Syro-Ephraimite War

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Syro-Ephraimite War

Assyria's campaign after the failed revolt.

Date	736 BCE-732 BCE
Location	Palestine, Syria
Result	Assyria defeating Syria and Israel, continuing Judah being a "satellite-state"

Combatants

Assyria, Judah

Syria, Israel

Commanders

Tiglath-Pileser III, Assyrian king
Ahaz, Judah king

Rezon II, Syrian leader
Pekah, Israeli leader

In the 8th century B.C., Assyria was the superpower of the world. The smaller nations of Syria (often called Aram) and the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim because of the main tribe) formed a coalition in defense against the oncoming threat. They had previously been tributary nations to Assyria, and they finally decided to break away. The Southern Kingdom of Israel, known as Judah, was loyal to Assyria and refused to join the coalition. Judah was ruled by King Ahaz. In 735 B.C. Syria, under Rezin, and Israel, under Pekah, attempted to depose Ahaz through an invasion. Judah was being defeated and lost 120,000 troops in just one day. Many significant officials were killed, including the king's son. Many others were taken away as slaves.

During the invasion, the Philistines and Edomites were taking advantage of the situation and raiding towns and villages within the Southern Kingdom. Ahaz called out to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria for help. The Assyrians defended Judah, conquering both Israel and Syria, but the post-war alliance only brought more trouble for the Israelite king. Ahaz had to pay tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III with treasures from the Temple in Jerusalem and the royal treasury. He also built idols of Assyrian gods in Judah to find favor with his new ally.

[edit] The Immanuel child

The Immanuel child of the book of Isaiah is closely related to the Syro-Ephraimite War. In chapters 7-12, Isaiah narrates the Syro-Ephraimite War. He tells King Ahaz that the invasion will be unsuccessful and tells him to ask God for a sign. Ahaz, in his stubborn pride, refuses to ask God for a sign. Isaiah tells him that God will give a sign despite Ahaz's refusal. He says that the sign will be that "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste (Isaiah 7:14-16). Isaiah also says that because Ahaz trusted in Assyria, God will bring the king of Assyria to the gates of Jerusalem.

In Chapter 8, the prophecy is fulfilled. Isaiah sleeps with a young woman (the Hebrew word here, áhmah means a sexually ripe or mature woman, not the modern usage of the word virgin) and she conceives. The child is Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. God tells Isaiah that before this child can speak, Assyria will plunder Syria and Israel. It is obvious that Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz is the Immanuel child (although the title is also applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament).