The king of Assyria listened to him; the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried its people captive to Kir, and killed Rezin — Tiglath-Pileser's response to Ahaz's appeal demonstrates the efficacy of Assyrian military power. The king of Assyria captures Damascus (דַּמֶּשֶׂק, *Dammeseq*), Aram's capital, and deposes Rezin, eliminating the northern threat to Judah. The phrase "carried its people captive to Kir" (וַיִּגְלֵם קִירָה, *way-yiglem Kirah*) suggests the population transfer policy characteristic of Assyrian imperial practice. Rezin's death ends the immediate Syro-Ephraimite crisis, yet from Ahaz's perspective the victory is purchased at tremendous cost: Judah's subordination to Assyria, depletion of temple treasure, and the beginning of Judean vassalage. The crisis is resolved militarily but the theological catastrophe is complete.

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