Rezin was the king of Syria during a tumultuous period of ancient Near Eastern history, contemporaneous with Pekah, the king of Israel. His rule is noted in the Nephite record for a joint military campaign alongside Pekah against Ahaz, the king of Judah. The alliance between Syria and the Kingdom of Israel, however, did not succeed in overcoming Judah (2 Nephi 17:1). Rezin’s actions and political maneuvers are further delineated in the prophecies of Isaiah, where he is depicted as a significant but ultimately futile political force against Judah, referred to metaphorically as “the head of Damascus” (2 Nephi 17:8).
The political machinations of the time led to an escalation in regional tension, with Judah seeking assistance from the Assyrian Empire to counter the threat of Rezin and Pekah’s alliance. This led to the involvement of Tiglath-pileserI, the king of Assyria, who not only suppressed the Syrian-Israelite aggression but also subsequently conquered Damascus and ended Rezin’s reign by killing him. This event is chronicled in the Nephite and biblical records but not recounted with further elaboration within the Book of Mormon text.
Rezin’s story, as preserved in the Nephite account, is emblematic of the broader political and military upheavals that characterized the ancient Near East and provided a backdrop for many of the prophecies and historical accounts recorded in the scriptures, demonstrating the complex interplay between the various kingdoms of the Levant (2 Nephi 18:6; 19:11). His presence in the scriptural narrative serves to illustrate the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies and the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations.