Tiglath-pileser תִּגְלַת פִּלְאֶ֫סֶר
Assyrian king who conquered parts of Israel
Who is Tiglath-pileser in the Bible?
Tiglath-pileser, also known as Pul, was a powerful Assyrian king who ruled from 745 to 727 BC and plays a significant role in Israel's political decline during the 8th century. He first appears in biblical accounts as the king who received tribute from Israel's King Menahem (2 Kings 15:19), establishing Assyrian dominance over the northern kingdom. Later, Tiglath-pileser conquered substantial portions of Israel, including Gilead, Galilee, and Naphtali, deporting their inhabitants to Assyria (2 Kings 15:29; 1 Chronicles 5:26). King Ahaz of Judah also sought his military assistance against Syria and Israel, though this alliance ultimately led to Judah's subjugation (2 Kings 16:7-10). Tiglath-pileser's conquests marked the beginning of the end for Israel's independence and served as divine judgment upon the kingdoms for their unfaithfulness.
Biography
Tiglath-pileser, also referred to as "the great" or "Pul," was a powerful Assyrian king who reigned from 745 to 727 BC. He is mentioned in several passages in the Old Testament (2Ki.15.19,29; 16.7,10; 1Ch.5.6,26; 2Ch.28.20; Hos.5.13; 10.6). Tiglath-pileser's reign marked the beginning of the Neo-Assyrian Empire's expansion and dominance in the ancient Near East. He is known for his military conquests and political reforms. In the biblical account, Tiglath-pileser received tribute from King Menahem of Israel (2Ki.15.19) and later conquered parts of Israel, including Gilead, Galilee, and Naphtali, deporting the inhabitants to Assyria (2Ki.15.29; 1Ch.5.26). King Ahaz of Judah sought Tiglath-pileser's help against the kings of Israel and Syria, but this alliance ultimately led to Judah's subjugation and religious compromises (2Ki.16.7-10; 2Ch.28.20). The prophet Hosea denounced Israel's reliance on Assyria, symbolized by Tiglath-pileser, as futile and contrary to trust in God (Hos.5.13; 10.6). Tiglath-pileser's reign marked a significant turning point in the history of Israel and Judah, as the Assyrian Empire's expansion posed an increasing threat to their sovereignty and independence.
In Scripture
4 biblical books ; 1 with study content2 Kings 4 verses
- 2 Kings 15:29
"In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria."
- 2 Kings 16:7
"So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hands of the kings of Aram and Israel, who are rising up against me.”"
- 2 Kings 16:10
"Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria. On seeing the altar in Damascus, King Ahaz sent Uriah the priest a model of the altar and complete plans for its construction."
- 2 Kings 15:19
"Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver in order to gain his support and strengthen his own grip on the kingdom."
1 Chronicles 2 verses
- 1 Chronicles 5:6
"and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria carried into exile. Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites."
- 1 Chronicles 5:26
"So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria) to take the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. And he brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to..."
2 Chronicles 1 verse
- 2 Chronicles 28:20
"Then Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to Ahaz but afflicted him rather than strengthening him."
Hosea 2 verses
- Hosea 5:13
"When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound."
Study Hosea → - Hosea 10:6
"Yes, it will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king. Ephraim will be seized with shame; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols."
Study Hosea →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | תִּגְלַת פִּלְאֶ֫סֶר |
| Named | Hebrew | יָרֵב |
| Named | Hebrew | פּוּל |
Encyclopedia Article
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain) Tiglath-pileser
ahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah, kings of Israel, and of Uzziah, Jotham and Ahaz, kings of Judah. The king of Assyria, whom the historian of 2 Kings knows as exacting tribute from Menahem, is Pul (2Ki 15:19 f). In the days of Pekah who had usurped the throne of Menahem's son and successor, Pekahiah, the king of Assyria is known as Tiglath-pileser, who invaded Naphtali and carried the inhabitants captive to Assyria (2Ki 15:29). This invasion is described by the Chronicler (1Ch 5:25 f) rather differently, to the effect that "the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river of Gozan, unto this day." Still later we find Pekah forming a coalition with Rezin, king of Damascus, into which they tried to force Ahaz, even going the length of besieging him in Jerusalem (2Ki 16:5). The siege was unsuccessful. Ahaz called in the aid of Tiglath-pileser, sacrificing his independence to get rid of the invaders (2Ki 16:7,8). He offered the Assyrian the silver and gold that were found in the house of the Lord and in the royal treasury; and Tiglath-pileser, in return, invaded the territories of Damascus and Israel in the rear, compelling the allied forces to withdraw from Judah, while he captured Damascus, and carried the people away to Kir and slew Rezin (2Ki 16:9). It was on the occasion of his visit to Damascus to do homage to his suzerain Tiglath-pileser, that Ahaz fancied the idolatrous altar, a pattern of which he sent to Urijah, the priest, that he might erect an altar to take the place of the brazen altar which was before the Lord in the temple at Jerusalem. It is a significant comment which is made by the Chronicler (2Ch 28:21) upon the abject submission of Ahaz to the Assyrian king: "It helped him not."
From the inscriptions we learn particulars which afford striking corroboration of the Biblical narrative and clear up some of the difficulties involved. It is now practically certain that Pul, who is mentioned as taking tribute from Menahem, is identical with Tiglath-pileser (Schrader, COT, I, 230, 231). In all probability Pul, or Pulu, was a usurper, who as king of Assyria assumed the name of one of his predecessors, Tiglath-pileser I, and reigned as Tiglath-pileser III. This king of Assyria, who reigned, as we learn from his annals, from 745 BC to 727 BC, was one of the greatest of Assyrian monarchs. See ASSYRIA. From the fact that no fewer than five Hebrew kings are mentioned in his annals, the greatest interest attaches to his history as it has come down to us. These kings are Uzziah or Azariah, and Jehoahaz, that is Ahaz, of Judah; and Menahem, Pekah and Hushes of Israel. Along with them are mentioned their contemporaries Rezin of Damascus, Hiram of Tyre, and two queens of Arabia otherwise unknown, Zabibi and Samsi. When he died in 727 BC, he was succeeded by Shalmaneser IV, who had occasion to suspect the loyalty of his vassal Hoshea, king of Israel, and besieged him in Samaria.
Literature
Schrader, COT, I, 229-57; McCurdy, HPM, sections 279-341.
T. Nicol
ti'-gris (Tigris, the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew chiddeqel): One of the rivers of Eden going "eastward to Assyria" (Ge 2:14 margin), called the Great River (<ref osisRef="Bible:D