It was while Pekah was king that Tiglath Pileser, the emperor of Assyria, captured the cities of Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor, and the territories of Gilead, Galilee, and Naphtali, and took the people to Assyria as prisoners.

So God caused Emperor Pul of Assyria (also known as Tiglath Pileser) to invade their country. He deported the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh and settled them permanently in Halah, Habor, and Hara, and by the Gozan River.

The Assyrian emperor, instead of helping Ahaz, opposed him and caused him trouble.

"Tell my lord, King Benhadad, that I agree; he can have me and everything I own," Ahab answered.

So they wrapped sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their necks, went to Ahab and said, "Your servant Benhadad pleads with you for his life." Ahab answered, "Is he still alive? Good! He's like a brother to me!"

Benhadad's officials were watching for a good sign, and when Ahab said "brother," they took it up at once, and said, "As you say, Benhadad is your brother!" "Bring him to me," Ahab ordered. When Benhadad arrived, Ahab invited him to get in the chariot with him.

Don't put your trust in human leaders; no human being can save you.

Happy are those who have the God of Jacob to help them and who depend on the LORD their God,

The LORD says, "I will condemn those who turn away from me and put their trust in human beings, in the strength of mortals.

For help that never came, we looked until we could look no longer. We kept waiting for help from a nation that had none to give.

Assyria can never save us, and war horses cannot protect us. We will never again say to our idols that they are our God. O LORD, you show mercy to those who have no one else to turn to."