Page 73 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Revised
P. 73
List of the Kings of Judah from 722 to 586 BC and their
Response to Yahweh
As you can see in the chart above, Ahaz was a truly wicked king. He made images of Baal and
worshipped in the high places. Because of his wickedness, God allowed the Edomites and Philistines to
attack Judah with success. Also, Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria attached him and was successful in capturing
many Judean cities as well as forcing tribute on Ahaz.
In Judah, Ahaz was followed by Hezekiah (c. 715-687), who tried to throw off Assyrian control and
tribute. Hezekiah welcomed ambassadors of Babylon, who were also scheming to rebel against Assyria,
and gave them a tour of the city, including the wealth in the temple. Hezekiah strengthened Jerusalem’s
walls and dug a tunnel 1,777 ft. through solid rock to carry water from the spring Gihon to the Pool of
Siloam within the city walls to ensure a water supply during a siege. In 701, Sennacherib of Assyria
attacked Judah, destroying forty-six cities, including Lachish, whose siege is depicted in reliefs from
Sennacherib’s palace in Nineveh. Sennacherib’s records claim that he besieged but did not take
Jerusalem and imposed on Hezekiah tribute, including the exact amount of gold mentioned in the
parallel account in the Bible. Isaiah assured Hezekiah that Jerusalem would not be captured, and the
Biblical record states that “the angel of the Lord” slew the besieging Assyrians in the night. Sennacherib
returned to Assyria in shame and was murdered by two of his sons.
72