Pul, also known as Tiglath-Pileser III, was a prominent king of Assyria who reigned from approximately 745 to 727 BC. His reign marked a significant period in the history of the ancient Near East, characterized by military expansion and the consolidation of the Assyrian Empire. Pul's interactions with the Kingdom of Israel are of particular interest in biblical history, as they illustrate the geopolitical dynamics of the region during the 8th century BC.

The biblical account of Pul's involvement with Israel is primarily found in 2 Kings 15:19-20. The passage states: "Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom. Menahem exacted this money from each of the wealthy men of Israel—fifty shekels of silver from each man—to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not remain in the land" .

This event occurred during the reign of Menahem, king of Israel, who ruled from approximately 752 to 742 BC. Menahem's decision to pay tribute to Pul highlights the political pressures faced by the smaller kingdoms of the Levant, which were often caught between the ambitions of larger empires. By paying a substantial tribute, Menahem sought to secure his position and avert a full-scale invasion by the Assyrian forces.

Pul's incursion into Israel was part of a broader strategy to exert Assyrian influence over the region. His campaigns extended Assyrian control over various territories, including parts of Syria and the Levant, thereby establishing a buffer zone against potential rivals such as Egypt and the rising power of Babylon. The tribute paid by Menahem is indicative of the vassalage system that Assyria imposed on subjugated states, requiring them to pay regular tributes in exchange for protection and relative autonomy.

The historical context of Pul's invasion is further illuminated by Assyrian records, which corroborate the biblical narrative. These records describe Tiglath-Pileser III's military campaigns and his efforts to reorganize the Assyrian Empire, emphasizing his role in expanding Assyrian dominance. Pul's reign is often credited with initiating a period of Assyrian resurgence, marked by administrative reforms and military innovations that strengthened the empire's infrastructure and capacity for conquest.

Pul's interactions with Israel also set the stage for subsequent Assyrian involvement in the region, which would culminate in the eventual fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC under the reign of Shalmaneser V and Sargon II. The Assyrian policy of deportation and resettlement, which began under Tiglath-Pileser III, played a crucial role in the eventual dispersion of the ten tribes of Israel, an event that had lasting theological and cultural implications.

In summary, Pul, king of Assyria, played a pivotal role in the history of Israel during the 8th century BC. His invasion and the subsequent tribute paid by Menahem underscore the complex interplay of power, politics, and prophecy that characterized the biblical narrative and the broader historical landscape of the ancient Near East.2 Kings 15:19
And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Assyrian Captivity
... "Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of ... "In the days of Pekah," who reigned twenty
years, Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, invaded Israel and carried away ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 23 the assyrian captivity.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... western point of his territory, suddenly invaded Nummi,* and in ... be understood as
referring to Assyria proper: the territory subject to the king is measured ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

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