16:5 At that time King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel attacked Jerusalem. 1 They besieged Ahaz, 2 but were unable to conquer him. 3
1 tn Heb “went up to Jerusalem for battle.”
2 tn That is, Jerusalem, Ahaz’s capital city.
3 tn Heb “they were unable to fight.” The object must be supplied from the preceding sentence. Elsewhere when the Niphal infinitive of לָחָם (lakham) follows the verb יָכֹל (yakhol), the infinitive appears to have the force of “prevail against.” See Num 22:11; 1 Sam 17:9; and the parallel passage in Isa 7:1.