2 Kings 15:37

KJV

In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

KJV (with Strong's)

In those days {H3117} the LORD {H3068} began {H2490} to send {H7971} against Judah {H3063} Rezin {H7526} the king {H4428} of Syria {H758}, and Pekah {H6492} the son {H1121} of Remaliah {H7425}.

Complete Jewish Bible

It was during this period that ADONAI began sending against Y'hudah Retzin the king of Aram and Pekach the son of Remalyah.

Berean Standard Bible

(In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.)

American Standard Version

In those days Jehovah began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 15:37 marks a pivotal moment during the latter part of King Jotham's reign in Judah, introducing the initial stirrings of a significant geopolitical conflict. This verse highlights the divine orchestration behind the emerging threat posed by Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel, an alliance that would soon escalate into the Syro-Ephraimitic War, a conflict with profound theological and historical implications for the southern kingdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the summary of King Jotham's reign in Judah, detailed in [2 Kings 15:32-36](/2_kings/15-32 "2 Kings 15:32-36 - Reign of King Jotham"). While Jotham is largely commended for his righteousness, the broader narrative of [2 Kings](/2_kings/1 "The Book of 2 Kings") consistently interweaves the actions of kings with the spiritual state of the nation. The introduction of these foreign aggressors serves as a divine commentary on the persistent spiritual decline within Judah, despite Jotham's personal piety. It sets the stage for the tumultuous reign of Jotham's son, Ahaz, during which the Syro-Ephraimitic War would fully erupt, as recounted in [2 Kings 16](/2_kings/16 "2 Kings 16 - Ahaz's Reign and the Syro-Ephraimitic War") and extensively prophesied in [Isaiah 7](/isaiah/7 "Isaiah 7 - The Syro-Ephraimitic War and the Immanuel Prophecy").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The mid-8th century BCE was a period of intense geopolitical flux in the ancient Near East. The rising power of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, under monarchs like Tiglath-Pileser III, cast a long shadow over the smaller kingdoms of Aram (Syria), Israel, and Judah. These kingdoms often formed alliances, shifting loyalties in a desperate attempt to resist Assyrian expansion. Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel forged an anti-Assyrian coalition and sought to compel Judah to join them. When Judah refused, they launched an invasion to depose King Ahaz (Jotham's successor) and install a puppet king, the "son of Tabeel" ([Isaiah 7:6](/isaiah/7-6 "Isaiah 7:6 - The Plan to Install a Puppet King")). This alliance and subsequent conflict underscore the precarious position of Judah, caught between regional rivalries and the looming threat of a global superpower.
* **Key Themes:** The most prominent theme in [2 Kings 15:37](/2_kings/15-37 "2 Kings 15:37 - The LORD Sends Rezin and Pekah") is **Divine Sovereignty**. The explicit declaration that "the LORD began to send" these kings against Judah unequivocally asserts God's ultimate control over historical events and the actions of nations, even those seemingly hostile to His people. This highlights that these invasions were not random acts of war but instruments in God's hand, serving His purposes of discipline and judgment for the spiritual compromises within both Judah and Israel. This concept resonates throughout the prophetic literature, such as in [Isaiah 10:5](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5 - God Uses Assyria as a Rod of Anger"), where God declares Assyria to be "the rod of my anger." Another key theme is the **Consequences of National Sin**, as the impending conflict serves as a stark foreshadowing of the greater judgments that would ultimately lead to the destruction of both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and, later, the Southern Kingdom of Judah due to their persistent unfaithfulness and idolatry. Finally, the verse highlights the **Inter-Kingdom Conflict** and shifting alliances between the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and their neighbors, a recurring motif in the Books of Kings and Chronicles.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Began (Hebrew, _ḥālal'_):** While often meaning "to profane" or "to defile," in the Hiphil stem (as used here), _ḥālal_ can also mean "to begin" or "to start." In this context, it signifies the initiation of a process or a new phase. The use of "began" here suggests that the full force of the Syro-Ephraimitic War was not yet unleashed but was rather in its nascent stages, a divine prelude to the greater conflict and judgment to come during Ahaz's reign. It emphasizes a deliberate, phased unfolding of God's plan.
* **Send (Hebrew, _šālaḥ'_):** This verb is crucial, implying a deliberate commission or deputation from God. It is not merely a passive allowance of events but an active initiation by the divine hand. The use of _šālaḥ_ underscores the theological perspective that even the aggression of foreign powers is ultimately under God's control and serves His purposes, whether for judgment, discipline, or to fulfill prophecy. This active "sending" by the LORD transforms what might appear to be purely political or military maneuvers into divinely orchestrated events.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"In those days":** This phrase connects the impending events directly to the period of King Jotham's reign, specifically its latter part. It signifies a chronological progression from the summary of Jotham's rule, indicating that the seeds of this conflict were sown during his time, even if the full harvest of war would be reaped under his successor, Ahaz.
* **"the LORD began to send against Judah":** This is the theological heart of the verse. It attributes the initiation of the hostility directly to God. The "sending" is an act of divine agency, revealing that the subsequent military actions of Rezin and Pekah are not random or purely human initiatives, but are part of God's sovereign plan for Judah, likely as a form of divine discipline or judgment for the nation's persistent unfaithfulness.
* **"Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah":** These are the specific instruments of God's "sending." Rezin was the king of Aram-Damascus (Syria), a powerful northern neighbor. Pekah was the king of Israel, the Northern Kingdom, who had ascended to the throne through a violent coup ([2 Kings 15:25](/2_kings/15-25 "2 Kings 15:25 - Pekah's Coup")). Their alliance against Judah, known as the Syro-Ephraimitic coalition, aimed to force Judah to join their stand against Assyria. The naming of these specific kings underscores the historical reality of the divine action.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Divine Agency** by explicitly stating that "the LORD began to send" these kings. This device attributes human actions and historical events directly to God's sovereign will, transforming a political conflict into a theological statement about divine control over all nations. There is also an element of **Foreshadowing**, as this verse hints at the greater turmoil and conflict, specifically the Syro-Ephraimitic War, that will fully unfold in the subsequent chapters, particularly during the reign of Ahaz. The mention of specific names, Rezin and Pekah, grounds this divine action in concrete historical reality, lending **Verisimilitude** to the narrative while simultaneously elevating it to a theological plane.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully articulates the biblical doctrine of divine sovereignty, asserting that God is not merely a passive observer of human history but an active participant who orchestrates the rise and fall of nations and uses even hostile powers to accomplish His purposes. It challenges a purely secular view of history, inviting believers to recognize God's hand in geopolitical events, whether for judgment, discipline, or the advancement of His redemptive plan. The "sending" of these kings against Judah serves as a stark reminder that even a nation enjoying a relatively righteous king like Jotham is not immune to divine discipline when the people as a whole persist in sin. This truth calls for national and individual introspection, urging repentance and a return to faithfulness.

* [Isaiah 10:5](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5-7 - God Uses Assyria as a Rod")
* [Daniel 2:20](/daniel/2-20 "Daniel 2:20-21 - God Changes Times and Seasons")
* [Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "Proverbs 21:1 - The King's Heart in the Hand of the LORD")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The declaration that "the LORD began to send" hostile kings against Judah is a profound statement about God's active involvement in the world. For us today, it serves as a powerful reminder that God remains sovereign over all circumstances, including political upheavals, international conflicts, and personal trials. Even when events seem chaotic or threatening, we are called to trust in His ultimate authority and purpose. This perspective encourages us to look beyond immediate causes and discern the deeper, divine hand at work, prompting us to consider what spiritual lessons God might be teaching us individually or corporately through challenging times. It invites a posture of humility, repentance, and reliance on God, knowing that He uses all things, even adversity, to draw His people closer to Himself and to refine their faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the concept of God "sending" hostile nations challenge or affirm your understanding of divine sovereignty in today's world?**
* **In what ways might current global or national events be understood as God's "sending" for purposes of discipline, refinement, or the advancement of His kingdom?**
* **How should a believer respond when faced with difficult circumstances, knowing that God is ultimately in control?**
* **What personal or communal sins might God be calling us to repent of through the "sending" of various challenges in our lives?**

### FAQ
**Was King Jotham a bad king, since the LORD sent these kings against Judah during his reign?**

Answer: No, [2 Kings 15:34](/2_kings/15-34 "2 Kings 15:34 - Jotham's Righteous Reign") explicitly states that Jotham "did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done." However, the Bible often distinguishes between the righteousness of a king and the spiritual state of the nation as a whole. While Jotham was personally devout, the people continued in corrupt practices, as noted in [2 Kings 15:35](/2_kings/15-35 "2 Kings 15:35 - The High Places Remained"). Therefore, the "sending" of Rezin and Pekah was likely a divine judgment or discipline upon the nation of Judah for its collective unfaithfulness, rather than a direct consequence of Jotham's personal failings. God's judgment often extends to the entire covenant community, even when righteous individuals are present.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Kings 15:37 describes God's sovereign use of pagan kings for judgment and discipline upon His Old Testament people, it ultimately points to the greater sovereignty of God revealed in Christ. The "sending" of Rezin and Pekah foreshadows the ultimate "sending" of God's own Son, Jesus Christ, not for judgment but for redemption. Just as God orchestrated the movements of nations to fulfill His purposes in the Old Testament, so too did He orchestrate all of history to bring about the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. The seemingly chaotic political landscape of Judah's time finds its ultimate meaning in the cosmic plan of God, culminating in the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). In Christ, God's sovereignty is perfectly revealed as both holy judgment and boundless grace, demonstrating His power not only over kings and armies but over sin and death itself ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). The discipline experienced by Judah ultimately served to prepare a people for the coming Messiah, through whom God would establish an everlasting kingdom that will never be destroyed ([Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Kingdom Endures")).

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

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.

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].

Psalms 78:49

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels [among them].

2 Chronicles 28:6

¶ For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, [which were] all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.

Deuteronomy 28:48

Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all [things]: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

Isaiah 7:8

For the head of Syria [is] Damascus, and the head of Damascus [is] Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.

Hosea 5:12

Therefore [will] I [be] unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.