Page "Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem" Paragraph 1

In 721 BCE, the Assyrian army captured the Israelite capital at Samaria and carried away the citizens of the northern kingdom into captivity.

The virtual destruction of Israel left the southern kingdom, Judah, to fend for itself in the whirlwind of warring Near Eastern kingdoms.

At the time of Samaria's fall, there existed two kings in Judah — Ahaz and his son Hezekiah — who ruled as co-regents.

Judah existed as a vassal to Assyria during this time and was forced to pay an annual tribute to the powerful empire.