and faithless appeal to the kings of Assyria for "help" serves as a profound Old Testament type, powerfully highlighting humanity's persistent and misguided tendency to seek salvation, security, and solutions in worldly powers, human institutions, or our own strength, rather than in the sovereign and all-sufficient God. This misplaced reliance on human might and political alliances stands in stark contrast to the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate, true, and unfailing "help" for humanity. Unlike Ahaz, who sought deliverance through military might and pagan alliances, Jesus did not rely on earthly armies, political maneuvering, or worldly wisdom to accomplish His divine mission. His kingdom is explicitly declared to be "not of this world" ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom is Not of This World")), and He came to provide salvation not through conquest or coercion, but through humble service, radical obedience, and ultimate self-sacrifice on the cross. He is the one in whom all "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" are hidden ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Christ, in whom are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge")), offering a security and peace that transcends any fleeting worldly alliance or human construct. Believers are therefore called to fix their eyes on Jesus, the "author and perfecter of our faith" ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of Faith")), rather than placing their trust in human strength, economic stability, or political systems. He is the ultimate deliverer from sin and death, providing true and lasting salvation and security, for "my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" ([Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God will supply all your needs")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 16:5

¶ Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome [him].

2 Kings 16:7

So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I [am] thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.

Isaiah 7:17

¶ The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; [even] the king of Assyria.

Isaiah 7:1

¶ And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, [that] Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

Isaiah 7:9

And the head of Ephraim [is] Samaria, and the head of Samaria [is] Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.