2 Chronicles 28 20

2 Chronicles 28:20 kjv

And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.

2 Chronicles 28:20 nkjv

Also Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, and did not assist him.

2 Chronicles 28:20 niv

Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help.

2 Chronicles 28:20 esv

So Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him.

2 Chronicles 28:20 nlt

So when King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria arrived, he attacked Ahaz instead of helping him.

2 Chronicles 28 verses

2 Chronicles 28 20 Meaning

This verse details the outcome of King Ahaz's plea for help from the king of Assyria against the confederacy of Aram and Israel. Instead of true strengthening and relief, the Assyrian king, Tiglath-Pileser, distressed Ahaz, burdening Judah with tribute and diminished sovereignty, ultimately weakening him further rather than providing genuine aid. It illustrates the futility of seeking worldly alliances instead of trusting in God.

2 Chronicles 28 20 Context

Chapter 28 of 2 Chronicles describes the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, one of the most wicked kings in Judah's history. He rejected the Lord, practiced idolatry, and even sacrificed his own children in the fire. During his reign, Judah was under attack from the united forces of Aram (Syria) under King Rezin and Israel (Ephraim) under King Pekah, in what is known as the Syro-Ephraimite War. Instead of heeding the prophet Isaiah's counsel to trust in the Lord (Isa 7), Ahaz made a desperate appeal to Tiglath-Pileser, the king of Assyria. He sent gifts taken from the Temple of the Lord, the king's palace, and his officials as tribute. Verse 20 describes the outcome of this strategic (but spiritually rebellious) decision, revealing that the "help" sought from a foreign power brought further subjugation and distress, rather than the desired deliverance and strengthening.

2 Chronicles 28 20 Word analysis

• And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria: Tilgath-pilneser (תִּלְגַּת פִּלְנְאֶסֶר, Tilgath Pilne'eser) is the Hebrew rendition of Tiglath-Pileser III, a powerful and influential monarch of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (reigned c. 745-727 BC). He was known for his military prowess, expansionist policies, and administrative reforms that strengthened Assyria's grip on conquered territories. His very name invoked fear and dominance in the ancient Near East. The Chronicler highlights this specific historical figure, indicating that Judah sought help from the very apex of global military might, emphasizing Ahaz's complete reliance on human power.
• came unto him: This phrase (וַיָּבֹא אֵלָיו, va-yavo elav) confirms that Ahaz's direct appeal to the Assyrian king was met. Tiglath-Pileser did indeed respond militarily, conquering Damascus (Aram) and territories of northern Israel, thus alleviating the immediate threat from Judah's immediate adversaries. This outwardly appears as a successful strategic move by Ahaz.
• and distressed him: This is the crucial twist. The Hebrew va-yatsar lo (וַיָּצֶר לוֹ), from the root tsarar (צרר), means to "bind," "confine," "oppress," "trouble," or "cause distress." This term perfectly captures the consequence. Tiglath-Pileser did not provide genuine "help" without a cost. While he dealt with Aram and Israel, he also made Judah a vassal state, imposing heavy tribute, exploiting its resources, and asserting Assyrian control. This placed Judah under a new, even more burdensome yoke, which "distressed" Ahaz far more than the original enemies. The short-term relief came with long-term subjugation.
• but strengthened him not: The Hebrew ve-lo khizzeko (וְלֹא חִזְּקוֹ), from the root khazaq (חזק), means "and did not make him strong," "did not reinforce him," or "did not give him strength." This explicitly contradicts Ahaz's expectation and what a true ally should do. Instead of becoming stronger or more secure, Judah became weaker and more dependent. The reliance on human strength, severed from divine wisdom, ultimately fails to achieve its true aim. True strength, the text implicitly argues, comes from God alone.

Words-Group by Words-Group analysis:

• "And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him": This initial clause details the fulfillment of Ahaz's plan – the formidable Assyrian king responded. It sets up the immediate positive-appearing outcome of Ahaz's trust in human power and lavish bribes. It highlights the immense power dynamics at play and the apparent success of Ahaz's strategy in garnering attention from the dominant empire.
• "and distressed him, but strengthened him not": This second, contrasting clause reveals the ironic and ultimately devastating true outcome. The conjunction "but" (וְלֹא) highlights the antithesis. What was sought as a source of strength turned into a source of ongoing trouble and lack of true reinforcement. This reversal underlines the Chronicler's theological message about the folly and fruitlessness of turning away from God to human means, even the most powerful, for deliverance. The aid offered was a poisoned chalice.

2 Chronicles 28 20 Bonus section

The chronicler emphasizes the religious and spiritual implications of Ahaz's political decisions. Seeking aid from Assyria was not merely a foreign policy choice but an act of spiritual disloyalty to YHWH, Judah's true King and Deliverer. By becoming a vassal to Tiglath-Pileser, Ahaz declared himself the "servant" of the Assyrian king (2 Ki 16:7), abandoning his divine covenant. This verse demonstrates the inevitable outcome: those who exchange divine strength for human support will find themselves not merely unhelped, but further oppressed by their chosen reliance. The distress that came from Assyria was an outworking of the curse of disobedience (e.g., Deut 28:47-48) for a king who actively sought foreign gods and alliances, rejecting YHWH as his only strength.

2 Chronicles 28 20 Commentary

This verse offers a stark theological commentary on the folly of rejecting God's help for human alliances. Ahaz, despite divine warnings through Isaiah, chose to mortgage Judah's future and independence to Assyria, emptying the temple and palace treasuries to do so. While Tiglath-Pileser did intervene, effectively removing the immediate threat from Aram and Israel, his intervention was not an act of benevolence but an expansion of Assyrian influence and tribute collection. The "help" turned into a greater "distress," reducing Judah to a subservient state constantly drained of resources and ultimately leading to the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (and later, Judah's own exile). The phrase "strengthened him not" is deeply significant; it means that despite the removal of a specific enemy, Ahaz's kingdom found no real security, no increased might, but rather increased weakness and perpetual oppression under the Assyrian yoke. This demonstrates that any reliance on human or worldly power apart from God leads not to true strengthening but to deeper distress and ultimately, a tragic loss of what was once possessed.