Quick Facts
Length of reign: 22
Predecessor: Ben-Hadad III
Kingdom: Syria or Aram
Reign: 754–732 BC
Bible reference: 2Ki 15:37; 2Ki 16:1-9; Isa 7:1; Isa 7:4; Isa 7:8; Isa 8:6; Isa 9:11
Rezin reigns in Syria
The name Rezin means delight or good-will. Rezin is a Biblical figure who is mentioned in several passages of the Old Testament. Rezin was a prince and king of Syria who joined forces with Pekah, the king of Israel, to invade the Kingdom of Judah. This event is described in 2 Kings 15:37, 2 Kings 16:5-9, and Isaiah 7:1-8. Despite his role in this invasion, King Rezin is not a prominent figure in Biblical history, and little is known about his life or reign beyond his interactions with other Biblical figures.
King Rezin’s primary role in Biblical history was his involvement in the invasion of Judah by allying with King Pekah of Israel. King Ahaz and his people were greatly frightened when they heard that Syria and the Kingdom of Israel had allied to wage war against them (Isa 7:2). The allies besieged Jerusalem but could not capture it (2Ki 16:5; Isa 7:1). However, Rezin succeeded in driving out all the Jews in Elath and claiming the town for Syria and the Syrians came to live there (2Ki 16:6).
The event of the Syria-Israel invasion of Judah was significant because it prompted the prophecy of Isaiah, who was sent to comfort King Ahaz of Judah (Isa 7:4). Despite Isaiah’s reassurances of God’s deliverance, King Ahaz gathered silver and gold and sent them to the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III to seek his protection against the invading forces. This decision ultimately led to the subjugation of Judah to Assyrian rule.
However, Ahaz’s decision paid off. After receiving the tribute, the king of Assyria began an aggressive war campaign against the main enemies of the Kingdom of Judah, namely, the Kingdom of Israel and Syria. The Assyrian king invaded Damascus, captured it, exiled its inhabitants to Kir, and killed Rezin (2Ki 16:9). Later, the Kingdom of Israel also suffered invasion after the Assyrians were done with Rezin and Syria.
In conclusion, it is important to mention that God saved His Davidic heir from Rezin and his allies through the interference of the Assyrian king. Although King Rezin made a major contribution towards the invasion of Judah, his rule and interactions with other biblical characters were quite minor and mostly overshadowed by the bigger political forces operating in the region then.