מלכים ב, פרק ט״ו, פסוק י״ט

The southward expansion of the Assyrian Empire, following its defeat of Damascus, casts a direct military threat over the region. Facing this advancing force, King Menahem of Israel assumes that the arrival of the Assyrian king, Pul, is merely an isolated raid rather than a full-scale campaign of conquest. The exact identity of this foreign ruler is a matter of discussion. Some suggest that Pul is the Aramaic name for Tiglath-Pileser [ביאור שטיינזלץ], while rabbinic tradition identifies him as Sennacherib [חומת אנך].

To manage this looming threat, Menahem pays the Assyrian king a massive bribe of a thousand talents of silver. The primary approach among commentators is that Menahem's goal goes beyond simply paying off an enemy; he intends to harness the military might of Assyria for his own benefit. By offering this enormous sum, Menahem hopes the foreign king will be satisfied with the wealth and, in return, provide political and military backing. This alliance would help Menahem strengthen his own rule, secure his political position, and ensure the kingdom remains firmly under his control.