Assyrian Imperialism and Its Impact on the Sovereignty of Ancient Israel: Assessing the Motives Behind the Prophet Isaiah’s Message of Neutrality (Isaiah Chapter 6-39)

ABSTRACT Assyria’s expansionist policy during the 8th- century B.C.E was indeed a force to reckon with and it was practically inevitable for this expansionist policy not to trigger various response mechanisms especially from the weaker nations. These responses varied from the formation of anti-Assyrian coalitions to opting for neutrality. The later response is most immediately expressed in the prophesies of Isaiah. As such, although scholarship has convincingly established that the prophet’s message revolved around the political developments of the hegemony of Assyria, little has been written regarding the possible reasons that influenced the prophet’s option for neutrality in the face of Assyrian Imperialism. While the argument that the prophet’s decision was largely influenced by his religious convictions and trust in Yahweh is sustainable, this paper argues that the prophet Isaiah’s stance was predominantly influenced by his political understanding of how empires like Assyria functioned. Contrary to the common position, this paper contends that the decision had more do with the prophet’s political convictions than it had to do with his religious convictions. As such, this paper examines Assyria’s imperial tactics and demonstrates how these predominantly informed Isaiah’s policy of neutrality over and above the prophet’s religious persuasions.