Well would it have been for the kingdom of Judah had Ahaz received this message as from heaven. But choosing to lean on the arm of flesh, he sought help from the heathen. In desperation he sent word to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria: "I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me." 2 Kings 16:7. The request was accompanied by a rich present from the king's treasure and from the temple storehouse.

Det ville have tjent Judas rige bedst, hvis Akaz havde betragtet disse ord som et budskab fra Himmelen. Men han valgte at stole på fysisk magt og bad hedningerne om hjælp. I sin fortvivlelse sendte han dette bud til Assyriens konge Tiglat Pileser: "Jeg er din træl og din søn! Kom op og frels mig fra Arams og Israels konger, som angriber mig!" 2Kong. 16,7. Kongen sendte ham tillige en kostbar gave fra sit skatkammer og fra templets forrådskammer.