The name given by modern historians to the war pitted against King Ahaz by the coalition of disgruntled Assyrian vassals comprising of Damascus, Philistia, Edom, and much of Israel during the reign of Tiglath-pileser recorded in part in 2 Ki 15-16, Isa 7:1-9 & 2 Chron 27:1-9; 28:1-27.
Unhappy with their status as vassals of Assyria, Rezin of Damascus initiated an anti-Assyrian coalition comprising of Israel, Philistia, and possibly Edom. Though the currents of the plot were already afoot in the time of Jotham (2 Ki 15:37), things became serious in the early days of Ahaz's reign. Unable to convince Judah to join them, the coalition attempted an attack on Judah with the intention of killing him and replacing him with a puppet, "the son of Tabeel" (Isa 7:6), they could control. The war is related in two main accounts in the Old Testament. The outline of the war, though not the details of its intention, is recorded in 2 Ki 16:5-7. Ahaz's response was to appeal the Tiglath-pileser, the Assyrian king, for help. In doing so, however, he pullled Judah deeper under the control of Assyria. It, however, saved Judah from the Assyrian onslaught when Tiglath-pileser razed Damascus, Philistia and Israel was reduced to a rump state. In the chaos, Pekah was murdered and replaced as king by Hoshea (2 Ki 15:29-30)
The other account of the event is more personal, and is found in Isa 7. Trembling with the fear of threatening war, Ahaz was met by Isaiah and assured of Yahweh's protection provided he trusted. As proof of Yahweh's assurance, Ahaz was offered any sign "whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." Ahaz understood, of course, that the moment he accept the offer he would have committed himself. Disgusted with his unbelief, Isaiah offered Yahweh's own sign to Ahaz, the sign of the Immanuel.
Assyrian records of the event are available but are preserved in rather poor state.
Further Reading & Resources:
David F. Payne, Kingdoms of the Lord. A History of the Hebrew Kingdom from Saul to the Fall of Jerusalem. Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1981. The entire book is now available in Pdf (though in individual chapters). For the specific chapter (Chapter 10: The Fall of Samaria, pp.97-105) on the Syro-Ephraimite war, click here (Read on Phone). These resources from BiblicalStudies.org.uk
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