Tiglath-Pileser II. saw his opportunity, and at once invaded Damascus. In B.C. 733 he failed, but the next year he entirely subjugated the kingdom, and put an end to the dynasty. Rezin was probably put to death with the horrible barbarities which were normal among the brutal Ninevites; and as the Assyrians had no conception of colonisation or the wise government of dependencies, the Syrian population was deported _en masse_ to Elam and an unknown Kir.[463] For a time Damascus was made "a ruinous heap," and the cities of Aroer were the desolated lairs of pasturing flocks. Israel, as we have seen, was next overwhelmed by the same irremediable catastrophe, none of her people being left except such as might be compared to the mere gleanings of a vintage, and the few berries on the topmost boughs of the olive tree.[464] Tiglath-Pileser meant to make Ahaz feel his yoke. He summoned him to do homage at Damascus, and there Ahaz once more displayed his cosmopolitan æstheticism at the expense of every pure tradition of the religion of his fathers. His visit to Damascus was no doubt compulsory. His worldly policy, which looked so expedient, and which--apart from the defiance which it involved to the voice of God by His prophets--seemed to be so pardonable, had for the time succeeded. Isaiah's promises had been fulfilled to the letter. There was nothing more to fear either from Rezin or from Remaliah's son. Their kingdoms were a desolation. In his own annals Tiglath-Pileser[465] does not exaggerate his achievements.[466] He wrote as follows:-- "Rezin's warriors I captured, and with the sword I destroyed. Of his charioteers and [his horsemen] the arms I broke: Their bow-bearing warriors, [their footmen] armed with spear and shield, With my hand I captured them, and those that fought in their battle-line. He to save his life fled away alone; Like a deer [he ran], and entered into the great gate of his city. His generals, whom I had taken alive, on crosses I hung; His country I subdued; Damascus, his city, I subdued, and like a caged bird I shut him in. I cut down the unnumbered trees of his forest; I left not one. Hadara, the palace of the father of Rezin of Syria, [I burnt]. The city of Samaria I besieged, I captured; eight hundred of its people and children I took; Their oxen and their sheep I carried away. I took five hundred and ninety-one cities; Over sixteen districts of Syria like a flood I swept." But the more complete destruction of Israel was due to Shalmaneser IV., who says,-- "The city of Samaria I besieged, I took, I carried away twenty-seven thousand two hundred of its inhabitants; I seized fifty of their chariots. I gave up to plunder the rest of their possessions. I appointed officers over them; I laid on them the tribute of the former king. In their place I settled the men of conquered countries."