Immediately, Ahaz sends to Tiglath-pileser for help (2 Ki 16:7-9).
This proved to be the catalyst for the first great public phase of Isaiah's ministry.
From his point of view Judah should be neither anti-Assyrian nor pro-Assyrian but pro-God!
Isaiah saw with prophetic clarity that Assyria was no friend of Judah .
Ahaz, eventually had to visit Assyria to pay tribute/respect to Pul.
Pul died in 727 BC.
A number of insurrection broke out promptly, among them one led by the former Assyrian vassal, the Isrealite king, Hoshea.
Although, the new king Shalmaneser was not to be the king that Pul was, he was prompt in dealing with this. He laid siege to Samaria
Over the next three years Israel went through horrible time (see 2 Ki 6:24-29 for some idea)
The forecasts of Amos (3:9-11) and Hosea (8:5-6; 13:16) some fifty years earlier came true.
Shortly before or after the fall of Samaria , Shalmaneser was replaced by Sargon.
Trouble broke out again all over the empire. Assyria had to deal with trouble from Babylon in south and from north (Medes). Sargon was thus engaged for 7 to 8 years dealing with all this. During this time king of Judah was Hezekiah. Just as Ahaz was firmly pro-Assyrian, Hezekiah was firmly anti-Assyrian. Exact reason for this shift is unclear – but may be because Assyria continued its expansion.
