This verse from 2 Chronicles 28:20 refers to King Ahaz of Judah's relationship with Tiglath-Pileser III, the king of Assyria. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the historical context:
Ahaz's Apostasy: King Ahaz was a wicked king who abandoned the worship of the Lord and embraced idolatry. This is heavily criticized in 2 Chronicles.
Threat from Syria and Israel: Judah was under threat from the kingdoms of Syria (Aram) and Israel (the Northern Kingdom).
Ahaz's Appeal to Assyria: In desperation, Ahaz appealed to Tiglath-Pileser III for help against Syria and Israel (2 Kings 16:7-9). He essentially paid tribute to Assyria, making Judah a vassal state.
Given this background, the verse "Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and gave him trouble, but didn’t strengthen him" signifies:
Tiglath-Pileser came to Ahaz's aid: Tiglath-Pileser did indeed come to Judah and deal with the threat from Syria and Israel.
Tiglath-Pileser's Help was a Burden, not a Blessing: Instead of strengthening Judah, Assyria's intervention ultimately brought trouble. This "trouble" could refer to:
Heavy tribute: Ahaz had to pay a large tribute to Assyria, draining Judah's resources (2 Kings 16:8).
Loss of independence: Judah became a vassal state of Assyria, losing its sovereignty.
Assyrian influence: Assyria's influence led to further idolatry and corruption in Judah, as Ahaz adopted Assyrian religious practices.
Didn't strengthen him: Assyria's involvement did not truly make Judah stronger. It solved the immediate military threat but at the cost of Judah's independence, resources, and spiritual health. Ahaz's short-sighted solution ultimately weakened Judah in the long run.
In essence, the verse is a condemnation of Ahaz's reliance on foreign powers rather than seeking help from the Lord. It highlights the consequences of his unfaithfulness and the futility of seeking worldly solutions when spiritual problems are the root cause.
This verse from 2 Chronicles 28:20 refers to King Ahaz of Judah's relationship with Tiglath-Pileser III, the king of Assyria. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the historical context:
Ahaz's Apostasy: King Ahaz was a wicked king who abandoned the worship of the Lord and embraced idolatry. This is heavily criticized in 2 Chronicles.
Threat from Syria and Israel: Judah was under threat from the kingdoms of Syria (Aram) and Israel (the Northern Kingdom).
Ahaz's Appeal to Assyria: In desperation, Ahaz appealed to Tiglath-Pileser III for help against Syria and Israel (2 Kings 16:7-9). He essentially paid tribute to Assyria, making Judah a vassal state.
Given this background, the verse "Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and gave him trouble, but didn’t strengthen him" signifies:
Tiglath-Pileser came to Ahaz's aid: Tiglath-Pileser did indeed come to Judah and deal with the threat from Syria and Israel.
Tiglath-Pileser's Help was a Burden, not a Blessing: Instead of strengthening Judah, Assyria's intervention ultimately brought trouble. This "trouble" could refer to:
Heavy tribute: Ahaz had to pay a large tribute to Assyria, draining Judah's resources (2 Kings 16:8).
Loss of independence: Judah became a vassal state of Assyria, losing its sovereignty.
Assyrian influence: Assyria's influence led to further idolatry and corruption in Judah, as Ahaz adopted Assyrian religious practices.
Didn't strengthen him: Assyria's involvement did not truly make Judah stronger. It solved the immediate military threat but at the cost of Judah's independence, resources, and spiritual health. Ahaz's short-sighted solution ultimately weakened Judah in the long run.
In essence, the verse is a condemnation of Ahaz's reliance on foreign powers rather than seeking help from the Lord. It highlights the consequences of his unfaithfulness and the futility of seeking worldly solutions when spiritual problems are the root cause.