Bible Strands
2 Kings 16:9
So the king of Assyria responded to him, marched up to Damascus, and captured it. He took its people to Kir as captives and put Rezin to death.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ahaz sends temple and palace silver and gold to the Assyrian monarch as tribute (2 Kings 16:8). The Assyrian king answers the request, advances to Damascus, captures the city, exiles its population to Kir, and executes King Rezin (2 Kings 16:9).
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּשְׁמַע (va.yish.ma') literally means "and he listened" or "he answered," while מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר (me.lekh 'a.shur) translates directly to "the king of Assyria."
The thread — The deportation to Kir appears in Isaiah 22:6 as a location that uncovers shields, and Amos 9:7 mentions Kir as the origin of the Arameans.
Why it lands — The text records a political and military response to Ahaz’s appeal, noting the capture of Damascus and the exile of its people to Kir. Readers must observe that the narrative presents historical action without endorsing the treaty or the subsequent altar imitation described in 2 Kings 16:10.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 22:6 Elam takes up a quiver, with chariots and horsemen, and Kir uncovers the shield.
- Amos 9:7 “Are you not like the Cushites to Me, O children of Israel?” declares the LORD. “Did I not bring Israel up from the land of Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Arameans from Kir?
- Amos 1:3 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron.
- 2 Chronicles 28:5 So the LORD his God delivered Ahaz into the hand of the king of Aram, who attacked him and took many captives to Damascus. Ahaz was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force.
- 2 Chronicles 28:21 Although Ahaz had taken a portion from the house of the LORD, from the royal palace, and from the princes and had presented it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.
- Isaiah 7:16 For before the boy knows enough to reject evil and choose good, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.
- Isaiah 9:11 The LORD has raised up the foes of Rezin against him and joined his enemies together.