The closing years of the kingdom of Israel (the northern part of the divided kingdom) were marked by the domination of Assyria. The Israelite kings Menahem and Pekahiah had survived only by buying protection from Assyria. The commander of the Israelite army, Pekah, tired of this pro-Assyrian policy, assassinated Pekahiah, seized the throne and tried to make Israel independent of Assyria (2 Kings 15:19; 2 Kings 15:23-25; 2 Kings 15:27).
Pekah formed an alliance with Rezin, king of Syria, with the aim of withstanding Assyria. In an attempt to force Ahaz of Judah to join their alliance, Pekah and Rezin attacked Jerusalem. Ahaz, against the advice of the prophet Isaiah, went to Assyria for help. Assyria replied by conquering Syria (732 BC), then overrunning much of northern and eastern Israel and taking the people into captivity (2 Kings 15:29; 2 Kings 16:5-9; for details see AHAZ). Pekah’s policy had proved disastrous, and he was assassinated by Hoshea, a sympathizer with Assyria, who then became king (2 Kings 15:30).