Bible Figure
Pekah
Pekah son of Remaliah was king of northern Israel during the Syro-Ephraimite crisis and a period of major Assyrian expansion.
Biography
Pekah came to the throne by assassinating Pekahiah. He allied with Rezin of Damascus against Judah and attacked King Ahaz, seeking to force Judah into their anti-Assyrian coalition. This crisis forms the setting for important prophecies in Isaiah 7, including Isaiah's confrontation with Ahaz. Ahaz appealed to Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria, who captured extensive northern Israelite territory and deported inhabitants. Hoshea son of Elah then conspired against Pekah, killed him, and took the throne.
Biblical Significance
Pekah's reign is crucial to the historical setting of Isaiah's ministry. The threat from Pekah and Rezin became an occasion for God's call to Judah to trust Him rather than rely on political alliances.