While Israel and Syria were focusing on Judah, another nation, a militaristic one, had ambitions toward the region. It was the rising world power of Assyria.
لِذَا يَحْسُنُ بِنَا أَنْ نَسْأَلَ أَنْفُسَنَا :‏ ‹ حِينَ يَتَوَجَّبُ عَلَيَّ ٱتِّخَاذُ قَرَارَاتٍ مُهِمَّةٍ ،‏ هَلْ أَضَعُ ثِقَتِي فِي يَهْوَهَ أَمِ ٱلْإِنْسَانِ ؟‏ › .‏ —‏ ام ٣ :‏ ​ ٥ ،‏ ٦‏ .‏