In Second Kings, chapter fifteen, verse twenty-nine, this invasion by Tiglath-pileser of Assyria represented the first stage of Israel’s captivity in exile. Those living in the northern and eastern sections of Israel were carried away from their homeland into Mesopotamia as in chapter sixteen, verses five through nine, Second Chronicles twenty-eight, verses sixteen through twenty-one, and Isaiah seven, verses one through seventeen, respectively. This beginning of the end for the northern kingdom came from God’s judgment for their continued sin. Samaria, the capital of the north, was captive eleven years later, as in chapter seventeen, verse six.
This history shows Israel in confusion. Although Judah was not without troubles, that kingdom was happy compared with the state of Israel. The imperfections of true believers are very different from the allowed wickedness of ungodly men. Such is human nature with our hearts, if left to themselves, deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. We have reason to be thankful for restraints, for being kept out of temptation, and should beg God to renew a right spirit within us.
Israel had a series of kings leading to the one at the end of chapter sixteen during that time they were under. Azariah was King of Judah at the beginning of chapter fifteen of Second Kings and did that which was righteous but did not remove the high places as in verse four of chapter fifteen. Zachariah was next, as in verses eight to twelve. Shallum was after in verses thirteen through fifteen, Menahem in verses sixteen to twenty-two, followed by Pekahiah in verses twenty-three to twenty-six, and by Pekah in stanzas twenty-seven through thirty-one, after Jotham in verses thirty-two to thirty-eight, and finally Ahaz in chapter sixteen. All of these Kings went about being rulers in their way during their reign. Likewise, we are rulers over our destiny. However, if we go about living another way other than God’s, we too will live in confusion as the Israelites were back then.